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Let me preface this by saying that your post was insightful and intelligent, and you are to be lauded for your musical knowledge and passion. Here are my two cents:
I agree with Bach being numero uno. If there ever was a musical "genius" with a brain that should be examined, it's Bach. A 4-part fugue?! A 5-part fugue?! His ability to comprehend and design (how about the improvised Goldberg variations) was STAGGERING! Also, he was a pious dude who had dozens of kids (he got busy, baby!).
Now, rating Mozart above Beethoven ain't cuttin' for me. Scene 1: The Jackal walks into a room and hears some pleasant music which he hasn't heard before. Given it's light and airy feel, and the orchestration, the Jackal asserts that it's probalby Mozart. IT IS! My point is that a lot of his stuff sounds the same (it's pleasant, but it's not powerful). And before you respond with "what about Don Giovani" or something, I've got 3 words for you: "The Magic Flute." UGgh! Okay...Mozart was a prodigy, but so were a lot of the others on your list. Beethoven (also a prodigy) had more power and drama than Mozart could ever summon. Mozart deserves to be at the top, but I wouldn't rate him that high.
Then, you left out two of the greatest: Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt.
Liszt is often overlooked because his pieces are so difficult (to pianists) that he is accused of showing off and favoring difficult passages over sublime melodies (these people forget La Campenalla or Les Preludes I guess). Well, he was THE BEST pianist in history (if you disagree, do you think he was one of the best?), and he just wrote at the level he played. He was also the prototype rock star--women through jewels on stage for him (instead of underwear, but music at this time was still primarily for the upper class sponsors) and he "got busy," before turning pious at the end of his life.
Chopin, unlike Liszt, was the master of the subtle, sublime passage. Having not played instruments other than piano, his orchestration for his piano concerto #1 is considered perfection. But mainly his contributions were on the piano.
Also...personally, I find Schoenberg grating. Sorry (that's all I can say, and it's just a personal opinion). How Wagner made the list and Liszt (hee hee) and Chopin did not is highly confusing to me. I don't find Wagner technically, instrumentally, or melodically impressive.
Okay, so the Jackal's top five are as follows:
1. Bach
2. Beethoven
3. Liszt
4. Chopin
5. Mozart
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