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I was just curious about what other composers you people listen to. These are my favorites.
1. Danny Elfman – I don’t think I need to justify this.
2. Carter Burwell – Conspiracy Theory remains one of the great underappreciated
masterpieces of filmmusic.
3. John Ottman – Reading articles on various websites, I’ve found they often
recommend Ottman to Elfman fans, although he only
occasionally sounds like Elfman (The Cable Guy and Eight-
Legged Freaks come to mind) he is one of the best working
in movies today.
4. Angelo Badalamenti – You always hear about Tim Burton and Danny Elfman
being the best director/composer team since Hitchcock and
Herrmann (not that I disagree) but I think they are forgetting
David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti. What would Twin Peaks
be without Badalamenti’s eerie jazz score?Is this favourite composers, or just favourite film composers?!
But what the hell, I don’t have any favourite composers outside of film music, so… *laugh*
In no particular order of preference (it depends on my mood…):
Hans Zimmer (for “Gladiator”, “The Lion King”, and “Hannibal”, etc)
Thomas Newman (for “Meet Joe Black” and “American Beauty”, etc)
Howard Shore (for “The Silence of the Lambs”, etc)
Danny Elfman (you may have heard of him)John Ottman I really respect greatly for his fantastic symphonic reworking of John Carpenter’s “Halloween” theme for “Halloween H20”, and because of his great composer/editor/director montage on “Urban Legends 2: Final Cut”… (Not a great film, but I admire him for doing all three roles there!)
And James Newton Howard ought to get a mention for making me aware that film score CDs exist and that you CAN buy them!
Blue Sky (Who is pretending to not be a newbie to this forum)
James Horner- his ORIGINAL scores (apollo 13, land before time, aliens)
Hans Zimmer- bloodpumping hero anthems (pearl harbor, crimson tide, the rock, days of thunder, cool runnings)
Jerry Goldsmith- diverse and suprising (the mummy, small soldiers, rudy, air force one, the ‘burbs, star trek)
John Powell- a refreshing composer w/ a slight media ventures sound (road to eldorado, chicken run, shrek, evolution, antz)
Trevor Rabin- like Zimmer’s son his driving action music can be quite entertaining (armageddon, deep blue sea, enemy of the state)
John Williams- the classics never die (jurassic park, hook, star wars)
James Newton Howard- current big name in hollywood (signs, dinosaur, treasure planet)
Alan Silvestri- nostalgic themes never falter (back to the future, predator, forrest gump)…and the list goes onNone, really….I just haven’t found anyone else who interests me as much as Danny. I mean, I like work by other people, but not consistantly….
I’ll hear bits and pieces here and there–from movies, mostly (I have a penchant for Rob Zombie, Rammestein, and Squirrel Nut Zippers when not listening to Danny–feel free to insert giddy laughter at my expense, here–but only if it’s giddy).
But otherwise, it’s just him–suppose there are worst people I could’ve picked to obsess over, though….
oh! oh! Some of you mentioned James Newton Howard…that Treasure Planet soundtrack rocked. I was blown away since I hadn’t seen the movie before I bought the CD, and I had honestly gotten the CD for the Johnny Rzeznick songs.
Wah-hoo! Jurassic Park also rocks out! John Williams was right on with that one. Various Disney soundtracks come to mind, like the Lion King, but I’m more enamored of the second Lion King CD–Rhythm of the Pride Lands.Oh, and there’s this Danny dude that ya’ll keep crowing about. I like him too.
Jo the Elfgirl
Well, here are my picks (in any order that suits your insane tastes):
Danny Elfman (no, not Prince or Madonna, but Elfman)
Thomas Newman (No, not Randy)
James Newton Howard (can’t get enough of Signs and The Sixth Sense)
Rachel Portman (while her music, like William’s, falters in the long haul, she is brilliant)
Hans Zimmer (I listened to “The Battle” for 2 months every day)
Trevor Rabin (I still can’t get enough of Armageddon)
Howard Shore (While I wasn’t too big on Lambs, his score for The Fellowship slammed him into my top 10)
Hector Berlioz (Berli-wha? Think of the main theme for The Shining and you will know his work. He was a composer in the early 1800s who wrote the haunting Symphonie Fantastique. If you haven’t heard him, go buy a CD, NOW!!!)
