Having just sniffed at the idea of favorite movements, on further thought,
I admit I have them.
Mahler's 3rd, 1st movement: from the opening horn call on either the theme
of the Brahms 1st finale or "Adestes Fideles," I'm hooked on this rather
skewed vision of music, like a plastic toy mistakenly left in an oven. The
"Bim bam" movement of children's voices is an unhackneyed vision of heaven.
Mahler's 8th, 1st movement. Absolutely overwhelming. I have to rest
before I can think of tackling the much more difficult 2nd movement. Thank
God for recordings.
Mozart's 39th, finale: If there's such a thing as a perfect piece of
music, this is it. The loopy rondo theme that trips over its own tail
never fails to delight.
Beethoven's 5th, 1st movement: Yeah, it's played a lot, but amazingly, it
hasn't yet been played to death.
Beethoven's 3rd, scherzo: My least favorite of the Beethoven symphonies,
with my second-favorite scherzo of all.
Beethoven's 9th, scherzo: My favorite Beethoven scherzo. Those
asymmetrical booms from the timpany get me every time, and the trio is
sublime.
Verdi's Requiem, Dies irae: Speaking of drums, wham-bok, y'all.
Berlioz's Requiem, Lachrymosa: Not Mozart's slightly sentimental decorous
grief, but an all-out wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Bloch, Piano Quintet No. 1, 1st movement: one of the most powerful
chamber works I know.
Faure, Piano Quartet No. 1, scherzo: A rarity, really happy music without
being sappy.
Steve Schwartz
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