A sensational six-part series from the CBC that investigates the "how and why of music" in fresh, new ways and means. You and your listeners are likely to find yourself in one of more of these programs. The entire six-part series is highly recommended. You can run all episodes or just one. (If you don't air the entire series, you'll need to address the interstitial references to other programs within the series.)

A review of Part 1 and Part 3 follow.

There's a CBC promo at the end of each program, and the producer says you may edit/fade that brief moment as long as the credits stay in tact.

Part 1: Wired for Sound: Music and the Brain

There is a lot to assimilate in each of these studies on how music works with and works through our bodies. And here’s the good news: it’s not geeky, not overly academic, and does not travel to a world far, far away.

To get all that this program offers will take a mostly "sit down and give all your attention to the radio" commitment. And it's a sit down experience you can, without hesitation, tell your listeners is well worth their time and attention.

That being said, the mix of voices, information, music and radio craft is so pleasing to the ear. Even if you don't get all of the lessons and understanding of the music-brain-body interaction, your listeners will still walk away with plenty. (Repeating the show is worth considering.)

Some people know how to make far away worlds -- the mystery of science, music, the cochlea, spinal column, and the cerebral cortex -- accessible, beautiful, fun, interesting and entertaining. The presenters and producers of this series are those people.

I’m reminded of the time I first heard the Verdi opera, Falstaff. At the end I was convinced I understood how to speak Italian and I knew Shakespeare.

Part 3: The Pipe, the Drum and the Thunder Run: Music & War

Remember during the last fund drive when you said, "the public radio programming on [Your Station Name] provides a context for news of the day and advances understanding of contemporary issues"? You could have been talking about this program (except it wasn’t available then).

Part 3 presents the intertwining of blasts of war and blasts of music. It intimately illustrations the importance of music to soldiers on the battlefield and the citizens seemingly removed from the field of battle.

The violence and aggressive actions of war, the leading and following of "the Charge," come from more than just melody, tempo, rhythm and sheer volume. Music can raise morale, or in the case of Tokyo Rose, it can make a soldier’s morale come crashing down.

"The Pipe, the Drum and the Thunder Run: Music & War" upholds the highest of public radio standards and ideals; most notably, the values of “providing context” and “advancing understanding of contemporary news and social issues.” And in those areas, it resonates as strongly as any public radio program I’ve ever heard.

Intriguing, fascinating, and mind-blowing content from beginning to end.

(Brief Language Advisory at 19:17 and 34:12.)

Producer has given permission to delete or cover the brief CBC forward promo at the end.

This series is one of the hidden musical gems on PRX. The music and the performances are consistently rich, varied and high pitched.

Program 6 from the series is a top-shelf, big band extravaganza. John Clayton leads the Metropole Orchestra (Sonny Stit's "Eternal Triangle"), the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw play standards by Cole Porter and Duke Ellington, and the program also includes the Dutch Jazz Orchestra.

As is always the case, I think, with Radio Netherlands productions, the music engineering, recording and mastering is high on top of the industry standard -- especially the capture of the brass and percussion.

It's always takes me a split second to digest and remember there's plenty of swing happening outside of the U.S., and shows from "European Jazz Stage" keep me from choking on my naivety.

Highly recommended for Jazz and eclectic music format stations. Other programs from the series could be combined to create a series that will take you through August and beyond.

Nice breezy work from Nathaniel Johnson on the rewards and risks of playing in the Army Band.

There's a serious cash signing bonus, guaranteed work, money for college tuition and the possibility of getting killed in battle -- it's all in a day's work. And the way new band members are recruited today is likely to create a reaction as well.

Earlier recommendations (on the piece page) detail the other high points of this 4:49 feature. There are potential tie-ins to local employment issues, your local music scene and local military stories or soldier profiles. "Recruiting Musician Soldiers" could work in any programming slot that would benefit from a quirk or a lighthearted smirk.