Antonio Vivaldi (Ahh, the horrid thing that peg composers. You may have heard one of his themes from The Four Seasons in many TV shows, but he has done so much more. I had his Summer Concerto blaring on my stereo for months, and I still can’t get enough. He was around in the early 1700s)
Hmm, I need one more don’t I? Well, I would have to say:
Bernard Herrman (The screaching violins may be his trademark, but this guy reinvented the way we watch films [disagree all you want, but I bet Elfman would agree]. Talk about matching the tone of the film, this guy did it all. From Dark and disturbing, to Bright and Happy, this guy needs more respect)
After reading this, you may think they I favor one composer over another, and you are right. Danny Elfman will always be my favorite composer, he has inspired me beyond my wildest dream, he has moved me beyond emotion. While he may think he is not as good as some other composer, I don’t know of any other music, classically based or not, that has moved me so much.
Knight (I like Horner, but he is a hack, so he can kiss my ass
)Top 10 (Elfman would push one off) list:
Franz Liszt
Dimitri Shostakovich
Michael Nyman
Michael Torke
Wynton Marsalis
Dave Brubeck
John Williams
Jerry Goldsmith
Franz Waxman
Miklos Rozsa“No time for love Dr. Jones.”
Nat
D’oh!
I forgot Randy Newman (like Elfman- for both scoring and songwriting)!
This is hard.Nat
Well kids, my top favorites (other than Danny) are mostly 20th century wind band or symphonic composers.
1) Rolf Rudin –
Dreams of Oenghus: Glorious. This would make one helluva action/tragedy film score. (And it’s for WIND BAND! There isn’t enough good wind band material out there and for my money, nothing sounds better)
Die Druiden: Nice enough, a shorter piece. Nowhere close to Dreams, though.
2) Johan de Meij –
Lord of the Ring Symphony No. 1: Most everybody on here has heard this. I still prefer Mvt. 1 “Gandalf” to Shore’s “Fellowship theme” any day. (Originally orchestrated for wind band *ahem*)
La Quintissenza: The outtakes from LOTR; still damn good.
3) Shostakovich –
Anything by the man. (Film scores or otherwise)
4) Carolyn Bremer –
Early Light: WIND BAND! (Nothing, nothing, nothing sounds better than a well orchestrated wind band work, and this is it, baby. Gee, can you tell where my affinities lie? Lol…)
A new film composer whose work I’m really starting to enjoy immensely is Evan Evans. Check out his “Until Death” and “Hunting Humans” scores for pure action-thriller funrides.
-E
I’ve noticed no one else has mentioned Burwell or Badalamenti. Is anyone here familiar with their works?
My picks other than Danny Elfman:
Basil Poledouris (Conan the Barbarian, Starship Troopers)
Alan Silvestri (Judge Dredd, The Mummy Returns, Predator Main Title, main theme from Eraser)I don’t listen to much Badalamenti – although I had a friend in college who was a big fan and showed me the Lynch “stage” show that he composed (very interesting). The scores of his I do have I don’t listen to much.
As for Carter Burwell, I like his work for the Coen Brothers (especially Hudsucker Proxy), but my favorite score of his will always be And The Band Played On – it simply brings tears to my eyes, still he hasn’t done enough for me to call him a favorite. Although I do listen to Conspiracy Theory from time to time.
Just because I don’t list a composer as a favorite doesn’t mean I don’t listen to them – I own well over 3000 CDs and most bring me pleasure. My favorites are just those that find their way into my CD player more often than the others.
Nat
My top favs. are:
Danny Elfman (Responsible for my current film score obsession!!)
James N. Howard
Wojciech Kilar (For his Dracula score alone!)
John Williams (Right with the Nightmare Before Christmas, Jurrasic Park got me into film scores, also)
Howard Shore
Elliot Goldenthal
Koji Kondo (He did the theme for Mario Bros. … Shut up!!)Did Kondo do the theme from the game or the movie, because I thought the movie was by Alan Silvestri.
