Film and video game scores are among the UK’s favourite classical pieces with John Williams the most popular living composer, new figures show.
The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame revealed that scores written by Williams including Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List were all in the chart, making him the most popular living classical artist.
Elgar was voted the most popular British composer coming in fourth place with 12 pieces.
The number of movie soundtracks has risen from just two in 1996 to 22 in this year’s annual chart.
Aled Jones, Classic FM presenter, said: ‘The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame gives us an unrivalled look at the nation’s classical music tastes during the last two decades.
‘The core classical pieces remain as popular as ever, but it is exciting that the emergence of film soundtracks and video games music have engaged a new and younger generation with the genre. The chart confirms that classical music is as relevant to modern day life as it was twenty years ago.’
The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame combines votes from 20 years of its annual poll of classical music tastes.
The top ten entries in the Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame are as follows:
Piano Concerto No.2 - Rachmaninov
The Lark Ascending - Vaughan Williams
Clarinet Concerto - Mozart
Piano Concerto No.5 (‘Emperor’) - Beethoven
Violin Concerto No.1 - Bruch
Symphony No.6 (‘Pastoral’) - Beethoven
Cello Concerto - Elgar
Enigma Variations - Elgar
Symphony No.9 (‘Choral’) - Beethoven
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis - Vaughan Williams
The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame revealed that scores written by Williams including Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List were all in the chart, making him the most popular living classical artist.
Elgar was voted the most popular British composer coming in fourth place with 12 pieces.
The number of movie soundtracks has risen from just two in 1996 to 22 in this year’s annual chart.
Aled Jones, Classic FM presenter, said: ‘The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame gives us an unrivalled look at the nation’s classical music tastes during the last two decades.
‘The core classical pieces remain as popular as ever, but it is exciting that the emergence of film soundtracks and video games music have engaged a new and younger generation with the genre. The chart confirms that classical music is as relevant to modern day life as it was twenty years ago.’
The Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame combines votes from 20 years of its annual poll of classical music tastes.
The top ten entries in the Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame are as follows:
Piano Concerto No.2 - Rachmaninov
The Lark Ascending - Vaughan Williams
Clarinet Concerto - Mozart
Piano Concerto No.5 (‘Emperor’) - Beethoven
Violin Concerto No.1 - Bruch
Symphony No.6 (‘Pastoral’) - Beethoven
Cello Concerto - Elgar
Enigma Variations - Elgar
Symphony No.9 (‘Choral’) - Beethoven
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis - Vaughan Williams
