Film music

[Dukas]

A thread for anyone who's into filmmusic. Who are your favourite composers? What are your favourite albums? Which soundtrack was in your opinion the best of last year? What's the last soundtrack you bought? etc.

I will just start by saying that I'm mostly into the music of John Williams, John Barry, Hans Zimmer and Jerry Goldsmith. Best soundtrack of 2006 was IMO Zimmer's The Da Vinci Code.

Other soundtracks I purchased recently are Perfume and Casino Royale. I've always regretted the fact that John Barry doesn't do the Bondfilms anymore (he did most of them till 'The Living Daylights' back in '87), and I never liked David Arnold's work for the Bondfilms much. His scores for Stargate and Independence Day are very good, but apart from them listening to a Bond-album by Arnold always gives me a headache. Except for his new album, Casino Royale, which is IMO the first listenable Bond-score of his. There's much variety, lots of quit pieces, and he doesn't go over the top during the action cues.

The soundtrack of Perfume is a rare thing, a score that's partly been written (and performed) by the director of the movie (who also participated in the script and production). The result is mesmerising and hauntingly beautiful. Higly recommended!

Still, nothing comes close to the track Chevaliers de Sangreal from The Da Vinci Code-album, which is the most stirring and moving piece of instrumental music I've heard so far. It's beyong description really. You have to hear it (or feel it).

[Peter]

Em, the track which touched me the most *ever*, which is not exactly from score music, but rather a title on the sound track CD is

Sarah McLachlan - Angel

[jeffMc]

My favourite film composers:

Hans Zimmer
James Horner
Danny Elfman

[progman]

Danny Elfman, definitely!

John Williams is the king of all movie soundtracks...

I don't know what else Howard Shore has done, but the LOTR soundtrack is sublime...

[maddox]

Funny. I only know three film music composers:

Enyo Moricone, Hans Zimmer and John Williams. Never pay much attention to the others although i usually like what i hear.