Is John Williams your favorite composer?

[ChuckM 1]

I was just curious for how many of you John Williams is your absolute favorite composer, as opposed to just another really good composer.

[robthehand 3]

Tied favourite, with Bernard Herrmann and Jerry Goldsmith. I really can't put one above the other with those three, they're all equal.

[Morlock 9]

Yes, but some animals are more equal than others.

[King Mark 2,924]

Most absolutely

[Sergeant 1,093]

He has been absolutely my favorite since I was 11 years old.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

I'm in between the first and second option.

Williams is not the absolute best, but he does belong to that small elite group of absolute best.

[Mr. Breathmask 480]

Yes.

Although he's not the One Composer To End All Composers to me.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Yep.

Ray Barnsbury

[King Mark 2,924]

Although he's not the One Composer To End All Composers to me.

Yes,he's that too

[John Crichton 4]

Yes. The answer is yes.

[KingPin 194]

Williams is my absolute favorite, without a doubt. But there are other composers, both living and dead, that all compete for second and third place spots.

[Miguel Andrade 964]

Do I need to answer?

When I fell in love with his music, I was around 5. Have been passionate by his music since then.

[Luke Skywalker 1,284]

lol of course...

WILLIAMS RULZ!!11!

no kidding.

[mcdaid72000 0]

John Williams is by far my favorite composer. Here is how I have my favorite top 10 composers ranked:

1. John Williams

2. Jerry Goldsmith

3. Jack Wall

4. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

5. Igor Stravinsky

6. James Horner

7. Leonard Rosenmen

8. Alan Silvestri

9. Robyn Miller

10. Ludwig van Beethoven

I am a big John Williams fan. I want to know who Miguel favorite composers are and if he has a top 10 like me?

[Miguel Andrade 964]

John Williams is by far my favorite composer. Here is how I have my favorite top 10 composers ranked:

1. John Williams

2. Jerry Goldsmith

3. Jack Wall

4. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

5. Igor Stravinsky

6. James Horner

7. Leonard Rosenmen

8. Alan Silvestri

9. Robyn Miller

10. Ludwig van Beethoven

I am a big John Williams fan. I want to know who Miguel favorite composers are and if he has a top 10 like me?

I don't think I ever made a list like that... But I can tell you that the composers I love the most are, in no particular order, Aaron Copland, J.S. Bach, Bernard Herrmann, Erich Wolfganfg Korngold, Edward Elgar, William Walton... And many others. I enjoy greatly Beethoven simphonies. And Mahler's too, though I should study them more. Love his ninth. Dvorak is also a favourite -- his Cello Concerto ranks among my fafourite pieces of music... In fact, one of my favourite pieces for Cello and Orchestra, along with Elgar's and Williams' own Cello Concertos. Also a great fan of Gershwin. I love deeply american music of the 20th Century. Ives and Barber as well, of course. And also 20th century russians, like Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Stravinsky and Kachaturian (though he was a sort of traditionalist), but also the 19th century ones like Borodin (love his symphonies) or Korsakov.

[Trumpeteer 243]

John Williams will always be the best film composer. There is no second best, and I think every film composer alive now knows they are fighting for second place. (Jerry probably wouldn't believe that.)

[scissorhands 16]

He's my absolute favorite.

Followed by John Corigliano, John Adams, Jerry Goldsmith, Alex North, Joe Hisaishi, Toshiro Mayuzumi, James Horner, Peteris Vasks, Basil Poledouris, Miklós Rózsa, Bernard Herrmann, Benjamin Britten, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitrij Shostakovich... do I need to follow?

[Sergeant 1,093]

Peteris Vasks

Have you ever heard his amazing symphonies?

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

Anton Bruckner is my favourite composer. Williams is tied with Goldsmith as my favourite film composer though.

[scissorhands 16]

Peteris Vasks

Have you ever heard his amazing symphonies?

I've heard his 1st and 2nd (haven't found the 3rd so far). They're... outstanding Has this man ever written something bad? Either for chamber or for symphony orchestra, he always makes something amazing.

[Sergeant 1,093]

I love the second symphony , especially the beauty in it (it's possibly the best recording we ever made)

[Trent B 317]

I voted for option three.

[scissorhands 16]

I love the second symphony , especially the beauty in it (it's possibly the best recording we ever made)

So who is "we"? Am I missing something?

The only recording I've got is by the Tampere Philharmonic, but I don't think you're Finnish. I've also got a radio recording with the Bornemouth Symphony.

[QMM 4]

Yes.

I dont really understand making Top 10 lists and whatnot. I'd never be able to decide.

[Ollie 859]

Of course he's my favorite (and he's the best).

I wouldn't be here if he wasn't

[Red 73]

John is my favorite composer, always has been. 'Course, I have admiration of other composers as well, some of whom almost match that of Williams.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,064]

One of my favorite. Wouldn't say the absolute. He's up there with Goldsmith though.

