NationStates Jolt Archive

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At this moment in time, Howard Shore. his work on the LOTR soundtrack is tremenous.

Wot no Morricone?

Either him or Clint Mansell for me. (Depends on my mood.)

I used to prefer James Horner, but at some point he fell back on simply plagiarizing himself (and he like most soundtrack composers mostly originally plagiarized actual composers in the first place). In "Troy" for example, the music when the two armies were about to meet for the first time was a clear attempt to regain the mastery of the scene in Braveheart depicting a similar thing. And of course both were imitations of the great Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky battle on the ice. But the quality of the former was poor even without the comparison to Prokofiev. The strings sounded like a radio shack synthesizer and the music had all the life and emotion of two rocks sitting on the ground.

So I'd have to say either John Williams - who can still surprise me into thinking he's not himself - or Danny Elfman, whose style is simply appealing. I voted Elfman.

Howard Shore's LOTR soundtrack is vastly overrated. Much like LOTR itself. Most people who say they like the soundtrack are really just big fans of the movie and have seen/heard it so much they've memorized it. It seems to happen with pretty much any major box office hit.

John Williams for sure.

Star Wars, Indiana Jones, ET, Jurassic Park - it's all good stuff.

John Williams.

But, why isn't Howard Shore up there for the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

Williams

Shore's music was good in the movie, but when i borrowed the CD from a freind to import it all into iTunes, the music alone just isn't worth listening to.

William's music is fun to listen to on its own, as well as going perfectly with the movies it accompanies.

Shore's does not stand on its own.

John Williams
Any man who can make the Star Wars soundtrack is not only my hero, but my god. And yes, I am a nerd.

Oh, man how can anyone not say Ennio Morricone?
(Actually, how do you even say his name properly?)
Come on - the whistling from 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'. Best bit of soundtrack ever done. Close second would be the nurse whistling in 'Kill Bill' (also one of his).

Hans Zimmer (i.e. Gladiator).

Oh, man how can anyone not say Ennio Morricone?
(Actually, how do you even say his name properly?)
I've always pronounced it en-y-o mo-ri-cone-y.

No idea if that is right.

Come on - the whistling from 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'. Best bit of soundtrack ever done. Close second would be the nurse whistling in 'Kill Bill' (also one of his).

I always thought the harmonica theme from Once Upon a Time in the West was better.

Williams

Shore's music was good in the movie, but when i borrowed the CD from a freind to import it all into iTunes, the music alone just isn't worth listening to.

William's music is fun to listen to on its own, as well as going perfectly with the movies it accompanies.

Shore's does not stand on its own.

I respectfully disagree. I listen to Shore's soundtracks more than I watch the LOTR movies. But then again, I am widely known for a strange taste of music. :D

John Williams.

But, why isn't Howard Shore up there for the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

I'll admit, there are a LOT of great composers I forgot. So to them- and to you- I hereby apologize. :(

And for the record, I voted for Williams.

Not that this really counts, but I'd say Andrew Lloyd Weber for Phantom, now that its a movie. Otherwise, probably John Williams...

I respectfully disagree. I listen to Shore's soundtracks more than I watch the LOTR movies.

Yup. one of the soundtracks is usually what inhabits my CD player. but that's also because I enjoy freaking the people on the train out. Instead of the predictable drum-machine that comes from most players, they just get incredibly loud evil chanting from mine. heehee.

I love the LOTR soundtrack... It's superb.

But, I still voted for John Williams, because he's done more work on movies than Shore has so far (I think).

Elmer Bernstein.

Honorable mention to Anton Karas.

Of the choices listed, Id say theres no contest in my mind that it ought to be Williams - but other notables not listed here include Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman, whos work in 'The Last of the Mohicans' was nothing short of sheer brilliance. :)

Of the choices listed, Id say theres no contest in my mind that it ought to be Williams - but other notables not listed here include Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman, whos work in 'The Last of the Mohicans' was nothing short of sheer brilliance. :)


I'd have put you as more of a mancini man, myself. I know he didn't JUST do soundtracks.... but you can't beat the pink panther. Oh dear, that just sounds wrong.

I don't think Williams is that great. All his compostions are basically rehashes of previous ones. He's not that innovative.

I'll admit, there are a LOT of great composers I forgot. So to them- and to you- I hereby apologize. :(
Indeed...

Btw for those who don't know Hans Zimmer, here's his Wikipedia entry:


Hans Florian Zimmer (born September 12, 1957) is a German composer, best known for composing movie soundtracks. He is the head of DreamWorks' music department.

Born in Frankfurt, Zimmer began his musical career playing keyboards and synthesizers, among others with the bands Ultravox and The Buggles ("Video Killed the Radio Star").

In the 1980s, he started composing and producing sound tracks for movies. His breakthrough came in 1988, with the theme for Rain Man, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Since then, Zimmer has composed music for many major movies, such as The Rock, Gladiator, The Last Samurai, U-571, Thelma and Louise, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Pearl Harbor and Mission: Impossible II. In 1995, he received an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the animated movie The Lion King.