My favourites composers are:
* Danny Elfman (WOO HOO!) – pretty much all of his scores, apart from Midnight Run & Hot To Trot
* A very controversial James Horner – a lot of his scores
* Thomas Newman – all of his scores
All the best,
Mikey.Kondo did/does the original themes for all the Mario games. On the old Nintendo, they may just sound like blips and beeps, but the compositions are really great if you think about it. they just fit so well. I’d bet you’d be blown away if you heard the main theme played by a real orchestra!
Well Mr. Dantz, you may not have to wait long to hear that, because alot of new games coming out are going the orchestral route (but it really depends on the composer). For example, the latest game by id Software (makers of the Doom and Quake series), went to Bill Brown for the score to Return to Castle Wolfenstien (which was an awesome game). This was a big step from thier previous works with Sonic Mayhem (who did Quake 2 and Quake 3: Arena). We can only hope right?
Knight (The game music fan)
Wow, there are so common interests, I feel like I’m just being an echo, but these are my two faves:
Thomas Newman – his scores are so lush and eclectic at the same time. Faves are American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Meet Joe Black, Green Mile, and that 90 second cue that’s on the end of the Lost Boys soundtrack album
Carter Burwell – always lands the composer gig for the coolest movies and adds so much more to them. Faves are Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Three Kings, Velvet Goldmine
Other mentions for Mark Snow (The X-Files TV and movie), Mark Mothersbaugh (Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore), Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Mulholland Dr.), David Julyan (Memento, Insomnia), James Newton Howard (SIGNS!!!).
Then there are other composers whose soundtracks I have that makes you want to hear more of their work (even though I haven’t): Michael Andrews (Donnie Darko) and Cliff Martinez (Solaris).
W
hmmm, interesting subject-favorite composers-. I mean alright, by virtue of the fact most of us are regulars here, we all like Elfman…HOWEVER, I would like to honor the subject of MOMENTS OF GENIUS.
I love Elfman. I like his sound and his evolution. He’s definitely doing his own thing and that’s great, however, I don’t think*in my opinion*, anyone can account for the level of ingenuity he had in the early nineties. I don’t mean this to be a knock, but his sound at the time…was evolving, and as much as I love Nightbreed and Darkman, the monumental achievements that were BATMAN and EDWARD are unparalleled. And this typically goes for all composers. Moments of genius. I think John Williams is a great composer. and I don’t think anyone has done as much for movie music as he has. he consistently puts out quality scores, but some are better than others. Star Wars Main title, Jaws, Shindler’s List, Duel of Fates, are all moments of Genius in my opinion. Horner, Glory…Herrmann Psycho,North by Northwest, Vertigo…Barry…Wolves, Out of Africa…
Same goes for Goldsmith and all others…even classical composers. Someone name something besides “canon” by Pachabel? All these composers, some more than others, have the ability and voice to keep the listener intrigued. I like Elfman and Williams even when they’re not writing the most interesting things. but moment of genius must be recognized, and are generally more debatable than favorite composers.That is Canon in D Mahor by the way (he wrote more than one), but here you go (hehehe):
Hexachordum Apollinis (for Harpsicord or Organ, I prefer the Harpsicord for some reason) then you have his Organ works like Fantasia, Ciacona, Partita, and his Choral Preludes. That is all I can remember at the moment. Canon in D wasn’t even his best work, he just got pegged with it (Like Elfman/Simpsons, Williams/Jaws, Beethoven/5th Symphony 1st Movement, Vivaldi/Sping Concerto, ect.).
Basically, these are not moments of genius, these are unfortunate labels stuck on composers as “Oh, he is the guy who wrote [insert piece here], right?”. I think it is too bad because I didn’t even get into Orchestral music until I figured out that there is more than all these recognisable themes out there, and some are just friggan weird (which I love). All you gotta do is look.
Knight (Who believes that it’s all a matter of preferance)
That is Canon in D Major by the way (he wrote more than one), but here you go (hehehe):
Hexachordum Apollinis (for Harpsicord or Organ, I prefer the Harpsicord for some reason) then you have his Organ works like Fantasia, Ciacona, Partita, and his Choral Preludes. That is all I can remember at the moment. Canon in D wasn’t even his best work, he just got pegged with it (Like Elfman/Simpsons, Williams/Jaws, Beethoven/5th Symphony 1st Movement, Vivaldi/Sping Concerto, ect.).
