Favorite Composer

[Hawkzombie]

So, let's show a little culture around here. Favorite ALL TIME composers OF ANYTHING FROM CLASSICAL TO MOVIES TO VIDEO GAMES AND BEYOND!

Ennio Morricone. I dare anyone to disagree that the man is THE sound for American Westerns (That were shot in Italy/Spain and used Italian extras).

These two themes still give me chills and evoke a sense of emotion no other pieces of music really have.

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I LOVE this song. Favorite piece of music of all time, for several reasons...also one of the greatest stand-offs in Western history, even beating out the finale stand-off in The Good The Bad and the Ugly IMO.

[Dorkandproudofit]

John Williams. No contest.

[cawblen]

I actually had to stop and think about it. I'm gonna have to go with Hans Zimmer.

Runners up:
- John Williams
- Howard Shore
- Danny Elfman

[violent]

Damon Albarn and Micheal Nyman

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[Thanasimos]

Bach, Aaron Funk, or Ennio Morricone.

[Vandabo]

Have to go with John Williams. The man can actually score emotion.

Binary Sunset and the Throne Room from A New Hope, the Imperial March from Empire Strikes Back, the theme from Schindler's List, the Indiana Jones theme, and Welcome to Jurassic Park are just absolutely perfect in every way, and that's just a few of his masterpieces.

The music at the moment when Hammond says "Welcome to Jurassic Park" is the perfect embodiment of wonder and awe, and it makes you feel exactly what the characters are feeling. It sends a chill down my spine everytime I hear it.

[Panthera]

Totally biased, but Nobuo Uematsu.

[Generation ABXY]

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Love that tune! If I ever have a cellphone, it'll be my ringtone... this I swear. :D

[trevrd]

Cliff Martinez.

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Also, Nobuo Uematsu since he's going to pop up eventually. :p

[cawblen]

Totally biased, but Nobuo Uematsu.

I'd have to agree with you, except the OP referred to movie composers.

[Superman's Dead]

http://blogs.bet.com/entertainment/spotlight/bet-blog/assets/2009/06/rza-300x300.jpg

Did you like Kill Bill? I bet you did.

[Squidbot]

Eno, Morricone, Clint Mansell (AKA Clint Popie), and Vangelis.

[Voodoo]

Danny Elfman

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7177/apespre2.jpg

[Krispy]

Phillip Glass.

[Expugnare]

Another vote for Hans Zimmer here. I don't usually listen to movie soundtracks but some of his stuff I actually have downloaded and listen to.

[Generation ABXY]

Okay, that Danny Elfman pic... it frightens me a bit.

It'd be hard for me to pick a specific composer, though I can point out a number of songs. This is one of my favorites:
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[Squidbot]

Phillip Glass.

Good call.

[rinichanraar]

I came in here to say Ennio Morricone, and I was pleased to see that he's who you chose also!

I LOVE this song. Favorite piece of music of all time, for several reasons...also one of the greatest stand-offs in Western history, even beating out the finale stand-off in The Good The Bad and the Ugly IMO.

Dude, I totally love that music, too! That scene is one of my favorite moments EVER. The way the score kicks in and plays along with the pocketwatch music during the standoff always gives me chills.

(Side note: I actually had a severe Lee Van Cleef obsession for awhile!)

What's funny is that you also chose "Ecstasy of Gold," which is Joey/pronounconnoun's favorite.

[Squidbot]

Rini had a Van Cleef fixation? We never noticed :p

[scythe]

I'd have to agree with you, except the OP referred to movie composers.
Well he did Advent Children... :D

A lot of people disregard him because apparently a composer that specializes in video game music is inherently beneath movie composers or even the classics, like Bach and Beethoven. I'm a classically trained musician, and I think he stands among the greatest of all time, whether it's based on popular appeal (proportionally, since he obviously caters to a smaller audience) or even the technicality of his writing.

