Quintus 5,391 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Of the living film composers working today, which ones do you truly rate? There's an decent amount doing the rounds and turning out serviceable, or solid scores, but do you really rate them as being essential to the craft and medium? With my own interest in movie music dwindling as I get older (and as great scoring gets thinner on the ground, imo), I'm afraid my own 'trusted' selection of essential composers on the scene today is decidedly short. John WilliamsHoward Shore James HornerEnnio MorriconeThat's it, just the four. A few years earlier and I'd have had David Arnold, Alan Silverstri, Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer in there too, but nothing those composers have done in recent years has interested me, I now find them an unreliable source for consistently superior scoring. Ennio is still up there for me because he's very old and has more than made his fine contribution. Post your own! I absolutely expect them to be significantly larger selections than my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 5,273 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm trying to wrap my head around your topic and whether it's just a different version of the age-old 'what's your favourite composer?'. If not, is there any way you could specify how it differs from that? Are you talking about education? Musical skill? Dramatic skill? Orchestral fluency? Adaptability? Are you talking about how they are as FILM composers or just as composers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant 1,093 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Of the living film composers working today"what is your favorite composer?" you can choose e.g. JG.John WilliamsThomas NewmanHoward shore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilal 436 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 John Williams and Howard Shore.Hans Zimmer sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,095 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 No composer can provide a consistent stream of superior scoring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 5,273 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 So consistency is what we're really talking about here?I agree with Koray -- every single composer in the history of music has slumps now and then. There can be winning streaks and losing streaks. There are, however, some composers who are consistently VERSATILE in their assignments and exploration of styles. Like Poledouris, Elfman etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hlao-roo 388 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Giacchino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Yeah he seems to be a pretty constant composer. Everything is a 7 out of 10. Not bad, not great....Adequate.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 27,216 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 For living composers working today, the only ones I'll basically still make the effort to check out every new film score they make is:John WilliamsMichael GiacchinoJames Horner (and he's only here because I very much enjoyed his 5 most recent scores after years of not caring about his scores at all)Then there's the guys who I get excited about if they score one type of movie, but not othersHoward ShoreChris BaconChris TiltonAbel KorzeniowskiBear McCrearyI dunno. It's amazing to me how many artists I loved in the 90s that ARE still working today, but who just don't put out scores I like often enough any more (Silvestri, Elfman, Arnold) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Penna 2,082 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I get selectively excited about JNH, Williams, Young, Elfman, Isham. Maybe a few others.Silvestri's done some absolute belters in the last 10 years, but his recent action scores have been thoroughly mundane to me.I second Koray's statement that no one is consistent. There are far too many genres and directorial requests for every score by a composer to appeal.There are so many unknowns out there producing some really good music - I prefer to look for those these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 859 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Giacchino and Williams are the top 2 for me.Shore and Elfman would be the other 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 27,216 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 What was the last Elfman score you really liked, though? I mean Iris was great, but aren't Real Steal, Dark Shadows, Men In Black 3, and Frankenweenie all duds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 5,273 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 OK, after reading the other posts here, I'm still no wiser as to what this is about.So without further ado, here are some of my favourite (living) composers: John Wililams, Danny Elfman, Elliot Goldenthal, Hans Zimmer, James Horner, James Newton Howard, Alan Silvestri. The highlights of Howard and Silvestri have been few and far between over the last decade, though.In any case, these are who I would consider 'best in class' / my favourite composers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 859 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 What was the last Elfman score you really liked, though? I mean Iris was great, but aren't Real Steal, Dark Shadows, Men In Black 3, and Frankenweenie all duds?Yeah you're probably right.Truth be told I'd like to see Arnold and Silvestri do more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 6,294 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 What was the last Elfman score you really liked, though? I mean Iris was great, but aren't Real Steal, Dark Shadows, Men In Black 3, and Frankenweenie all duds?The Wolfman was his last great work (in fact one of his best works ever). That was more than two years ago. Didn't like any of the four you mentioned, Jason. They're all competent, though.Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant 1,093 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm little surprised that love for Howard Shore is more or less limited to the Middle-earth.Is that guy(George Fenton?) who made the music for BBC's The Blue Planet/Planet Earth series still composing. I used to like his music. A lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,095 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Quint has yet to chime in with what he really means, so I'm not sure who to list here. No composer is consistently great as I've already said, and probably none are essential to the medium too. How do you rate that? There are composers that I will blind buy for, even if I don't think they're that great anymore, so that can't be it.There is no best in class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,391 Posted November 4, 2012 Author Share Posted November 4, 2012 What was the last Elfman score you really liked, though? I mean Iris was great, but aren't Real Steal, Dark Shadows, Men In Black 3, and Frankenweenie all duds?Yeah you're probably right.Truth be told I'd like to see Arnold and Silvestri do more.Especially the latter. What the hell happened to that guy, man!By consistent I meant reliable. Perhaps the wrong word to use, but I honestly don't see what's difficult to grasp. Which composers do you still look to when you want a potentially brilliant new release? For instance I stopped looking at Silvestri in that light years ago. Now he's just another guy writing movie music, very unlikely to deliver greatness. That doesn't mean I don't like his output any more, but I'm just mostly indifferent to it.Reading a response like Thor's makes me want to gut a panda with a spatula. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,095 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Well then it's just my usual Top 10 minus Jerry Goldsmith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 152 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 John Williams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hlao-roo 388 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 John WilliamsMichael Giacchino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 859 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Michael Giacchino, John Williams and Howard Shore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkgyver 1,638 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Williams, Shore, Elfman (the man is far from having lost his touch). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 5,520 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Is that guy(George Fenton?) who made the music for BBC's The Blue Planet/Planet Earth series still composing. I used to like his music. A lot.Fenton seems to have become the in house composer for BBC documentaries. He wrote a lovely score for 2009's Life series (I wonder if an album is available?) and according to IMDb, his latest score is BBC's Frozen Planet.He's written some great film scores, like Memphis Belle and Ever After. For a time, he seems to have specialised on adapting baroque music for his scores (like for Dangerous Liaisons or the Händel-based Madness of King George, performed on period instruments). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,202 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Mine seems to be rather long compared to others.In no particular order:John Williams, Howard Shore, James Horner, Danny Elfman, Dario Marianelli, Abel Korzeniowski, George Fenton, Mark McKenzie, Christopher Young, Trevor Jones, Mychael/Jeff Danna, Arnau Bataller (in the few scores he's done), Debbie Wiseman, Philippe Rombi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus 385 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Really only John Williams. And John Corigliano, whenever he decides to score a film.Beyond those two, most film scores and film scoring aesthetics hold very little interest for me. I take occasional delight in how certain scores will serve a film, but find almost all film music unmemorable and without integrity in of itself. I realize this has a lot to do with the role music tends to be assigned in a lot of contemporary film making, but I'm personally fiercely against anonymizing music: If strong thematic content is intimidating, fair enough, but at least have the remaining harmonies/rhythm/timbre/texture say something or add something beyond mere sound design. So much of what I hear of film music seems utterly lazy from just about any perspective. A select few composers still do tend to add a measure of artfulness in an otherwise dull sonic landscape, but ultimately what I would like to see/hear, is more skilled composers with classical training and experience -and (more importantly!) an artistic agenda of their own- taking film scoring to levels that current Hollywood trends and its slaves and practitioners are not equipped (or allowed) to reach. Sergeant 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,484 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Mine seems to be rather long compared to others.In no particular order:John Williams, Howard Shore, James Horner, Danny Elfman, Dario Marianelli, Abel Korzeniowski, George Fenton, Mark McKenzie, Christopher Young, Trevor Jones, Mychael/Jeff Danna, Arnau Bataller (in the few scores he's done), Debbie Wiseman, Philippe Rombi.John WilliamsAlexandre Desplat (for the sheer amount of what he writes, he's delivering the goods)James Horner (sadly, he's like the father who beat you and you still love him...kind of)JNH (thinking of LAST AIRBENDER and trying hard to forget a ton of other stuff)Danny Elfman (in WOLFMAN mode)Dario Marianelli (from BROTHERS GRIMM to AGORA to JANE