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But I can only do five, and would anyone really argue with my five?
I would. No Italians. Granted, "Rozsa" ends in a vowel, so that is a concession.
Fair enough -- see how hard it is? I really should have included Morricone at the least. Okay, let's do different countries for each:
Goldsmith
Shostakovich
Morricone
Delerue
Hayasaka
Damn that was still pretty hard.
Yavar
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How are we defining greatest?
Or is the question we're actually answering, "Who do I like best?"
If we define greatest as the combination of prolific, commercial and critical success, the top two must surely by John Williams and Ennio Morricone.
If we define greatest as who we like best, then forget it: there is no universal list.
Cheers
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Lists themselves don't reveal anything. I'd like to see people explain why they think so-and-so is greatest.
For me...
If we're talking greatest as in having the greatest achievements and impacts both on the art form and on the film going public, then I'd propose:
1. John Williams
2. Ennio Morricone
3. Bernard Herrmann
4. Max Steiner
5. Hans Zimmer
I choose these people not based on how much I like their music, but on how prolific they've been, how much critical and commercial success they've had and how much impact they've had on the evolution of the form and on the film press and film going public.
Williams is top simply because he's scored more "top ten" films than anyone, has probably written more famous music than anyone, did more than anyone to change the trajectory of film music in the 1970s, has more Oscar nominations than anyone, is probably most famous with the man on the street, etc, etc, etc.
As for Zimmer, you might not like him but he is also changing the trajectory of film music and is fast becoming film music's "man of the century" with the press and the public at large. If it isn't already the case, he will soon be second in fame with the public only to Williams.
If we're talking greatest as in simply the best (as in greatest master of the medium on a technical level), irrespective of critical or commercial success and public impact:
1. Jerry Goldsmith
2. John Williams
3. Miklos Rosza
4. Bernard Herrmann
5. Ennio Morricone
I place Goldsmith top on this list because whilst he did not become a famous name like Mancini or Williams, I do believe he has demonstrated the greatest depth, breadth, innovation and mastery in the medium.
If we're talking about greatest as in who's music really does it for me:
1. John Barry
2. Bernard Herrmann
3. Jerry Goldsmith
4. Ennio Morricone
5. John Williams
The reason Barry tops this list is his music does more for me than any other and I think he could get under the skin of a film and its audience better than anyone. He did not demonstrate the same breadth and depth of mastery in "music for orchestra" as some others, but he touched hearts.
Cheers
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Bernard Herrmann
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Miklos Rozsa
Elmer Bernstein
Alex North
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1. Erich Wolfgang Korngold
2. Miklos Rozsa
3. Franz Waxman
4. Bernard Herrmann
5. Jerry Goldsmith
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1. Erich Wolfgang Korngold
2. Miklos Rozsa
3. Franz Waxman
4. Bernard Herrmann
5. Jerry Goldsmith
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Five greatest to me right now are
John Williams
James Horner
Miklos Rozsa
Hans Zimmer
Elmer Bernstein
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