I mean really...
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[Hawkzombie]

I came in here to say Ennio Morricone, and I was pleased to see that he's who you chose also!



Dude, I totally love that music, too! That scene is one of my favorite moments EVER. The way the score kicks in and plays along with the pocketwatch music during the standoff always gives me chills.

(Side note: I actually had a severe Lee Van Cleef obsession for awhile!)

What's funny is that you also chose "Ecstasy of Gold," which is Joey/pronounconnoun's favorite.

They're both good pieces of music! And The Musical Pocket Watch, I dunno...something about it gets me EVERY time with how awesome it is, and it's so simplistic, but the scene oozes style and depth.

Love that tune! If I ever have a cellphone, it'll be my ringtone... this I swear. :D

I actually tried it once, but it's too easy to miss if your phone is at your side on in a pocket or something :p



Lots of good picks here I hadn't even considered, and that Ravenous piece was actually rather catchy.

EDIT: And pick whichever composer you prefer! Movie, classical, video game...whatever. Just because I picked Ennio Morricone and he's a movie composer, please don't feel limited.

[Generation ABXY]

The way the score kicks in and plays along with the pocketwatch music during the standoff always gives me chills.

I have to say, that's probably what I like most about the tune. Few movies seem to weave together all their elements to such effect.

[Squidbot]

Now I'm motoring down the cracked, post apocalyptic highway in Fallen Earth listening to Morricone, and damn if it doesn't fit beautifully.

[cawblen]

Well he did Advent Children... :D

A lot of people disregard him because apparently a composer that specializes in video game music is inherently beneath movie composers or even the classics, like Bach and Beethoven. I'm a classically trained musician, and I think he stands among the greatest of all time, whether it's based on popular appeal (proportionally, since he obviously caters to a smaller audience) or even the technicality of his writing.

I mean really...
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Oh i completely agree with you. Nobuo Uematsu is at the top of my list. I was merely trying to follow along with the whole movie composer thing. I totally forgot about Advent Children at the time so Uemastu counts!!

I'm changing my vote to Uematsu, sorry Zimmer.

[Mdot]

http://blogs.bet.com/entertainment/spotlight/bet-blog/assets/2009/06/rza-300x300.jpg

Did you like Kill Bill? I bet you did.

Totally jacked my pick

[rinichanraar]

Rini had a Van Cleef fixation? We never noticed :p

Ha, I had actually written something like, "Squiddy probably remembers, but I was totally obsessed with Lee Van Cleef for a while," but I wasn't sure if you actually did, so I erased it!

I can't remember if it took place before or after Hawkzombie started posting here, either, so I figured I'd mention it just in case. You know, since it's extremely important and all.


I have to say, that's probably what I like most about the tune. Few movies seem to weave together all their elements to such effect.

pronounconnoun and I somehow always end up in conversations about the diagetic/non-diagetic elements of movies, and this sort of, like, blending that occurs with the pocketwatch music and the score is just so wonderfully harmonious. I just love it.


Damon Albarn

If this were a "Musician Who, For Some Reason, I Find Totally Dreamy" thread, he'd be among my choices, too.

[violent]

If this were a "Musician Who, For Some Reason, I Find Totally Dreamy" thread, he'd be among my choices, too.

Is that not what this is?

[pomeroy]

If Elfman wasn't pretty much recycling his work at this point (and I mean Horner-like recycling), I'd probably give it to him.

But I don't really know, to be honest.

[Handmade.Mercury]

You're a bastard for using this thread title. I came in getting ready to post Chopin, and then saw that you had restricted it to movie composers. What the fuck, man?

[roboninja]

I don't care if it is nerd-trendy, John Williams is the man.

[Panthera]

Oh shit, yeah. I didn't read the whole original post.

If we're talking strictly movie, then I'll back up Ennio Morricone. It's really hard to beat that kind of passion in a piece of music. Failing that, Henry Mancini needs some props, and if we're going contemporary then I'll say Howard Shore produced some damn classic tunes for The Lord of the Rings.

