Composition dedicated to war victims war tops classical music poll

The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace by Sir Karl Jenkins has been voted the nation’s favourite piece of classical music.

The composition topped the annual Classic FM Hall of Fame poll, with almost 90,000 votes cast by the public, making Sir Karl the first living composer to take the top spot.

The piece of music premiered in 2000 and is dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo War, highlighting the terror and tragedy of conflict, while underscoring themes of peace and hope for the future.

It dethroned Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2, which topped the hall of fame for three years in a row and was pushed into second place.

Sir Karl said: “I am deeply honoured to learn that The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace has been voted Britain’s favourite piece of classical music in the 2026 Classic FM Hall of Fame.

“To become the first living composer to reach the number one position is profoundly humbling and gratifying and, to some degree, I am taken aback when I reflect on the great masters, past and present, that sit below me on this list.

“I cherish the fact that via my music I have introduced many new devotees to the great composers of the genre.

“As the cliche says, we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before.

“As I look back with great fondness to the premiere in 2000 at the first ever Classic FM concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, I’m delighted that this piece has found resonance globally for 25 years.

“While it is with regret that I acknowledge that there has been no let-up in war and conflict since I dedicated the piece to the victims of Kosovo, we continue to make music in remembrance of those who have fallen and in the hope that humanity can find a way to heal.”

Sir Karl was second in the hall of fame last year and fourth in 2024.

The Rachmaninov concerto was in second place, while perennial favourite The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams was third.

Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis was fourth, with Elgar’s Enigma Variations rounding out the top five.

More than 40 entries in the top 200 were from cinema, with Howard Shore’s The Lord Of The Rings voted most-popular film soundtrack at number eight in the overall list.

With seven pieces in the chart, John Williams retained his place as the most popular living composer, including his score for Star Wars at number 53, Jurassic Park at 55 and Harry Potter at 80.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the most popular composer of all time, with 12 entries in total.

Classic FM presenter Dan Walker said: “As the world’s biggest classical music chart, the Classic FM Hall of Fame celebrates the very best classical music, chosen by the public, and this year’s results show just how much that world continues to grow and change.

“Huge congratulations to the outstanding Sir Karl Jenkins as we celebrate a brand-new number one with The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace – it resonates with so many people and is one of those pieces which grabs your soul and won’t let go.

“It’s exciting that this year’s hall of fame features more film scores than ever before, and we have never had so much music from living composers.

“From John Williams and Hans Zimmer to Rachel Portman, it’s wonderful to see how film music is opening the door for new audiences and helping even more people fall in love with classical music.”

The Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026 top 20:

1. Jenkins – The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace
2. Rachmaninov – Piano Concerto No.2
3. Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending
4. Vaughan Williams – Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis
5. Elgar – Enigma Variations
6. Allegri – Miserere
7. Beethoven – Piano Concerto No.5 (Emperor)
8. Shore – The Lord of the Rings
9. Shostakovich – Piano Concerto No.2
10. Beethoven – Symphony No.9 (Choral)
11. Holst – The Planets
12. Beethoven – Symphony No.6 (Pastoral)
13. Williams – Schindler’s List
14. Mozart – Requiem
15. Ungar – The Ashokan Farewell
16. Morricone – The Mission (includes Gabriel’s Oboe)
17. Mozart – Clarinet Concerto
18. Barber – Adagio for Strings
19. Tin – The Lost Birds (includes Flocks A Mile Wide)
20. Richter – On the Nature of Daylight