"The Western musical canon came about not merely by accumulation, but by opposition and subversion, both to the ruling powers on whom composers depended for their livelihoods and to other musics"

This quote by Brian Ferneyhough recommends that the Western musical canon was not simply a result of the progressive accumulation of musical works, but rather an item of opposition and subversion. This opposition and subversion was directed both at the judgment powers who offered composers with their incomes, and at other musics. This suggests that the Western musical canon was not simply an outcome of the progressive build-up of musical works, however rather a product of composers actively challenging the status quo and other musical designs. This quote highlights the value of composers in the development of the Western musical canon, and recommends that the canon was formed by the creative and subversive actions of composers.