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Highly subjective topic ... which could lead to numerous arguments, mud-slinging and worse! But in the hope that we can list ... and if desired provide comments supporting our views ...
I absolutely believe that people can just share their five favorite film composers without resorting to arguments or mud-slinging. Everybody here has their favorites, and everybody's favorites are probably among the favorites of someone else, but no favorite will be everyone else's.
It's subjective for sure, no one is "right" or "wrong" about having their favorite composers.
Yeah this is easy: don't say why you think someone's favorite sucks and all of a sudden you have a positive conversation. We can use more of those here.
Looking over my playlists, I have a lot more Brian Tyler than I expected. I enjoy his bombastic style.
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My personal list would be:
1. Bernard Herrmann – GOAT in my book. He worked with so many amazing directors, scored some of the greatest films ever made, and contributed an extraordinary level of artistry to each film that he touched -- even when working with some clinkers. I listen to Herrmann more than any other composer bar none. He’s also simply a great composer, whether film related or just in the classical realm. His influence is still being felt in concert halls and in cinemas on an almost daily basis. IMHO “The King”.
2. Ennio Morricone – on some days Mr. Morricone becomes GOAT. He scored so many diverse and awesome films, in so many countries, for so many different directors. His collaborations rival Herrmann in their artistry and in what he contributed to the films that he scored. A genius, like Herrmann.
3. Akira Ifukube – also GOAT on some days. His films are all part and parcel of his overall aesthetic integrity and artistry. He worked with the great Japanese directors, which means that he worked with GOAT directors, too. An amazing oeuvre. Like Herrmann, he had a personal style that he adapted effortlessly to a dizzying variety of genres. His classical works are also works of genius. Ifukube is second only to Herrmann in terms of time spent listening to his work.
4. Elmer Bernstein – Mr. Bernstein’s career spanned decades, every genre imaginable, and his “sound” defined many genres. Westerns? Bernstein. Modern comedies? Bernstein. 1960’s Soap Operas? Bernstein. Modern dramas with a poetic edge? Bernstein. Jaunty action films? Bernstein. Religious epics? Bernstein.
5. Miklos Rozsa – Mr. Rozsa also defined many genres, and his career encompassed the golden age to the era of European auteur cinema. No one else sounds like Rozsa. Sweeping epic stories? Rozsa. Gritty urban noirs? Rozsa. Psychological psychodramas? Rozsa. Fantasy epics? Rozsa.
As others have noted, this list, except for nos. 1-3, tends to change as I age. But Herrmann, Morricone, and Ifukube will always be at the top for me.
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Posted: |
Sep 29, 2022 - 1:13 PM
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By: |
filmusicnow
(Member)
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My personal list would be:
1. Bernard Herrmann – GOAT in my book. He worked with so many amazing directors, scored some of the greatest films ever made, and contributed an extraordinary level of artistry to each film that he touched -- even when working with some clinkers. I listen to Herrmann more than any other composer bar none. He’s also simply a great composer, whether film related or just in the classical realm. His influence is still being felt in concert halls and in cinemas on an almost daily basis. IMHO “The King”.
2. Ennio Morricone – on some days Mr. Morricone becomes GOAT. He scored so many diverse and awesome films, in so many countries, for so many different directors. His collaborations rival Herrmann in their artistry and in what he contributed to the films that he scored. A genius, like Herrmann.
3. Akira Ifukube – also GOAT on some days. His films are all part and parcel of his overall aesthetic integrity and artistry. He worked with the great Japanese directors, which means that he worked with GOAT directors, too. An amazing oeuvre. Like Herrmann, he had a personal style that he adapted effortlessly to a dizzying variety of genres. His classical works are also works of genius. Ifukube is second only to Herrmann in terms of time spent listening to his work.
4. Elmer Bernstein – Mr. Bernstein’s career spanned decades, every genre imaginable, and his “sound” defined many genres. Westerns? Bernstein. Modern comedies? Bernstein. 1960’s Soap Operas? Bernstein. Modern dramas with a poetic edge? Bernstein. Jaunty action films? Bernstein. Religious epics? Bernstein.
5. Miklos Rozsa – Mr. Rozsa also defined many genres, and his career encompassed the golden age to the era of European auteur cinema. No one else sounds like Rozsa. Sweeping epic stories? Rozsa. Gritty urban noirs? Rozsa. Psychological psychodramas? Rozsa. Fantasy epics? Rozsa.
As others have noted, this list, except for nos. 1-3, tends to change as I age. But Herrmann, Morricone, and Ifukube will always be at the top for me.
Rozsa scored at least one comedy ("Adam's Rib") and one Western ("Tribute To A Bad Man").
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Posted: |
Sep 29, 2022 - 1:50 PM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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Ennio Morricone
I love the idea of having a certain craziness as a condiment to a solid musical education, and it’s this inspired edge to his music that makes him my favourite.
John Barry
Always in my top two favourites from literally as far back as I can remember. A better and more rounded and sophisticated composer than many people allow.
John Williams
I didn’t really want to include him because there are many other composers I’m fonder of in smaller doses, but then I think of The Eiger Sanction, Earthquake, Cinderella Liberty and a few others and I can’t exclude him.
Nino Rota
His music for Fellini is amongst the most wondrous ever written for film.
Akira Ifukube
Really first among equals of a whole range of composers that could take this last spot, including Sakamoto, Fielding, Goodwin, Giacchino, Legrand, Jarre, Delerue, and Gold. My favourite of his is Ritmica Ostinata, not a film score at all.
If the question was “who are your favourite composers who have ever written film music”, I’m afraid Williams and Ifukube would have to make way for Shostakovich and Weinberg, who’d take two of the top three spots.
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I always think Tchaikovsky would had a good crack at film composing. When you read that the ballet choreographer would give him instructions like so many bars of such and such music then...... And we know what classics they are.
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As would have Respighi, Rimsky-Korsakov, and, one of my very favorites, Glazunov!
Excellent shout.
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Ennio Morricone
I love the idea of having a certain craziness as a condiment to a solid musical education, and it’s this inspired edge to his music that makes him my favourite.
John Barry
Always in my top two favourites from literally as far back as I can remember. A better and more rounded and sophisticated composer than many people allow.
John Williams
I didn’t really want to include him because there are many other composers I’m fonder of in smaller doses, but then I think of The Eiger Sanction, Earthquake, Cinderella Liberty and a few others and I can’t exclude him.
Nino Rota
His music for Fellini is amongst the most wondrous ever written for film.
Akira Ifukube
Really first among equals of a whole range of composers that could take this last spot, including Sakamoto, Fielding, Goodwin, Giacchino, Legrand, Jarre, Delerue, and Gold. My favourite of his is Ritmica Ostinata, not a film score at all.
If the question was “who are your favourite composers who have ever written film music”, I’m afraid Williams and Ifukube would have to make way for Shostakovich and Weinberg, who’d take two of the top three spots.
i totally agree with you!!!
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John Barry
Jerry Goldsmith
Ennio Morricone
Thomas Newman
Vangelis
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My Top Three:
#1- JOHN WILLIAMS
#2 -JOHN BARRY
#3 -JERRY GOLDSMITH
(My ranking of these 3 never changes... They have always been my favorites)
Followed by:
#4 - LALO SCHIFRIN
#5 - HENRY MANCINI
#6 - ELMER BERNSTEIN
#7 - ENNIO MORRICONE
#8 - BERNARD HERRMANN
#9 - BASIL POLEDOURIS
(My ranking of these 6 occasionally switch around "slightly")
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