Movie soundtrack composers...

[Darth Angelus]

I think we all know that music is crucial for setting the mood in movies. The track must not only be good by itself, but also set the one for the scene.
The composers may not end up in the spotlight as much as actor, but when they do their job well, they greatly contribute to our enjoyment.

With that said, is there an great composers of film music you think to be worth extra mention?

My personal favorite is probably Hans Zimmer. I think he does a fantastic job most of the time, and I can only think of him as extremely talented. He has composed a tremendous number of tracks that I just completely adore, and I can't think of a single one soundtrack of his that is not well above average. Just a great, great composer.
John Williams is also worth mentioning, of course, because he has done a great number of tracks which are just classic by now, from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and much more. He is also probably the most famous of them all.

Anyway, go ahead and tell who are your favorites...

[Perpetual Man]

Of the two mentioned so far I love them both of them, although I'd just slip Williams in front. (Possibly because he has been around longer so it has been more ingrained), but it is the anthemic nature of his themes that stick out - who does not know Star Wars. Or Jaws. Or Superman. Or Indiana Jones.

Others that stick out for me are Jerry Goldsmith - his Star Trek theme has become a definite part of the Star Trek history; Howard Shore for his Lord of the Ring Soundtrack.

But for me one that sticks out is James Horner. He may have won an Oscar for Titanic, but for me the Star Trek II & III soundtracks are a phenomenal piece of composing, in one case raising a movie to a whole new level, and giving the other at least something good to its name.

[Darth Angelus]

Thanks for suggestions!

I was thinking of mentioning Jerry Goldsmith, too. The Star Trek theme is classic. I just didn't know him well enough.

And I didn't think about Howard Shore, but yes, the Lord of the Rings soundtrack is epic.

I checked out James Horner, and my first impression is great, especially on Star Trek. I just have to listen more to make an assessment. Some great music takes a little time to learn to appreciate. I will definitely listen to both Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner more.


About Hans Zimmer again, one fantastic track is in the third Dark Knight Rises trailer (spoiler warning, though).

Another soundtrack composer I find worth mentioning, although he is not doing movies but the epic TV show Doctor Who, is Murray Gold. This is great, particularly after 2:00.

[Alex, The G and T]

I've been a big Michael Kamen fan. More for his work with rock bands; most notably the epic symphonic part he wrote for the San Francisco Symphony/ Metallica show. (S&M)

He also wrote soundtracks for quite a few notable films.

[Darth Angelus]

Yes, and it was really sad that he passed away so young (relatively, anyway). I only really knew him for S&M and the first X-men movie, but that was some great tracks that got emotionally involved in the scenes. Unfortunately, the soundtracks of later X-men movies, which were not his, was not up to the same level, in my opinion.

[Mr. Aware Eagle]

I love some of the ones mentioned- Williams, Zimmer, Shore.
I also love Michael Giacchino's work he's done with Ratatouille, Up and Star Trek.

[j. d. worthington]

Good suggestions all, though I must admit I am particularly prone to Goldsmith... not only his sff scores (which are classics in the genre) but also such works as that for A Patch of Blue, The 'Burbs, Papillon, Rio Lobo, Patton, The Sand Pebbles, etc., etc., etc.

I am suprized no one has mentioned Bernard Hermann, who wrote some of the classic film scores of all time, from Citizen Kane to The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad to Wuthering Heights to Psycho to Taxi Driver to Farenheit 451 to Vertigo to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (film, not tv series).... (He also wrote the original Twilight Zone theme, which was truly dreamy, eerie, and called up that twilight land which made the series so famous... not to be confused with the better known theme which later replaced it).

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002136/#Composer

Nor should we forget Max Steiner, who wrote a number of classic scores, including King Kong and Gone with the Wind:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000070/#Composer

or Franz Waxman, who wrote for several of the classic Universal horror films (including The Bride of Frankenstein):

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000077/#Composer

Ron Grainer also deserves a mention, for his often unique and evocative scores, but also for his iconic themes for Doctor Who and The Prisoner....

