D. just home and having done a little dance of joy, because the solo was OK, asked me who is my favorite classical composer. Hers is Mahler, Tchaikovsky coming second, after that Beethoven, then Brahms, then Mozart. But she really caught me out. I love pieces, I guess, not so much composers. So, Scarlatti sonatas, Bach’s suites for unaccompanied cellos, Borodin, Stravinsky. On second thought it came to me that my favorite composer would be Beethoven and/or Brahms. Brahms is someone D. sold me on. Beethoven has been a favorite since “Pastoral” struck me. Well anyway, because D.’s playing triumphed tonight, here’s Brahms’ clarinet quintet.