Personally I'm into film music moreso than classical music, but I am also a composer who is into film music myself.
I absolutely love John Williams (he composed they music for many blockbuster films: Jaws, all the Star Wars movies, Superman, Indiana Jones and more). His style is very eclectic. It's very Saturday-Evening Popcorn-watching fun music, and quite sophisticated.
I have been taken with him all my life. Some of my favourite scores are from Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Hook, just to name a few.
I love his music because it's always got so much character to it. It always tells a story, musically. You can almost hear it without visual aid and know exactly what's going on or what should be happening on screen or in a story. My music is very similar to his, as I've been told (though obviously not quite as top-notch) and it should be. I learned a lot just by listening to his music - and composers always emulate the style of their "teachers." And I consider him an indirect teacher.
If you have a favourite composer, film or non-film, classical or not, who is he/she and why do you like them?
[question posted by uvbnskoold]
responses and comments:
I'm a huge fan of Jean Luc Ponty. The way he introduced the violin into the jazz and bebop scene was revolutionary at the time. Noone thought that the violin had a place in modern jazz, but his horn-influenced style of playing won over fans very quickly. His work with Frank Zappa and Elton John is also incredible! [DoubleB66]
Thanks, I look forward to sampling his repertoire. I'll let you know (via message) once I've listened to a few examples to let you know what I think of Mr. Ponty's music! Thanks again! [uvbnskoold]
I like Dan Fogelberg, simply because I like his songs. Do you celebrate Christmas? If yes, I will take this opportunity to greet you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (though is not yet Dec. 25, I may not have a chance to greet you anymore so I will do it now). http://dchallenger.blogdrive.com [Dennik]
I do indeed celebrate Christmas, but I celebrate it more as a secular holiday then as a Christian one. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you as well! [uvbnskoold]
Yeah, John Williams is one of my favorite movie score composers. The Jurassic Park main theme is timeless for me. Another musical composer I admire is Danny Elfman. His most notable works include the themes for Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman and Spider-man. [iampaperbag]
Totally! Danny Elfman is another of my favourite composers. I especially like "What's This?" from "The Nightmare Before Christmas." And who can forget the everlasting theme from "The Simpsons." Classic. [uvbnskoold]
I'm not into classical music, either. My favorite composer is Andrew Lloyd Weber, without a doubt. I have the soundtracks to most of the musicals that he wrote, as well as a few CD's of compilations of his music alone, without words. "The Music of the Night" stands out as a favorite, and one that most people would recognize (from the Phantom of the Opera). [lauriefnp]
Yah, the music from Phantom is great. I have to admit, studying music and being a composer it's still one musical I have never seen. I know all the music, but have never gone to see it at the theatre or on the big screen. One of these days I'll have to sit down and watch the newest movie version, the one with Gerard Butler as the Phantom. [uvbnskoold]
my favourite composer is javed akhtar. he has got real talent and he is a special maestro. [shajeer]
hi i am from india, and for me the indian composer A.R.Rehman is tha best. he is one who set in a new wave in the indian film music. [rms2727]
Maybe you do not know this composer. He is a local composer in my country but he is very famous indeed in our community. His name is M. Nasir and he has won many awards. People here call him the "Sifu" (the teacher). [ladysurvivor]
I like Don Moen for I really enjoy his music. I'am really blessed when I'm listening to his music and so with the other praise and worship, joyful song writers. [anne_143god]
Though I'm not an organized religion man, I do like a handful of religious material. No matter the topic they're singing about, it is often uplifting material. [uvbnskoold]
whenever,at a perticular movement,whatever melodious tune u listen,it keeps humming..i feel god wind is biggest composer... [anirudh1971]
A.R. rahman bcz i just love what he composes [icenet_5623600]
My Alltime favorite music composer is A.R.Rahman...i like his music because "HE IS THE KING OF INDIAN MUSIC"...we will be carried to another place when we listen to his songs..he is simply a meastro [jithinsb]