Basically, these are not moments of genius, these are unfortunate labels stuck on composers as “Oh, he is the guy who wrote [insert piece here], right?”. I think it is too bad because I didn’t even get into Orchestral music until I figured out that there is more than all these recognisable themes out there, and some are just friggan weird (which I love). All you gotta do is look.
Knight (Who believes that it’s all a matter of preferance)
Thanks for doing that Knight. I’m glad someone said it. How about how Ravel (possibly one of the best 20th century orchestrators) got saddle with “that Bolero guy” when it was just an orchestration exercise. The excerpt mania that plagues us is something that eats at me, but as long as it gets someone into the classical world it is fine. What really gets me are people who say that they listen to all types of music “even classical” when they really mean that they know a handful of classical themes by the rank-and-file classical composers (i.e. Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin). In the world today where everything is packaged in nice, neat 5 minute songs most people don’t have the time and patience to sit through a 30 to 60 minute symphony and reap the rewards. You don’t read only 5 pages of a novel do you? Of course not, so why then settle for bite-sized classical excerpts?
Hooked on Classics was one of the things that really pulled me into the world of classical music (along with hearing all of Toccata and Fugue in D minor on the radio), but I didn’t stop there, It was just the tip of the iceberg.
Nat
Thanks again Knight for bringing this up.
Wow Nat, we are in total agreement. I just think it’s a pitty when no one will acually sit back and enjoy a FULL piece of music. For example, there are various pieces in Holst’s “The Planets”, but who acually listens to all of them at once? More of less, someone will just listen to Mars or Jupiter and leave it at that. I have even heard people calling Orff’s “O Fortuna” Carmina Burana, when this is only a part of a whole that they are leaving out. I can understand that some people can’t really get into it (alot of it WAS written hundreds of years ago), but hey, you all like Danny right? Then you could probably get into some of it.
The thing that really kept me from orchestral music was the fact that all I heard was Beethoven, Mozart, ect. I do believe these guys are totally brilliant, but it wasn’t my thing. No one introduced me to Rachmaninoff, Berlioz, Vivaldi (Besides the Spring Concerto), and this is the bad thing. If you want to find good music, you have to dig, and it’s really hard now with “classical” being a bad word and such (at least most people my age think so). Hell, I didn’t even realise I liked Danny’s music until 1 year ago.
I grew up on 80’s pop (which I detested but my mother played it like crazy), then went to my whole “grunge” phase, then into the metal phase, then to a black metal phase, then, for some odd reason, I listened to Edward Scissorhands, and I was hooked. I probably would have been alot sooner if someone had just stepped up and introduced me to the fine world of Film music, not to mention romantic and baroque.
I still like all the music that I liked before, but this has opened my eyes to what music is really capable of doing. Whew, that’s good for now.
Knight (Writes-to-much-film-music-nerd)
Funny that you mention The Planets because that is what has been in my CD player the last couple of days (I do have a 40 CD changer, but I still have over 3000 CDs to choose from so this chance is a long one). I actually love the last two movements the most, Uranus (which is a bitch to play) and Neptune – the way the whole Symphonic Suite ends is a perfect parallel to how it begins (Mars). I just got the NAXOS recording that includes Colin Matthews Pluto, The Renewer that pretty much continues the tone of Neptune. For anyone on a budget and willing to explore classical music NAXOS is a wonderful CD label.
A small correction – As for Carmina Burana, Carl Orff actually wrote it in 1936; setting it to ancient texts. Orff actually died in 1986. O Fortuna opens and closes the work, but my favorite section is the 3rd one (the Latin name escapes me at the moment). It was Orff who got me interested in modern music – I sought out other classical music written within the century. That led to Stravinsky, and my greatest discovery – the music of Shostakovich (I’m glad I was an impressionable kid in the late 1980s).
Nat
Keep up the good fight brave Knight!
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