Disco Stu 15,495 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 I was listening to a few soundtracks from the 40s this morning and thought I'd put this poll up for some fun. Apologies if your favorite composer from the 1930s - 1950s is not listed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 It was a tough choice between Benny, Erich, Franz and Miklós but I had to go with Miklós in the end. My appreciation for his music and talent has rapidly grown in the past few years as the more I listen the more impressed I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 I had a hard time picking between Bernard Herrmann and Dimitri Tiomkin. Herrmann is probably my favorite film composer ever after Williams, but I adore Tiomkin's scores for Westerns. I came this close to putting Richard Hageman on the list simply for his 4 or 5 classic scores for John Ford Westerns. I ultimately went with Tiomkin because my favorite Herrmann scores I'd consider "Silver" age, being from the late-1950s onward (basically Vertigo and after). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 12 minutes ago, Incanus said: It was a tough choice between Benny, Erich, Franz and Miklós but I had to go with Miklós in the end. I knew it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 North's more of a Silver Age composer, since his film debut was in 51 with Streetcar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 1 minute ago, Sharky said: North's more of a Silver Age composer, since his film debut was in 51 with Streetcar. Yeah he's definitely one of those that straddles that invisible border. I decided to put him on there because I figured people might yell at me if I didn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 16 minutes ago, BloodBoal said: I knew it! That's nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,336 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Sometimes I feel like the only one here who doesn't listen to any golden age scores at all. Out of all the guys in the list, I only own a score from Alex North (Dragonslayer) and that's from the 80s. Is he considered a golden age composer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstrox 6,649 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Hermann because he did Psycho which is a score I'm aware of and like (although the version I own is from 1998). The only Golden Age score I own is FSM's Ben Hur, and I don't really care too much for it TBH. I bought it out of a sense of history tied with the urgency of the very quick sell-out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 3 minutes ago, Jay said: Sometimes I feel like the only one here who doesn't listen to any golden age scores at all. Out of all the guys in the list, I only own a score from Alex North (Dragonslayer) and that's from the 80s. Is he considered a golden age composer? He's really more Silver Age (as noted above in this thread), but A Streetcar Named Desire is one of his most celebrated, and one of the most celebrated scores ever, and it falls in to that Golden Age timeline (which I think is usually considered 1930-1955 or so) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muad'Dib 1,801 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Benny, both for his attitude and his music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 I pretty much adore all of them, but I would rank Rósza and Waxman first in terms of enjoyability, with Herrmann and North right next, which strike as slightly more intelectual composers 7 minutes ago, Jay said: Sometimes I feel like the only one here who doesn't listen to any golden age scores at all. Why not? You're missing out a great deal of the greatest movie music ever written Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,336 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Eh, maybe someday I'll have time to check it out. In the meantime I am still discovering scores from the 80s till today for the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 I'll list my favorite Golden Age (1930-1955) score from each of the composers on the poll: Herrmann - The Day the Earth Stood Still Korngold - The Adventures of Robin Hood Newman - The Robe North - A Streetcar Named Desire Rozsa - Spellbound Steiner - King Kong Tiomkin - Red River Waxman - Sunset Blvd. Young - Samson and Delilah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 If you allow North, then it's North. If not, probably Korngold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Korngold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Herrmann isn't Golden Age - more of an alien entity. Rózsa and Waxman for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omen II 1,235 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 It is really very difficult for me to pick a favourite from this list, as they were all such wonderful film composers. I've been lucky enough to hear the music of most of these guys played in concert quite a lot over the last few years and it never ceases to impress me. Victor Young wrote such lovely melodies and is the only one on the list who does not always get the attention he deserves, so I'm going to go with him today to be nice. I would also probably have stuck Hugo Friedhofer on the list as another option. Not only did he contribute so much to the sound of Steiner, Korngold, Waxman and others through his orchestrations, he was also a fantastic composer in his own right. Check out the wonderful Coplandesque The Best Years of Our Lives if you have not heard it before; it is surely one of the finest film scores ever written. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Benny is more a Golden Age composer than North was, but he never really played by the rules of that era. I wouldn't really count North in this age. If Bernie was included, it'd be between him and Rozsa. But in the end, I'd probably go with Rozsa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Bernie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 I have no idea what you're talking about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 It's Bennie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 I know that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Sure.