"We asked 167 of today’s leading musicians to have their say, with five votes each, based on the criteria of originality, influence, technique and, of course, sheer enjoyability to listen to and perform. We then totted up the votes to draw up the following Top 25, in reverse order…(BBC Music Magazine)"

Elizabeth Maconchy
Herbert Howells
Coleridge-Taylor
Malcolm Arnold
Oliver Knussen
Helen Grime
Jonathan Dove
Judith Weir
Holst
John Dowland
George Benjamin
Ethel Smyth
Frank Bridge
Harrison Birtwistle
Tallis
James MacMillan
Handel
Thomas Ades
Tippett
Walton
William Byrd
Vaughan Williams
Purcell
Elgar
Britten

Although absolutely gobsmacked by some (actually quite a few) of the names on the list I'm even more astounded by many that have been ignored... Delius, Bax, Stanford, Parry, even Alwyn, Moeran, Holbrooke and Sullivan. Malcolm Arnold, whose music I love , surprises by his inclusion because his music is usually denigrated by those who would rate Harrison Birtwistle as a great composer.

What would be most interesting would be to know who the "Leading musicians" are who formulated such a list. "Name and shame 'em" is what I say.