Movie composers worth listening to, part 4
This list continues from part 3.
Peter Best
Best may have retired, as he hasn’t scored a movie since 2004. His Crocodile Dundee soundtrack is, like the movie, unique and wonderful.
- Crocodile Dundee
- Opening Titles
- Theme from Crocodile Dundee
- Overture from Crocodile Dundee
Mychael Danna
When directors want something a little different in their music, they call Danna. He sometimes collaborates with his brother Jeff. He’s done several scores for Atom Egoyan and Ang Lee. He also wrote music for Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse. The Sweet Hereafter soundtrack also has several songs sung by Sarah Polley. Upcoming work includes Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.
- The Good Dinosaur (with Jeff Danna)
- Run with the Herd
- The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (with Jeff Danna)
- Tango Amongst the Lilies
- Monsoon Wedding
- Baraat
- Fuse Box
- The Sweet Hereafter
- The entire soundtrack, especially Procession
- Water
- House of Widows
Patrick Doyle
Doyle’s music is very symphonic, and I would undoubtedly like more of it if I listened to it. He has a great relationship with Kenneth Branagh. Upcoming work includes B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations and Murder on the Orient Express.
- Brave
- Merida’s Home
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Potter Waltz
- Henry V (1989)
- ‘The Day Is Yours’
- Thor
- Earth to Asgard
- Wah-Wah
- Please Forgive Me
Ilan Eshkeri
Eshkeri is a young composer who’s been scoring movies since 2000. Upcoming work includes Measure of a Man and Breathe.
- Stardust
- Prologue (Through the Wall)
- Septimus
John Ottman
Ottman has a great relationship with Bryan Singer. His theme from X2: X-Men United became the signature X-Men theme. He’s also a film editor — and has occasionally, incredibly, edited and scored the same film. Upcoming work includes 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
- X2: X-Men United
- Suite from X2
- X-Men: Days of Future Past
- Hat Rescue
- X-Men: Apocalypse
- You’re X-Men / End Titles
Randy Newman
Newman has a great relationship with Pixar (I heard several of these themes at this concert). He also writes and sings lots of songs outside of movies. Upcoming work includes Cars 3 and Toy Story 4.
- Awakenings
- Awakenings
- A Bug’s Life
- The Flik Machine
- Return to Colony
- Maverick
- Runaway Stage
- Maverick
- Monsters, Inc.
- Monsters, Inc.
- Walk to Work
- Sulley and Mike
- Pleasantville
- Real Rain
- A New Day
- Toy Story
- You’ve Got a Friend In Me
- Andy’s Birthday
- Infinity and Beyond
- Toy Story 2
- The Cleaner
- Toy Story 3
- So Long
Nicola Piovani
Piovani has scored many Italian movies. He has a great relationship with Roberto Benigni. You might not want to listen to the Life is Beautiful soundtrack all at once as it repeats a couple of themes over and over — but they’re orchestrated differently and interestingly each time.
- Life is Beautiful
- The entire soundtrack, especially Abbiamo Vinto
Rachel Portman
Like Patrick Doyle’s music, Portman’s is very symphonic — often focusing on woodwinds and strings. Upcoming work includes American Selfies.
- Benny & Joon
- Benny & Joon
- Chocolat
- Minor Swing
- The Lake House
- Mailbox
- Sunsets
- Alex’s Father
- Never Let Me Go
- We All Complete
- One Day
- One Day Main Titles
- We Had Today
Leonard Rosenman
Rosenman’s score for Star Trek IV might not be quite as good as a Jerry Goldsmith or James Horner score but it has its moments.
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes
- Main Title
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes
- Main Title
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- The entire album, especially Home Again: End Credits
Marc Streitenfeld
Streitenfeld is a young composer who’s been scoring movies since 2006. He has a great relationship with Ridley Scott. The Prometheus soundtrack is mostly Streitenfeld’s with a couple of tracks by Harry Gregson-Williams.
- Prometheus
- A Planet
- Invitation
- Robin Hood (2010)
- Fate Has Smiled Upon Us
- Godfrey