Movie composers worth listening to, part 3
This list continues from part 2.
Burt Bacharach
Bacharach is mostly focused on his pop music career but he scored a few movies. The James Bond spoof Casino Royale was a ridiculous movie but the music was glorious.
- Casino Royale (1967)
- The entire album, especially Casino Royale (Main Title)
Angelo Badalamenti
Badalamenti has scored movies for David Lynch and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Upcoming work includes the 3rd season of Twin Peaks.
- A Very Long Engagement
- The entire album, especially Mathilde’s Theme
Elmer Bernstein
Bernstein scored many westerns, epics, and comedies — with themes that range from majestic to playful. His theme was used, of course, in the Magnificent Seven remake.
- The Great Escape
- Main Title
- The Magnificent Seven
- Main Title And Calvera
Terence Blanchard
Blanchard has written soundtracks for several Spike Lee movies. His jazzy themes aren’t the usual movie music, but they are great.
- Inside Man
- The entire album, especially Above Your Pay Grade
Burkhard Dallwitz
Dallwitz has a great relationship with Peter Weir. His music hasn’t appeared too often on the big screen but he also scores TV shows. The Truman Show soundtrack has some tracks by Philip Glass as well.
- The Truman Show
- The entire album, especially A New Life
- The Way Back
- Lake Baikal
- Tibet
Dave Grusin
Grusin is known in the jazz world as well as the movie world. His “Fratelli Chase” stayed in my mind for years even though I didn’t have it on tape or CD.
- The Goonies
- Fratelli Chase
- They’re Here and Skull Cave
Nicholas Hooper
Hooper ably stepped into the Harry Potter franchise after John Williams and Patrick Doyle had taken turns. Like Dallwitz, Hooper’s music hasn’t been on the big screen too many times — but it could be. Upcoming work includes Winter Thaw.
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Fireworks
- Dumbledore’s Army
- Death of Sirius
- Flight of the Order of the Phoenix
Henry Mancini
Mancini had a terrific relationship with Blake Edwards. Some of his tunes are collected in Pure Gold. Outside the film industry, he recorded music of a pop, big band, jazz, and easy listening nature — and conducted live performances as well. “Baby Elephant Walk” is from Hatari! and “It Had Better Be Tonight” is from The Pink Panther (I prefer the instrumental version).
- Premier Pops
- TV Theme from “Remington Steele”
- Pure Gold
- The Pink Panther Theme
- Mr. Lucky
- Baby Elephant Walk
- Peter Gunn
- It Had Better Be Tonight
- The Return of the Pink Panther
- The Return of the Pink Panther (Parts L & LI)
- Ultimate Pink Panther
- A Shot in the Dark
- The Inspector Clouseau Theme (from “The Pink Panther Strikes Again”)
David Newman
Newman has scored several movies for Danny DeVito (who, although mostly known as an actor, is also a director). Upcoming work includes Army of One.
- Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey
- Main Title; B & T University
- Heaven
- Serenity
- Serenity
- Going For a Ride
- Funeral / Rebuilding Serenity
- End Credits
Eric Serra
Serra has a great relationship with Luc Besson, being most fruitful on The Fifth Element. He also ushered in the Pierce Brosnan era of James Bond movies with Goldeneye. Upcoming work includes The Lake.
- Le cinquième élément (The Fifth Element)
- Little Light of Love
- Lucia di Lammermoor
- The Diva Dance
- Protect Life
- Goldeneye
- The Goldeneye Overture
- That’s What Keeps You Alone