Sir – Mr Emlyn-Jones’s survey of people in Cowley Road was an excellent idea (Letters, May 1) but he does not say how many of his interviewees were from ethnic minorities. I dare say two or three were, in Cowley Road.

I would not expect them to have heard of Bach, or St Matthew, though if they were educated in England they should have heard of the latter. I find it worrying that eight of the ten appeared to think he was mad, when he is clearly a well-educated man.

But does he really think that no culture is more valuable than another? Is some ephemeral pop song worth as much as Bach’s St Matthew Passion? I think not!

Am I being arrogant or Nazi? No! I am a liberal, who takes democracy seriously, unlike the millions of people who haven’t bothered to register as voters. And how many of those on the register will bother to vote on Thursday, May 22? About a third, I guess.

M. Hugh-Jones, Oxford