[Serapth]

Movie composer? Why you hating on video games, hater?


Otherwise, we could include George Sanger, the man behind Loom, and just about every other game ever made, ever, except of course all the games he didn't do.

[Urizen]

I can't believe so many people picked John Williams. He's not a composer; he's an arranger. John Williams owes his career to Gustav Holst. Not a single 'composer' who ever lived is more overrated in my book.

Elfman is the man. Michael Giacchino is one of my current favorites. He won the Oscar this past year for his work on Pixar's Up.

[Hawkzombie]

Oh, shit...I DID write movie composer.

Sorry guys, post whomever you want, jesus :p I'll even edit the OP. lol

Fuck, there, done. Just don't kill me.

So, let's show a little culture around here. Favorite ALL TIME composers OF ANYTHING FROM CLASSICAL TO MOVIES TO VIDEO GAMES AND BEYOND!

[Psykoboy2]

You Hans Zimmer lovers (like myself) should check out Extreme Music (http://www.extrememusic.com).

[Hawkzombie]

You Hans Zimmer lovers (like myself) should check out Extreme Music (http://www.extrememusic.com).

Ok, that site is awesome.

[Psykoboy2]

He's got a few compositions there along with protègè's of his as well. All good stuff.

[Wasson_]

/Megapost
Micheal Giacchino. Destined for even more greatness to come.
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I also have to comment some of the excellent works by Jerry Goldsmith.
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Joe Hisaishi - Composer who has proved a vital part in the various epic productions by Studio Ghibli.
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But I will just take the opportunity to state that my favorite soundtrack is from Ben-Hur (which is also a favorite movie as well)

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I am not as familar with alot of 3 time oscar winner Miklós Rózsa's other works, but of what I've heard it's all very good. All has a similar sweeping epic style to it.

[CES]

My choices would have to be:

Morricone - There's no composer who can do so much with so little music other than possibly Vangelis.

Vangelis - See above, plus the fact that the man is the master of ethereal music.
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Hans Zimmer (and to a lesser extent, his Remote Control Productions soundhouse) - If you're looking for orchestral with enough low-end punch to send lesser humans into shock, he's the guy you're looking for.

Jean Michel Jarre - One of the pioneers of the school of thought that goes "well, I have all these instruments, what happens if I just twist random dials?"

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[Generation ABXY]

John Williams owes his career to Gustav Holst.

Indeed; my brother just about shit a brick when I played some of The Planets for him.

Sorry guys, post whomever you want...

Ah, well, that changes things. In that case, I'm a big fan of a lot of Grieg's stuff...

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...and Arvo Part...

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...but I think Samuel Barber moves to the top of the list simply because of Adagio for Strings (this is just my favorite version):
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[Dorkandproudofit]

In terms of Piano music, there can only be one: Chopin.

Hear the most beautiful piano piece ever written, period:

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[Generation ABXY]

I'm sometimes surprised how much taste can vary from one person to the next... I mean, I can point out at least three spots in there that remind me why I hated the piano for so long.

But, to each their own, of course.

[Dorkandproudofit]

No? Then how about some Copland?

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[Voodoo]

Oh! All composers now? That's easy... Here's my top 3:

1] Wilhelm Richard Wagner
2] Edvard Hagerup Grieg
3] Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

If I were to include a 4th, it would be a showdown between Bach and Mozart; Beethoven at the 5th. Har... Har...

[Dorkandproudofit]

I've always preferred the Romantic era. Chopin, Shumann, Beethoven (although he was more of a transition between the Classical and Romantic periods)... I can actually play some Tchaikovsky on the piano, though. :)

[Karak]

Jeremy Soule-Game Composer. Oblivion and others.
I got to meet him last week at PLAY. Not only was it an amazing concert but his stuff, played live was incredible. Man that was awesome.

