Favourite Score Composers

[Mark]

Over the last few years I have become quite a fan of film/tv scores and have amassed quite a collection on the iPod. I love listening to them for a bit of mood music, like when I want to just chill out and relax and so on. I also find that score music can sometimes be quite inspirational in helping me with ideas for videos and the such.

I have selected a whole bunch of my favourite composers who I listen to a heck of a lot (including those that have a large portion of the fame for film-scores)

So... Who is your favourite score composer and what sets them apart from others...

(I've added some of the biggest movies for each person for those that aren't always sure who did what...)

Alan Menken - The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Enchanted, Little Shop of Horrors
Alan Silvestri - Van Helsing, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Beowulf
Charlie Clouser - Saw, Resident Evil: Extinction
Christophe Beck - Buffy (Series), Angel (Series), Elektra, The Pink Panther (2006)
Craig Armstrong - Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Danny Elfman - Batman, Spiderman, Men In Black, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, Terminator Salvation, The Simpsons (Series Theme)
David Arnold - Independence Day, Stargate, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Hot Fuzz
Hans Zimmer - Batman Begins*, The Dark Knight*, Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest, Gladiator, The Lion King
James Horner - Casper, Troy, Bicentennial Man, The Mask Of Zorro, Titanic, Apollo 13, Aliens
James Newton Howard - Batman Begins*, The Dark Knight*, Peter Pan (2003), I Am Legend, Confessions of a Shopaholic
John Williams - Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., Schindlers List, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter (and the Philosophers Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban)
Jerry Goldsmith - Gremlins, First Blood (Rambo), Star Trek TNG (Series), Star Trek: First Contact, The Mummy, Hollowman
Marco Beltrami - Scream 1, 2 & 3, I Robot, Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines,
Nicholas Hooper - Harry Potter (and the Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince)
Patrick Doyle - Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), Bridget Jones Diary, Harry Potter (and the Goblet of Fire), Eragon
Randy Newman - Toy Story, Cars, James and the Giant Peach, Meet the Parents
Thomas Newman - Finding Nemo, Wall-E, Amerian Beauty, The Green Mile,

Personally i'm predicting that John Williams will be walking away with this one because of a damn few more notable scores, but could see Danny Elfman or Hans Zimmer also up near the top of the votes...


*Collaboration between Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard.

 

[furie]

Vangelis - Blade Runner (J'Adore), Chariots of Fire, 1492.

I'm such an 80's child

Danny Elfman I love, but his stuff is all so similar sounding. There's not a mass of diversity in his work.

John Williams is just the score master. Belting main themes and wonderful incidental music. The problem is, his stuff is so good, you don't even notice how much of a difference it's making to the film

Oh, James Horner actually. Aliens soundtrack is absolutely and utterly fantastic. However, he's even more samey than Elfman (Patriot Games is almost identical to the Aliens soundtrack) - but he deserves a mention just for capturing the fear and tension in Aliens so well - it's what pulls the film from being very good to exceptional!

Actually, Horner (just checked) did the soundtrack for some of my favourite films through the last 30 years :lol: Didn't realise.

 

[Mark]

CHRIST. How did I miss James Horner... What flipping plank. I think I best add that in before anyone else votes!

He actually composed one of my favourite pieces from a score ever. Casper's Lullaby from Casper is simply one of the most beautiful sounding, stirring, emotionally touching pieces of music I have ever heard. Funny how even a dodgy kids film can have a blinding score.

 

[jayjay]

It's a difficult choice between Williams and Zimmer. Williams is fantastic and everybody could hum the tune to one of his main themes (and there's probably nobody not familiar with the Jaws theme). I think my personal favourite Williams theme would be Schindler's List. Such a haunting melody.

I've voted for Zimmer though. His music is brilliant without a doubt.

 

[Leighton]

Hans Zimmer.

Pirates <3

On that note it is worthwhile mentioning Klaus Badelt too.

 

[Ormerod]

Hans Zimmer, and you missed off Hannibal which was some of his greatest. Also Rain Man.

 

[Mark]

I did say that it was just a few mentions of the films/works they had scored. I haven't seen Hannibal so I wouldn't know what the score is like for it!

Leighton, I did indeed miss Klaus Badelt, very good though!

 

[LiveForTheLaunch]

Hans Zimmer purely for the Lion King!

But, the Green Mile music stuff is pretty great too, so that guy is sweet as well .

Aw screw it they've all done some excellent stuff.

 

[Ormerod]

Mark, you should watch the Hannibal films chronologically

I do think Hannibal is beautifully set with the soundtrack backing it up.

 

[Lain]

From that list; Thomas Newman, John Williams, Hans Zimmer and Alan Silvestri are my favourites.

I also love David Newman, Vangelis and Harry Gregson-Williams.

Fun.

 

[wash]

I love James Newton Howard and Howard Shore, but John Williams gets my vote.

 

[jokerman]

People claim Williams is the best, but having played a number of his works in an orchestra, I know that they are all the same, everytime.

It has to be Zimmer, the way he writes is just so exciting.

 

[Ben]

I think Williams is vastly over-rated. He's good, and he's written some of the most recognisable tunes ever, but, that's only because they're simple. And annoying. I don't actually like them "musically" (except Jurassic Park!)

I love Zimmer, he's absolutely amazing. As is Elfman. I don't really agree with people saying he's samey... He writes for the atmosphere of the film, and ALWAYS fits. It just happens a lot of the films have the same "Burton" atmosphere.

Hooper is AMAZING as well. I really hope he does a lot after Harry Potter!

Newman is another amazing one. American Beauty has a perfect soundtrack (and a better "theme" than anything Williams has written ) Wall-E is also stunning, so is stuff like A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Then there's Menken, who is phenomenal.

I have to give Jim Dooley props for the Pushing Daisies soundtrack! Probably the best TV soundtrack ever!

Angelo Badalementi needs a mention too! A lot of his work isn't THAT great, but, his work on Lynch's projects is always amazing - Mulholland Drive, Wild and Heart, The Straight Story, and, most importantly, Twin Peaks, are all amazing.

And I love James Horner too! Aliens is great, I agree with Furie, as is Legends of the Fall! He just seems to often pick, um, not great films, which affects it a bit for me (stupidly!)

But, I vote Elfman <3

 

[A-Kid]

Ether Hans or Charlie are best.

 

[Lain]

I have to give Jim Dooley props for the Pushing Daisies soundtrack! Probably the best TV soundtrack ever!

Nope, that would be Lost.

Which reminds me, Michael Giacchino. <3

 

[Ben]

I have to give Jim Dooley props for the Pushing Daisies soundtrack! Probably the best TV soundtrack ever!

Nope, that would be Lost.

Which reminds me, Michael Giacchino. <3

No.

 

[Lain]

Communist.

 

[nealbie]

He's not from Barcelona so he can't be! :wink:

My mum however, is a communist

 

[Gavin]

From the list I really like Danny Elfman (samey, yes, but great music), Jerry Goldsmith (the music for Gremlins is among my favourites) and Alan Menken (responsible for the best Disney music ever).

Not included, but who I also like would be:

Wojciech Kilar: His score for Dracula is brilliant. In my opinion, the best horror soundtrack ever.

Philip Glass: Ok, so not best known for film scores, but I love his stuff. His score for Candyman is gorgeous.

Max Steiner: SHOULD be in the list! 26 Oscar nominations. He was basically the John Williams of the 30s and 40s. He MADE so many of the films he scored.

Bernard Herrmann: What he did with Hitchcock was pure brilliance. The Psycho shower scene? Some of the most iconic movie music ever.

Franz Waman: For the same reasons as Max Steiner.