Creating music for a movie is an art unto itself. Sure, some artists know how to write three-minute pop songs that get you out of your seat and dancing. But it’s a completely different thing to write music that fits seamlessly into a scene on the big screen. To create sweeping sounds that enliven and emote. Sounds that fit hand-in-hand with actors and other visual elements.
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Here below, we wanted to explore four such composers who have brought their talents to the silver screen and created sonic worlds and landscapes unto themselves. Indeed, these are four iconic film composers who always bring the chills to the big screen.
[RELATED: John Carpenter Enlists the Help of Family for ‘Lost Themes III’]
Danny Elfman
The Los Angeles-born Danny Elfman has enjoyed an incredible career working with filmmaker Tim Burton on movies like Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Batman and Edward Scissorhands. With those movies alone, he’d be a legend in the industry. But he’s also worked on many more, including Good Will Hunting, Men In Black and TV shows like the theme for The Simpsons. His mind is prolific and full of wonder. Not to mention, his solo rock and roll work is pretty astounding as well.
John Carpenter
The Carthage, New York-born composer and director John Carpenter always enjoys a surge in recognition around this time. The man who brought the movie Halloween to life is also responsible for its iconic theme song. But Carpenter has also written music for many of his other films, taking advantage of his signature synth sounds, including Escape from New York, They Live, Prince of Darkness, and The Fog. Just as with his directorial eye, Carpenter’s sound is easily distinguishable.
John Williams
The New York City-born John Williams is easily the most decorated person on this list. But that’s what happens when you write the scores for movies like Star Wars, Superman, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, the Indiana Jones movies, Jurassic Park, and Home Alone. For his efforts, he’s garnered 26 Grammy Awards, five Academy Awards and a plethora of others. His songs are big and sweeping and can summon the most pure, giant emotions from you during a moment of triumph.
Hans Zimmer
The Frankfurt, West Germany-born Hans Zimmer has taken the baton from Williams more recently as perhaps the most sought-after film composer. He has won two Oscars for his work on The Lion King and Dune, and he also provided the scores for movies like Gladiator, The Dark Knight and Pirates of the Caribbean. Zimmer is lush and rich and elegant with his music, able to provide threads of sounds or giant pastiches of music for movies like Interstellar.
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