[quidmonkey]

Stravinsky & Steve Reich

[Generation ABXY]

See, the Copland I actually liked.

Oh, and another movie composer I like is Joe Hisaishi; can't believe I missed him earlier (though Wasson didn't).

[txshurricane]

John Williams

Runners-up Jerry Goldsmith and Michael Kamen. I get choked up every time I hear the Dinosaur theme in a Disney trailer, or the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves theme in the Morgan Creek logo. Not to mention Mr. Holland's Opus.

Also, special mention: props to Randy Newman for all of the Pixar music.

[National Kato]

(Side note: I actually had a severe Lee Van Cleef obsession for awhile!)


Funny story: my close friend's last name is Van Cleef. I went over to her house about a month after meeting her for the first time through another friend and she gave me a tour of her apartment. We went upstairs and in the hall several framed pictures lined the walls. About four of them were signed stills from The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, mostly with Lee's character featured. I looked at her once I had put two and two together and she just smiled and said, "My grandfather."

Ever since, I can see nothing but Lee in her features, and she introduced me to my current girlfriend.

So, thank you Lee Van Cleef! :D

[Satertek]

Top 3 of each "genre" with favorite piece:

Igor Stravinsky - Firebird Suite
John Williams - All of his movie scores...but probably my favorite overall was actually "Summon the Heroes" from the 1996 Olympics.
Jeremy Soule - Dungeon Siege

[Panthera]

Jeremy Soule is hit and miss lately, I think he's a bit lacking in originality. Still, his wonderful work for Morrowind will have a fond place in my brain forever, and Total Annihilation's soundtrack was a feat.

[aVaKus]

Bear McCreary and Nobuo Uematsu

[cawblen]

You Hans Zimmer lovers (like myself) should check out Extreme Music (http://www.extrememusic.com).

Nice! This site is really interesting.

[Handmade.Mercury]

Igor Stravinsky - Firebird Suite

I actually played The Firebird in my city's youth symphony.

[kyrieee]

Bach

I play Cello and his pieces are in a league of their own, especially the suites, but other stuff too.

[Handmade.Mercury]

Bach

I play Cello and his pieces are in a league of their own, especially the suites, but other stuff too.

I play the violin, and his Partita No. 2 is fucking impossible.

[Panthera]

If we're going classic, my favorite is Mendelssohn, especially for his flute concertos.

[Dorkandproudofit]

I also like anything by Andrew Lloyd Weber, especially the stuff from Phantom of the Opera. I mean, listen to this and tell me this is not a work of genius:

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[CES]

I much prefer the 2004 version. The Music of the Night is utterly chilling in that version and it's made all the more impressive by the fact that the guy who sung it would three years later play the walking bag of testosterone King Leonidas in 300.

[Dorkandproudofit]

I much prefer the 2004 version. The Music of the Night is utterly chilling in that version and it's made all the more impressive by the fact that the guy who sung it would three years later play the walking bag of testosterone King Leonidas in 300.

You're kidding, right? Gerard Butler butchered PotO. The man can act, sure, but he can't sing to save his life.

[CES]

You're kidding, right? Gerard Butler butchered PotO. The man can act, sure, but he can't sing to save his life.

Far more listenable than the originals.

[Dorkandproudofit]

Far more listenable than the originals.

There is something very wrong with your hearing, dude. :D

[CES]

There is something very wrong with your hearing, dude. :D

Nothing wrong with my hearing, you're just old. Old and a fan of old-age music.


(Should be pointed out that I have a sizeable collection of 70's/80's prog rock....)

[Dorkandproudofit]

Nothing wrong with my hearing, you're just old. Old and a fan of old-age music.


(Should be pointed out that I have a sizeable collection of 70's/80's prog rock....)

I just have an appreciation for Opera-style music.

I also love 70's and 80's rock. Queen, IMO, is the greatest rock band of all time.