Stylistically, Zimmer uses heavy brass and percussion with prominent strings. Simplistic melodies, easily exemplified by Pearl Harbor's and Gladiator's, score, dominate each of his soundtracks.

He is the co-founder, along with Jay Rifkin, of Media Ventures, which houses many stylistically similar composers.


And a list of his movie scores:


* Moonlighting - electronic effects with Stanley Myers
* The Last Emperor - co-production of soundtrack album
* My Beautiful Laundrette - musical performance
* Rain Man - mixing classical and pop styles getting an oscar nomination
* Diamond Skulls
* Black Rain - including a song
* Driving Miss Daisy - delightful syncopations
* Twister
* Bird on a Wire
* Chicago Joe and the Showgirl
* Days of Thunder
* The Neverending story II
* Thelma and Louise - electric guitar solos expressing the freedom of the open road
* K2
* Toys
* Drop Zone
* The Power of One - an incredible African choral score dating before Zimmer's work on the Lion King, with a small contribution by Beethoven
* Pacific Heights
* Backdraft - this firefighting movie has Zimmer's trademark mix of classical sounds plus contemporary popular music beats
* Regarding Henry
* A League of Their Own
* True Romance - a simple and catchy theme tune
* The Lion King - not the Elton John songs but lots of oscar-winning African mood
* Crimson Tide
* Calendar Girl
* Green Card - delicate cues and jungle drums, amid Mozart wind concertos, tracks by Enya, and Theodorakis' "Zorba the Greek"
* Nine Months - some classical sounding work like a Mozart slow movement
* The Thin Red Line - powerfully moving
* As Good as it Gets - a delicate underscore, and arrangements of Eric Idle's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"
* The Rock - includes some "rock music" appropriately enough among the steely determination and heroics
* Muppet Treasure Island - Zimmer didn't write the songs, but there is quite a lot of orchestral underscore in full pirate mode
* The Prince of Egypt
* The Peacemaker - Russian-sounding action music with some nocturnes by Chopin
* The Preacher's Wife
* Gladiator - Mars from the Planets! and Eastern Mediterranean sounds with help from Lisa Gerrard
* Hannibal - Electronics, Bach, Classical, everything!
* Mission Impossible 2 - with Zimmer's familiar world fusion, includes some Spanish sounding acoustic guitar work, more vocals by Lisa Gerrard and lots of timpani for the climactic fight scene
* Pearl Harbour
* Black Hawk Down - an effective use of ethnic influences
* Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - Zimmer contributed to the Bryan Adams soundtrack for this animated feature
* Johnny English - co-writing a song with Robbie Williams for this Spy Spoof
* Pirates of the Caribbean - although the main composer credit goes to Klaus Badelt of Zimmer's Media Ventures company, the music bears a striking resemblance to that of "Gladiator" and Zimmer is credited as "Score Producer" and "Music Editor" plus "Additional Music" credits go to Zimmer and many others from the team
* King Arthur
* Thunderbirds - incorporating Barry Gray's wonderful TV theme
* Spanglish

Ennio Morricone

Where is Ennio????

Ennio Morricone > All,
2nd is Hans Zimmerman

As of right now, Mark Mothersbaugh.

Other goodies would be the omitted Ennio Morricone, and Basil Poledouris.

Without a doubt my favourite is Ennio Morricone. Michael Nyman is also great.

John Williams for sure.

Star Wars, Indiana Jones, ET, Jurassic Park - it's all good stuff.
Yeah, an it's all the same stuff too.

Howard Shore's LOTR soundtrack is vastly overrated. Much like LOTR itself. Most people who say they like the soundtrack are really just big fans of the movie and have seen/heard it so much they've memorized it. It seems to happen with pretty much any major box office hit.

I agree in that we can't be certain of Shore's LOTR until some of the "buzz" from the movies wears off. But I still think it's of some quality. Just at the outset, I think it's a little weaker "between" the leitmotifs, but I think the leitmotifs are, individually, of great quality. I haven't listened to the soundtrack on its own but probably will soon. Actually, I'll probably end up liking it if just for the fact that it'll remind me of listening to a favorite Brahms or Beethoven or Mahler symphony.

Without a doubt my favourite is Ennio Morricone. Michael Nyman is also great.


John Williams for sure.

Star Wars, Indiana Jones, ET, Jurassic Park - it's all good stuff.

Yeah, an it's all the same stuff too.

I disagree. Williams used a theme similar to "Schindler's List" in "Harry Potter" (pretty obvious, corresponding are the main themes), but I don't think he's in the practice of large-scale self-plagiarism. A composer is entitled to rip off of himself and continue ideas he's worked out in the past to a degree. Beyond the uncomfortable similarities between Harry Potter and Schindler's List I don't think Williams has crossed wandered out of the bounds of normalcy for composers.

Vangelis

Vangelis

holy.... I forgot about his soundtracks. They are veeeery good. I approve your choice. and give you a point.

holy.... I forgot about his soundtracks. They are veeeery good. I approve your choice. and give you a point.

Thank you. :)

His music is so easy to listen to and relax. There is the feeling of history and the toil and danger, but never a feeling of depression.

