The Brahms! The most sublime choral work EVER. The words are all from the Bible--just beautiful.

Since it is Ash Wednesday, the Requiem sems most appropriate to me.

I vote for the Brahms German Requiem, which may be the most moving choral work ever written. More spiritual than conventionally religious, and written for all those who mourn the passing of a loved one, it is particularly poignant for Brahms's insertion of the movement for soprano solo shortly after the death of his mother.

Brahm's German Requiem is divine!

Nothing else, for me, has the power of the Brahms

I'd go for the Mahler.

Without a doubt, Mahler gets my vote. It's about time you decided to play something during the day that runs over an hour! Since you are now a public radio station and not bound by the time constraints imposed by commercial ads, I would have thought we would hear longer works more often, but so far, I have been disappointed. Perhaps this particular Showdown offering signals a change. Can I hope to hear a Bruckner symphony soon?

Oh my.....all 3 are great choices. Never a time when I cannot hear Mahler and in the last symphony you really get to hear new directions he was going harmonically. LOVE the Brahms Requiem and can never hear that enough times. But, the Stravinsky -- I have not heard that piece in a very long time and remember truly enjoying it. So, I'm voting for the Stravinsky, although, would it be so terrible to play all 3 pieces?

I agree with Joy. This shouldn't be turned into a philosophiclal discussion.

I love this program!

Since a whole Mahler symphony can be a bit tedious, and I don't really like Stravinsky, I far prefer the Brahms.

All the choices are fantastic... my preference go to the Brahms German Requiem - Thank you WQXR:)

The task is not to choose who is to live and who two to get executed. This is a game without grave consequences and implications. So let us play it. This contest is the last think to complain about WQXR, whose taste and sense of sequence, structure and rhythm fails more often than not lately.

I am hoping for a tie of all three cause I would love to hear all of them. Hope you play the "loosers!!!!" soon.

my guess is that the often overrated mahler will be chosen, but my vote is cast in stone for Ein deutsches Requiem

MAHLER by a mile.

The German Requiem please! This piece sounds as if it were written in heaven.

First of all, your site is telling me that I've "already entered this survey" - not true! Oh well....My vote would be for the Stravinsky. I performed it years ago with the Zamir Chorale and although I didn't love it, I always welcome the chance for another hearing of a piece about which I'm a little ambivalent. I've often come to like a piece better after several hearings.

The vote is not at all an indication of what the public wants, unless "Please play all three" is a fourth option. The presumption here is that for some reason there is limited time. There is NOT limited time when works acknowledged by WQXR to be masterpieces are in question, as some of the questionable new issues that take air time are, for instance.

Folks, you've got the wrong Mahler Symphony among the listening choices on the website. I'm hearing the Adagietto from Symphony 5

So, a "Public" radio station should not be in the business of asking the "Public" what they'd like to hear?

Which part of "Public" isn't quite understood? WQXR asks for opinions in all sorts of way - including the most basic, that is, from the pocket. And I have to admit that "Showdown" is the most fun. It's a great way to learn what turns on the listeners who are tuned in.

WQXR - keep it going! (And, by the way, for me it's the Requiem. Just sublime!)

Ms. Darby,
Mr. Meltzer isn't saying anything that hasn't already been said on countless Wednesdays since WQXR became a public radio station; he's just couching his remarks in general terms instead of being specific to the three choices on offer.

I vote for the Brahms Requiem. It's Ash Wednesday, so a requiem is most appropriate today.

I personally believe that the showdown at high noon is great fun for all the listeners. Thank you WQXR.

MS. Darby:
If you have a musical opinion, express it. If you want to be gross and stupid, go to Craig's list, you'll have plenty of company.

come on, michael, lighten up . . try a laxative. you'll feel better

A public radio station should not be in the business of the narrowing of quality choices. Simply find the time for all three.
At the same time you try to give the listeners the illusion they are running things. Is that honest?