EDIT: Also, I am NOT old. I'm 23.

[CES]

I just have an appreciation for Opera-style music.

I also love 70's and 80's rock. Queen, IMO, is the greatest rock band of all time.

EDIT: Also, I am NOT old. I'm 23.

I'm 21. Everyone older than that is old, everyone younger is a brat, that's how it works.

Also, I'd agree in part about Queen. One of the greatest but there's far too many other awesome rock songs out there to say greatest.

[wyeast]

Failing that, Henry Mancini needs some props

This, right here. The glory days of Hollywood were built on this man's music. :)

I will say, tho', that Morricone is also an excellent choice. :D

[Handmade.Mercury]

Duuuuude, Michael Crawford? Come on. He IS the Phantom.

[Psykoboy2]

Bach

I play Cello and his pieces are in a league of their own, especially the suites, but other stuff too.

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[Borthcollective]

John Williams
Vangelis
Toto
Queen
Basil Poledouris

[National Kato]

Queen, IMO, is the greatest rock band of all time.


Queen is great. Queen is awesome. Queen is magnificent. But 'greatest rock band of all time' they are not.

However, to show you that I am not without a deep, throbbing love of Queen, I present the greatest of their operatic rock epics:

Queen - The Prophet's Song

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That's really all I wanted to say. ;)

[Hawkzombie]

Who's the greatest in your opinion then?

Please don't say Beatles...I'm so tired of hearing Beatles :p

[National Kato]

Who's the greatest in your opinion then?

Please don't say Beatles...I'm so tired of hearing Beatles :p

The Beatles would be my 'greatest songwriters' of that era. Greatest rock band of all time would be tough as I'm a big fan of the genre. Too many greats, playing off of each other and inspired by or inspiring each other...just a title I would never bequeath.

[Hawkzombie]

Ok, that's a good answer actually.

[Shjinta]

I bounce between composers a lot. I think i'd have to go by the 4 scores i listen to a lot lately.

Hans Zimmer : Sherlock Holmes
Brian Tyler : bangkok dangerous(Shit movie, but the score was good)
Geoff Zanelli : Hitman (really great score for the film, a little more electronic than I wanted, but still great)

David Holmes: Ocean's Thirteen (Such a great jazzy score)

[Psykoboy2]

I bounce between composers a lot. I think i'd have to go by the 4 scores i listen to a lot lately.

Hans Zimmer : Sherlock Holmes

You'll enjoy this (http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/sherlock-holmes-original-score-campaign-lands-music-video) then.

[kyrieee]

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That video brings back a lot of memories :)


The 1st suite prelude is lovely, it's even better to play ;-P, but I wish people would listen to the other stuff too and not just that piece!

As for Yo-Yo Ma I've seen him perform numerous times and when I was much younger I even got to talk to him backstage :). He's amazing! Whenever I play the suites I can't help but play them the way he does and not the way my music sheets say because I've heard those recordings so many times it's just stuck in my head.

Might as well throw this in here as well because it's where I got my handle from:
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Listening to it on youtube isn't what I'd recommend though, at least not if you're an audiophile. Plus, it's so out of context! Listen to the whole Requiem

[Shjinta]

You'll enjoy this (http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/sherlock-holmes-original-score-campaign-lands-music-video) then.


Dude, that was sweet. I really do enjoy the score. Thanks for the link. Really made my day.

[Xydarc]

Jeremy Soule:
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Nobuo Uematsu:
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Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard
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[Pigeon]

http://blogs.bet.com/entertainment/spotlight/bet-blog/assets/2009/06/rza-300x300.jpg

Absolutely. And then there's my unconventional 2nd pick: Mike Patton
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[Hawkzombie]

Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard
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God I loved that movie, crappy voice aside.

[violent]

So we've opened the gates on this one. Wonderful.

Ravel
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Stravinsky
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Vivaldi
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[Squidbot]

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