James MacMillan and Stephen Johnson are two voices I could listen to until the end of time and provided a fascinating programme on BBC R3 Discovering Music - I was particularly interested to hear MacMillan's enthusiasm for traditional music which is discussed in the second half of the programme.

The only jarring note was when Johnson commented that he thought of English music as being of the past - perhaps he has not yet heard Bellowhead, Jez Lowe, John Tams, Seth Lakeman and the many other musicians who are ensuring that English folk music is very relevant to the present. I think it is fair to say that Scottish traditional music is appreciated by a greater percentage of that country's population but that is not because English folk music is 'of the past' Even with that disappointing comment it was an excellent conversation and I have offered thanks to Stephen & James on the R3 MB for the insight into the latter's often quite wonderful music.

The programme should be available on the BBC iplayer