I really enjoy a lot of classical composers. I'm a big fan of Beethoven, Mozart, and Handel. But, I also like the composers for the romantic period such as Dvorak, Rimsky-Korsakov, Bizet, and Rachmaninoff. I also like more modern composers such as De Falla, Copeland, and Stravinsky, and Mahler. And, many others I can't think of right now. [desertdarlene]
I know what you mean. I actually like some of his later piano works the best. I'm not the biggest fan of his 9th symphony, especially the choral part. But, many people consider that his ultimate achievement. But, it's my personal preference. [desertdarlene]
My alltime favorite music composer is A.R.Rahman...because "HE IS THE KING OF INDIAN MUSIC"..we will be carried to some other place when we listen to his songs..he is simply a genious...THE MUSICAL MAESTRO [jithinsb]
my favourite composer is a.r.raehman. he has got real talent and he is a special maestro in this world. [prijish]
I have 2 favourite composers: John Williams (Star Wars) and Marc Shaiman (The Addams Family). They both make excellent music. [jotace]
I enjoy his music too. Most notably for me, music from The American President and also, believe it or not, South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut. And I loved his music for City Slickers. [uvbnskoold]
I am from India. my all time favourite composer is R.D.Burman...............ofcourse our foreign friends might not know him, since he composed only "Hindi" and "Bengali" songs. [sarkar1]
His songs are simple yet very "catchy".............his songs are a "visual treat"....... i mean it!, u can imagine and form clear pictures in your mind which synchronize his songs. [sarkar1]
I am a great fan of A.R. Rehman, I dont think you guys know about him. In bollywood he is a greatest music Composer/Director. Many songs he composed and every time he came up with new music which havent be heared anywhere. He is just amazing, with him his drumist Shiromani is awesome. [sandeepramje]
Wow, there's a lot of you that like this guy! I'm going to have to check him out, even though I'm not a big fan of Indian music. [uvbnskoold]
As far as film composers go I am a huge fan of Bernard Herrmann's music. He did music for many of Alfred Hitchcocks films. He is best know for his works in horror/suspense movies. Years after his death his music was used in many films including Kill Bill, Cape Fear, 12 Mokeys and the remake of Psycho. His music has also even been in childens movies such as Finding Nemo and Stuart Little 2. I like his music because it is very dark and menacing. Bernard Herrmann writes in a way that will make you want to jump out of your seat before the climax of a movie hits. And when it does he delivers with a tremedous musical interpretation of what is happening on screen. Go back and watch all of the Hitchcock films, or movies such as Citizen Kane or Taxi Driver to see what I mean. [spcbrass]
Interesting story about Taxi Driver's score - did you know that he wasn't actually finished the score before he died? Crazy. But yes, I too like this composer. Cape Fear has to be one of my favourites and of course, Psycho too. [uvbnskoold]
i love music of Ilayaraja, the southindian musician. if u want to hear, i will trace them on net and will give it to the appropriate recipient. [funfreak2k2]
i like classic : beethoven , mozart [openedone]
I, too, like John Williams. I especially like the Harry Potter score. Also, he composed some music for the Winter Olympics here in Utah. It was awesome to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform it. As for the "ancients" I still like Mozart. His music is especially fun to play. [getnbuy]
LoL I like how you call a classical composer from only 2 centuries ago, ancient! :) The score for Harry Potter is great, it's a retreat to his earlier style, like Star Wars. I recommend the Finale from Prisoner of Azkaban. It's a great track. [uvbnskoold]
I like Brahms... the music is so tinkley and delicate and pretty. I like vivaldi too. [Withoutwings]
Hahah, probably! I have personally never heard it referred to that way! [uvbnskoold]
I'm a music lover myself. My all time favorite composer are Monty Norman and John Barry. They are the composer behind the soundtrack of "James Bond" movies. [babaye]
Indeed they are... I'm personally not a huge John Barry fan, but I like the John Dunbar theme from Dances with Wolves. [uvbnskoold]
a r rehman is my fav his songs n music is so great that i cannot resist listenin to his songs [bevanamit]
i love listening to music and my fav being Nadeem Shravan [zubeida11]
I think RD Burman is one of the best music composers ever. Absolutely crazy about his music. [shob2201]
i am an indian i like javed akhtar as a composer he contributes to almost 50% of lyrics in industry [inderjeetnogi]
ar rahman 4 his awesome, soul-stirring music which elates ur senses [vinaynagendra]
dan haseltine of jars of clay.. :D [glummy]