EYRE all first-rate)Abel Korzeniowski (will proably never get out of slight drama hell)George Fenton (just for MARY REILLY)Christopher Young (he can but rarely gets the chance) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 5,273 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 What was the last Elfman score you really liked, though? I mean Iris was great, but aren't Real Steal, Dark Shadows, Men In Black 3, and Frankenweenie all duds?Yeah you're probably right.Truth be told I'd like to see Arnold and Silvestri do more.Especially the latter. What the hell happened to that guy, man!By consistent I meant reliable. Perhaps the wrong word to use, but I honestly don't see what's difficult to grasp. Which composers do you still look to when you want a potentially brilliant new release? For instance I stopped looking at Silvestri in that light years ago. Now he's just another guy writing movie music, very unlikely to deliver greatness. That doesn't mean I don't like his output any more, but I'm just mostly indifferent to it.Reading a response like Thor's makes me want to gut a panda with a spatula.Don't blame the messenger if the message is unclear, bro! I think I'm starting to understand what it's about now.....it's about composer evolutions, in a way. In other words, composers who have disappointed in later years (for whatever reason) as opposed to those who have not? Am I on the right track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,391 Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Yes, that's certainly an element of it. But it's also just an unfortunate coincidence that for me no newcomers have broken through and dazzled me with their scoring chops, so no - it's not just about older, well established composers who have faded. David Arnold was the closest I came to finding a brilliant new talent, but he's sadly settled into Bond and pop. The bastard. Such waste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 85 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 The old generation:John WilliamsWoijiech KilarEnnio MorriconeAlan Menken, James Horner, maybe.Everyone else stays behind regarding 'depth', wit, originality and musicality. They are of a different era, an era that sadly is almost over.Best of this generation: Ilan Eshkeri, Michael Convertino, Dario Marianelli, Edward Shearmur, Marc Shaiman, Andrew Lockington, Conrad Pope. Desplat, maybe. About it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 27,216 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 What are your favorite Conrad Pope scores? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,202 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Pavilion of Women. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,095 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Ah, if we're talking about promising newcomers...Chris TiltonChris BaconLorne BalfeHenry JackmanMarc StreitenfeldNot necessarily all newcomers in the industry, but relatively new in regards to composing on their own.I also forgot about Clint Mansell. Probably one of the more consistent film composers right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 85 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 What are your favorite Conrad Pope scores?Pavillion of Women and My Week With Marilyn I think. Especially (and logically) as to orchestration.Ah, if we're talking about promising newcomers...Chris TiltonChris BaconLorne BalfeHenry JackmanMarc StreitenfeldNot necessarily all newcomers in the industry, but relatively new in regards to composing on their own.I also forgot about Clint Mansell. Probably one of the more consistent film composers right now.Any sopecific tracks of those guys you recommend? I am not familiar with any of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 27,216 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 For Chris Bacon, check out the main titles to Source Code: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 85 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 For Chris Bacon, check out the main titles to Source Code:[media=] Okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hlao-roo 388 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 For Chris Bacon, check out the main titles to Source Code:Mmm...crispy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Chris P. Bacon is the best name ever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,391 Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 I prefer Kiki Wolfkill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 85 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 I prefer Dutch name Fokje Modder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,532 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Mikko Ojala. 'Nuff said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,095 Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Ah, if we're talking about promising newcomers...Chris TiltonChris BaconLorne BalfeHenry JackmanMarc StreitenfeldNot necessarily all newcomers in the industry, but relatively new in regards to composing on their own.I also forgot about Clint Mansell. Probably one of the more consistent film composers right now.Any sopecific tracks of those guys you recommend? I am not familiar with any of them.Jay already posted the "Main Titles" from Source Code.Balfe: Tilton's La Lune, which is not even available on YouTube but should still be free on his site, along with tons of other music.Streitenfeld: Jackman: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 27,216 Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Koray do you like Jackman's Wreck It Ralph score? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,095 Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Haven't listened to it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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