[scissorhands 16]

Speaking of, you've got quite a scary picture of Goldsmith in your avatar, Blumenkohl. He looked so decrepit in his last years Not his music though, with some of my favorites scores like The Sum of All Fears and Timeline.

I miss him.

[HPFAN_2 0]

Yes. I had some long explanition of why, but there is no need.

[Kendal_Ozzel 32]

Yes, absolutely, without any doubt, my most favorite composer of all time.

[Sergeant 1,093]

I love the second symphony , especially the beauty in it (it's possibly the best recording we ever made)

So who is "we"? Am I missing something?

The only recording I've got is by the Tampere Philharmonic, but I don't think you're Finnish. I've also got a radio recording with the Bornemouth Symphony.

Yep.I think "our" recordings of 2nd and 3rd symphonies are world premier recordings

and yes , I'm Finnish...

[Incanus 5,519]

John Williams is without any shred of a doubt my favourite composer. Of course there are many composers whose music I love but no one comes even close to Williams. His musical voice just speaks to me in a way that can't be explained.

[scissorhands 16]

I love the second symphony , especially the beauty in it (it's possibly the best recording we ever made)

So who is "we"? Am I missing something?

The only recording I've got is by the Tampere Philharmonic, but I don't think you're Finnish. I've also got a radio recording with the Bornemouth Symphony.

Yep.I think "our" recordings of 2nd and 3rd symphonies are world premier recordings

and yes , I'm Finnish...

Oh, that's... fantastic. I also love the performance of Corigliano's Phantasmagoria and Three Hallucinations. Nice job!

For some reason I thought you were american...

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

Yep.I think "our" recordings of 2nd and 3rd symphonies are world premier recordings

and yes , I'm Finnish...

Are you also performing on my recording of the complete Karelia ?

[Sergeant 1,093]

I'm not sure. I remember to play it in a concert with Ollila (if it's that press celebration music with original Finlandia)

I was working for the Helsinki PO 98-00. I think it was recorded in that time. Memory doesn't serve anymore...

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

Yes, it's coupled with the Press Celebration Music (side node: I'm glad he revised Finlandia). It was recorded in January 98. I like that CD.

[nightscape94 965]

Yes, absolutely.

Tim

[Romão 1,931]

Yes, by far, though I greatly enjoy Korsakov (probably my favorite "classical" composer), Mahler, Wagner, Elgar (that's what living in England does to you), Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Poledouris, Goldsmith, Herrmann, Rozsa, Takemitsu...

[Miguel Andrade 964]

Yes, by far, though I greatly enjoy Korsakov (probably my favorite "classical" composer), Mahler, Wagner, Elgar (that's what living in England does to you), Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Poledouris, Goldsmith, Herrmann, Rozsa, Takemitsu...

You learne well, my young padawan.

[Mooz0r 23]

Favorite film composer? Or favorite composer of all time?

[Neimoidian 13]

He is definitely my favourite film composer (though I also like many others, even those who write completely different sort of music - like Lorenc or Zimmer). Unfortunatelly I have very little knowledge of classical or seriosus music so I don't have my favourite. However, I am very keen on russian composers - I have heard some compositions of Prokofiev, Tschaikovsky, Rimsky-Korskakow and Rachmaninow and I liked it very much. I also like some of Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Satie, Strauss Jr, Bach, Vivaldi and probably many more

[ChuckM 1]

Favorite film composer? Or favorite composer of all time?

Of all time.

[Datameister 1,394]

While I'm not going to assert that he's "the best composer of all time," I'd certainly say John Williams is my personal favorite. By that I mean he has given me far more pleasure than any other individual composer. Star Wars was my first delightful foray into film music, and I still love that score. Contrary to popular belief among those only casually familiar with his work, he speaks with one incredible voice in an amazing variety of musical languages. While I can point to individual cues and pieces that rank just as highly as certain Williams favorites, this man is the only one who can consistently and persistently deliver material that makes me shiver with happiness. There's nothing hit-and-miss about his music; it's all purposeful and enjoyable and intelligently written. There's a reason I have more of his music than anyone else's.

[Sergeant 1,093]

47 votes for "absolutely my favorite"!!

Hey , I'm starting to like you guys!

[Mr. Breathmask 480]

Fanboys!

[John Crichton 4]

That proves it. We're hopeless.

[Ollie 859]

I could have told you that when this forum first started.

[John Crichton 4]

If only we listened.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

That proves it. We're hopeless.

I'm not.

[pixie_twinkle 44]

I went for option 2. He's the best living film composer IMO, and certainly among my favourite 10 composers, but do I like him better than Shostakovich, Bach, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Vaughan Williams, Debussy, or Mahler? No way.