4 MARCH 2000, Page 30

HB v. JSB

From Mr Andrew McKie Sir: In his piece prompted by, but scarcely referring to, 'quite a reasonable book about Birtwistle' (Books, 26 February), Philip Hensher declares, 'Like all the great com- posers, he dares to bore the listener.' One can't help wondering which bits of, say, J.S. Bach, Handel or Mozart Mr Hensher finds especially tedious, and how they compare in the snooze stakes with the most rousing moments of Sir Harrison's oeuvre.

Andrew McKie

London SE5