[Darth Angelus]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Good suggestions all, though I must admit I am particularly prone to Goldsmith... not only his sff scores (which are classics in the genre) but also such works as that for A Patch of Blue, The 'Burbs, Papillon, Rio Lobo, Patton, The Sand Pebbles, etc., etc., etc.

I am suprized no one has mentioned Bernard Hermann, who wrote some of the classic film scores of all time, from Citizen Kane to The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad to Wuthering Heights to Psycho to Taxi Driver to Farenheit 451 to Vertigo to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (film, not tv series).... (He also wrote the original Twilight Zone theme, which was truly dreamy, eerie, and called up that twilight land which made the series so famous... not to be confused with the better known theme which later replaced it).

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002136/#Composer

Nor should we forget Max Steiner, who wrote a number of classic scores, including King Kong and Gone with the Wind:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000070/#Composer

or Franz Waxman, who wrote for several of the classic Universal horror films (including The Bride of Frankenstein):

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000077/#Composer

Ron Grainer also deserves a mention, for his often unique and evocative scores, but also for his iconic themes for Doctor Who and The Prisoner....

I can just answer for myself as to why I have not mentioned these composers, and the primary reason is that I am too young to really be familiar with them and their work. I have not really watched many classics that go that far back.
In fact, my lack of this familiarity is one of the reason for starting this thread.

Still, I think that may be one of the primary reasons for others, as well.

Great that you brought them up, though. More listening suggestions, and movie soundtracks is one of my favorite genres (if it can be classified as a genre).

As for Ron Grainer, yes, the Doctor Who theme is one classic, and I adore it.

[iansales]

I've recently become a fan of Polish composer Andrzej Korzñyski's music. The soundtracks he wrote for Andrzej Żuławski's The Third Part of the Night and On The Silver Globe are excellent. Unfortunately, it seems soundtrack albums by Korzyñski are hard to find, though there are some samples on his website: http://korzynski.soundtracks.pl/

[Rodders]

John William's is always a favourite as he's written so many iconic soundtracks.

I like electronic music, so I used to like some of John Carpenter's soundtracks and Brad Fiedel's Terminator soundtracks were pretty cool. Maurice Jarre should get a mention too.

[chrispenycate]

Worth linking to this older thread http://www.chronicles-network.com/fo...lm-scores.html, as some of those who responded are no longer available.

Me? Oh, working therein I am professionally without opinion.

[johnnyjet]

In addition to some already mentioned (esp. John Williams & Bernard Hermann), I like the following who are not only film score composers, but also electronica/pop/progressive artists in their own right:

Vangelis - Chariots of Fire, Blade Runner, Cosmos documentary & others

Tangerine Dream - Sorceror, Firestarter, Thief, Legend & others

[INed]

Newman, Zimmerman, Horner are just adorable.

[dask]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

I am suprized no one has mentioned Bernard Hermann, who wrote some of the classic film scores of all time, from Citizen Kane to The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad to Wuthering Heights to Psycho to Taxi Driver to Farenheit 451 to Vertigo to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (film, not tv series).... (He also wrote the original Twilight Zone theme, which was truly dreamy, eerie, and called up that twilight land which made the series so famous... not to be confused with the better known theme which later replaced it).

He's my favorite. I've mentioned him several times since I've been at the Chrons. Heck, I knew who Bernard Herrmann was before I knew who Bernard Herrmann was. By that I mean before I could read I could tell by the style it was that guy again. Another composer I don't think has been mentioned yet is Ennio Morricone whose Dollar movie scores are some of the best music ever written. The theme to THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY is as original and memorable as they come, though some of the credit may have to go to his arranger Bruno Nicolai. Just a plain old piano score wouldn't have been half as effective. And I gotta go along with you guys on Jerry Goldsmith, the most chameleon of all movie composers. The guy just did not have a noticeable style, every theme was unique and perfectly fitted to the subject at hand. How could the same guy write the groundbreaking PLANET OF THE APES theme then turn around and give us homey, footstomping Waltons theme? I can't think of anyone more versatile.

[Alex, The G and T]

So... here's Michael Kamen and the San Francisco Symphony doing Ennio Morricone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKypYslGEA8

And then things get really interesting.

Here's a different take which I have seen at the opening of a couple of Metallica shows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqb2X...eature=related