John Williams has been voted the most popular living composer of film soundtracks in the Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame, which combines 20 years of the world’s largest annual poll of classical music tastes.

His compositions for Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List and the Harry Potter films all feature in the chart.

Compiled from nearly 3 million votes, timeless pieces such as Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5 (‘Emperor’) have been chosen by the public, but the chart also reveals the rise in popularity of movie soundtracks.

Chris Pratt in Jurassic World, which features John Williams music
Chris Pratt in Jurassic World (Universal)

From just two in 1996, there are now 22 in this year’s annual chart, with John Williams’ iconic Star Wars theme jumping the highest number of places of any film score.

Sir Karl Jenkins follows Williams and is the most popular living British composer with four pieces: Adiemus, Palladio, Requiem and The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.

Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 is the nation’s favourite piece of classical music.

The poll also reveals Mozart as the most popular composer with 20 entries.

Beethoven came second with 17 compositions, followed by Tchaikovsky and Elgar, who was voted the most popular British composer with 12 pieces.

Also notable is the popularity of video games music has also risen from none five years ago to 12.

Classic FM presenter Aled Jones
Aled Jones (Philip Toscano/PA)

Classic FM presenter Aled Jones 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 Ultimate Classic FM Hall of Fame – Top 10

1. Piano Concerto No.2 – Rachmaninov
2. The Lark Ascending – Vaughan Williams
3. Clarinet Concerto – Mozart
4. Piano Concerto No.5 (‘Emperor’) – Beethoven
5. Violin Concerto No.1 – Bruch
6. Symphony No.6 (‘Pastoral’) – Beethoven
7. Cello Concerto – Elgar
8. Enigma Variations – Elgar
9. Symphony No.9 (‘Choral’) – Beethoven
10. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis – Vaughan Williams

Votes were cast online via classicfm.com, by post and via telephone. The full top 300 is published online at www.classicfm.com.