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 7,999 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 North remembers! Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 4 hours ago, Disco Stu said: He's really more Silver Age (as noted above in this thread), but A Streetcar Named Desire is one of his most celebrated, and one of the most celebrated scores ever, and it falls in to that Golden Age timeline (which I think is usually considered 1930-1955 or so) Chronologically it's Golden Age, but I think of it as one of those seminal Silver Age scores, like The Man With The Golden Arm, The Best Years of Our Lives, East of Eden/Rebel, The Cobweb that brought modernism, Americana and/or jazz into the lexicon of film music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 12 minutes ago, Sharky said: Chronologically it's Golden Age, but I think of it as one of those seminal Silver Age scores, like The Man With The Golden Arm, The Best Years of Our Lives, East of Eden/Rebel, The Cobweb that brought modernism, Americana and/or jazz into the lexicon of film music. Yeah I think I agree. "Proto" Silver Age. North was the Iggy Pop to Jerry Goldsmith's Ramones Sharkissimo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Rozsa and Tiomkin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,453 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Rozsa and Elmer Bernstein. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,191 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Still Korngold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 On 21.3.2016 at 1:15 AM, Sharky said: Chronologically it's Golden Age, but I think of it as one of those seminal Silver Age scores, like The Man With The Golden Arm, The Best Years of Our Lives, East of Eden/Rebel, The Cobweb that brought modernism, Americana and/or jazz into the lexicon of film music. Yes it was one of those watershed works that ushered a new style to the American film music lexicon, which soon caught on in a big way for a while as it is typical for Hollywood but also pushed film music a nudge forward to new directions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,490 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Waxman by a landslide! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,511 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Alex North. He is the most underrated, and underappreciated film composer of all time! Sharkissimo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 He is but a lot of his more serious stuff (especially when it gets harmonically more adventurous) actively pursues me to hit the Stop button. Even if i recognize its brilliance i can only take it in small doses (in both SPARTACUS and CLEOPATRA the old and somewhat tinny sound is an additional and major turn-off). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 See I can eat that stuff up all day, but what you describe is sort of my experience with Rosenman as was discussed recently. And there's a conspicuous absence from this discussion, this mystical gentleman who can be associated with this period if Herrmann and North can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 His score for Ran sits confortably in my all time top 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Hilary Bray 235 Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 At the moment Tiomkin, I've listened to more of his stuff than others listed but I've appreciation of all mentioned for various bits and bobs. The first thing I knew Tiomkin for was Guns of Navarone and that's a favourite, The High and the Mighty as well. Alfred Newman I first heard for Airport which, well, feels wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brónach 1,302 Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Miklós, Herrmann, Waxman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 North, Herrmann, Rózsa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 Herrmann. Only one I care a little of this bronanza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 17 hours ago, hornist said: Herrmann. Only one I care a little of this bronanza. Good heavens Pasi! Go and explore these wonderful composers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fommes 153 Posted March 25, 2016 Share Posted March 25, 2016 Toss-up between Tiomkin and Herrmann, though Rozsa and Waxman come close behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilal 569 Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 North. Of course! Can't beat this: Sharkissimo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,510 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Rozsa was a master of the highest order. Korngold and Herrmann are not far behind in my book. Waxman, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John 2,032 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Herrmann AINEC. Fabulin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Herrmann for me. I’d also throw in Akira Ifukube. Yavar Moradi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,453 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Rózsa AINEFC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,345 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 2 hours ago, Fabulin said: 2. Rózsa wins in the "total amount of A+ music" for me... But something very dated rings in his scores and that puts me off... The King of Kings would be my favorite here, although some selections from Ben Hur are also S for superb. Funny, as I feel Rozsa was a bit ahead of his time in some ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 The recordings are what is dated sometimes, not the music. Unless the whole romanesque writing can be called dated. Rozsa did not chase trends. I find his writing timeless. Now Waxman, he could be ahead of his time. The Spirit Of St.Louis is extraordinarily fresh, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now