Shore/Morricone

Iwasaki Taku. End of story.

I disagree. Williams used a theme similar to "Schindler's List" in "Harry Potter" (pretty obvious, corresponding are the main themes), but I don't think he's in the practice of large-scale self-plagiarism. A composer is entitled to rip off of himself and continue ideas he's worked out in the past to a degree. Beyond the uncomfortable similarities between Harry Potter and Schindler's List I don't think Williams has crossed wandered out of the bounds of normalcy for composers.
Star Wars and Jurassic Park themes sound pretty similar to me.

I just don't think that Williams is a composer who ever strays outside what is safe, and tried and tested. He never takes any artistic risks, he's never unpredictable. That to me is the difference between him and a composer like Morricone.

Star Wars and Jurassic Park themes sound pretty similar to me.

I just don't think that Williams is a composer who ever strays outside what is safe, and tried and tested. He never takes any artistic risks, he's never unpredictable. That to me is the difference between him and a composer like Morricone.


I voted for Morricone (other) but I wouldnt say Williams isn't good
Cavatina is great... I like jurassic park theme also :)

Howard Shore's LOTR soundtrack is vastly overrated. Much like LOTR itself. Most people who say they like the soundtrack are really just big fans of the movie and have seen/heard it so much they've memorized it. It seems to happen with pretty much any major box office hit.

the books were much much better than the movies

Vangelis simply cannot be beat. I love the Blade Runner soundtrack--it really is like nothing else. Edgy, with a strong beat. Besides, nothing compares to the looks you get when you drive by someone with the End Credits from "Blade Runner" playing loudly. I also must admit to liking his Chariots of Fire. It has become the cliche motivational music, but I still love it for the way it rises and falls.

hans zimmer-

gladiator
black hawk down
the last samauri (although not his best)

the books were much much better than the movies

I agree.

I agree in that we can't be certain of Shore's LOTR until some of the "buzz" from the movies wears off. But I still think it's of some quality. Just at the outset, I think it's a little weaker "between" the leitmotifs, but I think the leitmotifs are, individually, of great quality. I haven't listened to the soundtrack on its own but probably will soon. Actually, I'll probably end up liking it if just for the fact that it'll remind me of listening to a favorite Brahms or Beethoven or Mahler symphony.

I don't think I have to wait for the buzz to wear off at all. THat would just be the way to determine it's popularity through time. But for me personally it doesn't matter how many people like it, I don't. Although of course, it has some quality. It's a good standard soundtrack. It just could have been done a lot better. I felt the motives were totally unappealing and weak, and there was too much hobbitty goodness.

I would have had less hobbit music, to make them seem more real and less like cuddly children. I know it was aiming for a kind of 'simple, peasant' esque but really, the whole world there was simple and peasant like...

Howard Shore for LOTR. I love the way the different themes and threads were woven together. And all those booming choirs of rugby players! :D

I was tossing up between Goldsmith and Horner but went for Goldsmith.

Star Wars and Jurassic Park themes sound pretty similar to me.

I just don't think that Williams is a composer who ever strays outside what is safe, and tried and tested. He never takes any artistic risks, he's never unpredictable. That to me is the difference between him and a composer like Morricone.

First, to my knowledge, Star Wars themes and the Jurassic Park themes are hardly related. Each contains a dozen or more individual thematic ideas, so maybe a comparison between a theme in Star Wars which is similar to a theme in Jurassic Park. I think the problem is just that the modern ear is spoiled. When modern audiences hear the development in the Eroica, for example, they hardly hear dissonance. Oh well. Schoenberg's already dead; I can't kill him again.

Williams doesn't gets into new age or serial music, but that doesn't mean that what he writes is never a risk. In 1977, the same year Star Wars was released, Saturday night Fever came out--with no orchestral music in the soundtrack. People were calling for the end of orchestral scores. In "Films in Review" from that summer Page Cook (film music critic) said described John Williams music as a "reaffirmation of the almost forgotten art of Hollywood film scoring" (pg. 423).

Williams does take artistic risks. That he stuck with what he believed in--orchestral film scores--was quite a risk. Morricone isn't exactly a the most eager gambler when it comes to film scoring, either. The spaghetti Westerns, for which he's best known, is pretty "safe, and tried and tested". Morricone was more active on the concert stage than Williams (Williams, I believe, being almost entirely inactive). I'm not sure what risks Morricone is taking that is grants his artistic accomplishments so much more weight than Williams'.

I don't think I have to wait for the buzz to wear off at all. THat would just be the way to determine it's popularity through time.

I, personally, would like mine and others' opinions about the movies to be subsided more before passing any final decision. I wouldn't be looking at the popularity, I'd be looking at more intrinsic, lasting value.

Ennio Moriconne for sure, followed by Vangelis, Basil Poledoris, Christopher Franke, Hans Zimmer, Randy Edelman (e.g. Gettysburg), Brian Tyler (Master and Commander, Children of Dune) and the guys who did the sundtracks of Baldurs Gate (I, II, ToB) and Icewind Dale (I, HoW, II).

John Williams or

Gustavo Santaolalla

Hands down...James Horner