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