Film Score Artistry: Five of the Best Film Composers to Bless Cinema With Their Musical Talent

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It is safe to say that most beloved movies in our culture would not be the same without a musical score that blends seemlessly with the moving images. At the very least, good choices must be made regarding the music in terms of the presence or the lack of it. Throughout the decades of moviemaking, we have seen many talented composers add a special flavor to films that immerse the audience in the world of the silver screen by the means of musical genius. This article will briefly dive into five legendary film composers, differing in styles but all conjoined by their talent in shaping the emotions of cinema through music.

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John Williams- A Maestro of Epic Beauty

Any conversation on the best film composers of all time must at the very least include John Williams whose track record of legendary soundtracks can be matched by only a few. Williams had a long history of working on and composing scores, before doing ‘The Sugarland Express’ (1974) which was the first collaboration with director Steven Spielberg whom Williams would end up scoring all but five films for. Following would be history with an impressive track record ranging from ‘Jaws’ (1975) and ‘Star Wars’ (1977) and continuing into the later decades with ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981), ‘E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982), ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993), and ‘Harry Potter’ (2001) just to name a few. Judging by the amazing music for all of these, Williams seems to have a natural talent in knowing what musical cues will stick in people’s heads. It is safe to call him the most successful and recognizable film composer.

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Williams’ music when listened to absent from the movie hearkens back to classical composers. An audience member can feel the scale of the action, adventure, emotion, triumph, and romance from each of his scores while still making each one feel distinct and fit into the movie regardless of what he’s made before or after. The greatest sign of this is with ‘Schindler’s List’ (1993) where just as Spielberg saw it as a bold change of pace compared to his earlier work, Williams would take on a similar experimentation. His score is of a somber, violin heavy composition that matches with the bleak images of Nazi Concentration Camps just as magical as the exciting orchestral music of Superman flying or the simple, but haunting note of a shark lurking underwater. Williams is deserving of all the praise and success that comes his way not because his compositions solely are evocative of excitement and adventure. It is his versatility in providing emotion through music that makes him deserving of the legacy he has.

Hans Zimmer- Mainstream Experimentation

Out of all the other composers, Hans Zimmer is the one who can match Williams in terms of a massive discography that spans across many different genres and directors. His two most recognizable scores are from the films of Christopher Nolan and the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise. The latter features grand orchestral compositions that bring seafaring adventure into the audience’s seats in the same vein as Williams’ scores. However, his scores for Nolan’s films along with other more thoughtful films such as ‘Dune’ (2021) do not have a rhythm as fast and adventerous, but slower and requiring of a score that complies to the film’s pace while still being a pleasant listen. Just like any good score, each one fits perfectly with the film in question. It is only a matter of what film he scores that determines the quality. John Williams likely cannot score the films Zimmer does and neither can Zimmer for Williams. Both mainstream artists can function as legends in their respective zones of cinema.

Of course, Zimmer is no stranger to versatility in his choice of musical scores where a good portion of his credits are for children’s films, specifically with DreamWorks animation. To many people’s surprise, ‘Kung Fu Panda’ (2008) and ‘The Boss Baby’ (2017) are by his hand, not to mention that ‘The Lion King’ (1994) was his first major success in film scoring and is still praised for its iconic instrumental melodies weaving seemlessly with the animated visuals. Nevertheless, Hans Zimmer is without a doubt the most in demand composer of the modern day and capable of contributing much more musical artistry for the experience of cinema.

Ennio Morricone- Italian Connoisseur of Sound

Every composer has his or her signature sound recognizable in all films they score. With Ennio Morricone, that sentiment is drawn all over his work. Morricone has had the best international work out of any composer, working in Italian, French, and English films and always bringing his signature style. Most famous for his Spaghetti Western scores including ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ (1966), Morricone has a very unique way of blending instruments. His scores are less orchestral than his prolific peers, but he has managed to create iconic tracks despite this. Especially in Sergio Leone’s films, Morricone’s music is essential in the suspense of various gun toting sequences.

In his later years as the film fanatics who grew up listening to Morricone’s iconic scores grew up into big name directors, Morricone found work in films such as ‘The Untouchables’ (1987) and ‘The Thing’ (1982). Directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson used past tracks of his in their own films and Tarantino’s own ‘The Hateful Eight’ (2015) was the score that earned him a well deserved Oscar. It is undeniable the unique talent showcased him his catalogue of scores and has left his influence on an entire generation of famed Hollywood directors. Whatever the film may be, Morricone’s signature sound serves to bring ecstatic feelings of romance, suspense, and triumph.

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Bernard Herrmann- The Best Musical Film Artist of the Classical Era

Perhaps the most in demand composer of the older eras of film, Bernard Herrmann’s scores transcend the times. He is responsible for the iconic terrifying string cue of the shower scene in ‘Psycho (1960) as well as the scores for a good portion of Alfred Hitchcock’s films. Tarantino fans also recognize his whistling composition from ‘Twisted Nerve’ (1969) which was used in ‘Kill Bill Vo. 1’ (2003). Later in his career as the times changed, he wrote scores for directors who revered his earlier work such as Francois Truffaut and Brian De Palma and it was his final score that solidified him as a legend. ‘Taxi Driver’ (1975) has an underrated score that deserves to be held to a more iconic status. The slow jazzy music brings an aura of an older time in 1970s America, a perfect musical backdrop for Travis Bickles’ lonely world in New York City. Herrmann may not have had as colorful of a career as the other people on this list, but his work nevertheless enhanced all the films which he did in a way that may not be immediately noticeable, but still very much present.

Angelo Badalamenti- The Surreal and Transformative

Industrial ambiance and Laura Palmer’s emotional yet strangely transcendent melody. Angelo Badalamenti is most famous for being responsible for the music of David Lynch’s films with whom he collaborated closely to make the music fit with the artist’s strange and confounding vision. Atmospheric is the primary value that Badalamenti’s music infuses. It does not demand to be heard, but instead seduces the audience into the world of the film. This is evident in other scores by him such as ‘The City of Lost Children’ (1995) which takes place in a futuristic steampunk world and has music that expertly ushers the listener in. Another composer might try to make a score of heart pounding excitement, but this is not the mood which the film strives for, so the music complies.

Badalamenti began writing and arranging songs for notable artists such as Paul McCartney and Nina Simone and finally made his way into composing music for films. It was with ‘Blue Velvet’ (1986) that a legendary friendship started between him and David Lynch who saw eye to eye in various artistic choices which would only strengthen with ‘Twin Peaks’ (1989). The music can be haunting and surreal, in tune with the film’s ambiance while also upbeat and funny when needed. Even if it is not as grand and recognizable as the big shots, it fits perfectly with the films which would likely not carry the same atmosphere if he were absent.

The stark differences in composer’s styles is a true testament to their skills. Each one is able to bring the emotional baggage of the film through their music that when paired with the moving images creates the transformative experience we crave from movies. In the best cases, their work is so perfectly in tune with the film that it can be recognized from a simple play on the radio. So, here’s to talented film composers and the musicians they conduct and may their talent in bringing out the human emotions of adventure, sadness, beauty, horror, and more live on.

By Elijah van der Fluit

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Elijah van der Fluit

Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
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Elijah van der Fluit

Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.

Elijah van der Fluit

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