Top 10

Anthony Tommasini, who, I suppose, is the music critic for the Times, published his list of the 10 greatest composers of all time -- after noting, of course, that such lists are silly and meaningless. His 10:

1. Bach
2. Beethoven
3. Mozart
4. Schubert
5. Debussy
6. Stravinsky
7. Brahms
8. Verdi
9. Wagner
10. Bartok

Maybe we can forgive Mr. Tommasini's mistake in ranking Beethoven ahead of Mozart, but what in the world could have come over him later? I mean really: Debussy? Stravinsky? Bartok? BARTOK?

The correct list is as follows:

1. Bach -- of course
   
2. Mozart -- the operas boost him above Beethoven -- and just imagine if he'd lived another 20 or 30 years
   
3. Beethoven -- what's to say?
   
4. Schubert -- never wrote an unbeautiful piece
   
5. Dvorak -- see note to Schubert
   
6. Saint-Saens -- see note to Dvorak
7. Puccini -- La Boheme; 'nuff said.
8. Handl -- the keyboard music is surprisingly good
   
9. Bizet -- Carmen; 'nuff said.
10. Mendelssohn -- just imagine if he'd lived another 20 or 30 years