One of the best things about hosting a new-music radio show is the implied permission to blow a lot of one's own money on tons of new CDs. This week's show is built entirely from new additions to our ever-growing library, and includes music by Harbison, Wuorinen and Haladyna.

This week the Brothers kick off a new series that invites composers to play and discuss their own music, and help to curate the rest of the show. The inaugural guest in this new series is 2013 Rome Prize-winner and Chelsea Music Festival composer-in-residence Eric Nathan.

Two samples from America and two from Europe are on the roster this week as The Brothers Balliett investigate that most wily of musical forms—the chamber concerto. Featuring music of Charles Wuorinen, Brian Ferneyhough, Ezra Sims and Beat Furrer. Listen at 3 pm.

The sonic possibilities of historic instruments are indeed immeasurable. Today's composers have recently realized this—and with this realization came an entire orchestra of new sound colors. Today's Brothers Balliett episode tackles early instruments in modern music and the art of the new-music remix.

How does a composer approach writing a piece for five instruments that are so different in sound production that creating a perfectly blended sound is almost an impossible task? This week focuses on that most unusual among the standard chamber groups: the woodwind quintet.

What is the blingiest thing going on in new music? This week, The Brothers take an opportunity to look at some of the most glittering, exciting, unusual, and outright blinged-out music on the market. Listen Thursday at 3 pm.

The electric guitar: symbol of rebellion, youth, and danger or legitimate color to be used in serious composition? Perhaps it's both. The Brothers Balliett takes a critical look at the myriad uses of this hundred-year-old instrument.

On the fence about American composer Morton Feldman? Let the Brothers Balliett make you a fan with this week's episode featuring quintessential Feldman works. Listen today at 3 pm.

New York City has always been a haven for ensembles dedicated to new music, but the scene seems to have exploded recently. This week's program shows off a handful of great new music ensembles, demonstrating an unceasing and thriving New York scene.

What is it about imaginary animals that captures the human imagination? Borges imagined many monsters, as did Lewis Carroll, Maurice Sendak, and other literary luminaries. This week the Brothers Balliett wonder, how do imaginary animals impact today's music?

Last January, the Brothers Balliett presented the Grown-Person's Guide, examining the orchestra one section at a time. By popular request, this week, they add more recent and usual instruments to their rundown. Featuring the ondes martenot, barrel organ and a music box ensemble. Listen today at 3 pm.

What does the word "madrigal" bring to mind for you? Close harmony on charming texts? Italian chromaticism? This week, the Brothers Balliett listen to a handful of living composers offering their own unique stamp on this ancient form.

Whether you have full blown synesthesia, or you've just always thought that D Major sounds kind of blue, humans have associated color with music for ages. This week, the Brothers Balliett serve up colorful music from Dalbavie, Torke and Thompson.

What happens when composers abandon the traditional equal division of the octave into twelve parts? This week the Brothers explore some music that might be considered 'out of tune' by equal-tempered standards, but are in fact performed according to rigorous sonic ideas.

Fred Lerdahl writes music that is thumping, harmonically interesting, and full of groove, and to listen to his music is to understand his process. The Brothers Balliett have been fans of Lerdahl's work for some time now, and this week they pay homage to the composer with a one-hour festival.

It's become almost a cliche to hear a wiseacre remark about a particularly pungent Carlo Gesualdo madrigal: 'That's crazier than most new music you hear these days, and it's over 400 years old!' Today at 3 pm, the Brothers trace his influence on 20th and 21st Century music, from Stravinsky to Sciarrino.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if a major symphony orchestra took a page from the Q2 Music handbook? Today at 3 pm, the Brothers Balliett offer a program devised to follow traditional symphony concert format.

We live in a post-classical world. Every day genre boundaries are pushed, invaded, blurred or otherwise violated. With that in mind, the Brothers Balliett take a multi-angled look at the overlap between new music and jazz.

Yes, you heard correctly. The Brothers Balliett share a musical oddity — a performing version of Beethoven's 10th symphony in Eb major, completed (compiled?) from sketches by Dr. Barry Cooper. Only a truly audacious musician would dare attempt this task, and the results are well worth a listen.

This week, the Brothers Balliett investigate three interconnected orchestral works, all centered around the idea of a memorial or homage. Music of Harrison Birtwistle, Magnus Lindberg and Witold Lutoslawski. Listen today at 3 pm.