OT: Top 50 Movie Soundtracks ??!?

[andyt]

Thought this might be interesting reading.
A UK classical music radio station has had a listeners vote on the Top 50 Movie Soundracks. 44,000 people voted.

Here are the results;
1 The Lord of the Rings Howard Shore
2 Gladiator Hans Zimmer/Lisa Gerrard
3 The Star Wars movies John Williams
4 Schindler’s List John Williams
5 Out of Africa John Barry/Mozart
6 The Mission Ennio Morricone
7 Titanic James Horner
8 Dances with Wolves John Barry
9 Lawrence of Arabia Maurice Jarre
10 Jurassic Park John Williams

11 Gone with the Wind Max Steiner
12 The Harry Potter movies John Williams
13 The Piano Michael Nyman
14 The Magnificent Seven Elmer Bernstein
15 Brief Encounter Sergei Rachmaninov
16 Doctor Zhivago Maurice Jarre
17 West Side Story Leonard Bernstein
18 Amadeus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
19 Saving Private Ryan John Williams
20 Braveheart James Horner
21 Blade Runner Vangelis
22 Last of the Mohicans Trevor Jones
23 Chariots of Fire Vangelis
24 The Indiana Jones movies John Williams
25 The Godfather Nino Rota
26 The Big Country Jerome Moross
27 Death in Venice Gustav Mahler
28 2001 – A Space Odyssey Richard Strauss
29 ET – John Williams
30 The Great Escape Elmer Bernstein
31 Fantasia Various composers
32 Dangerous Moonlight (Warsaw Concerto) Richard Adinsell
33 The English Patient Gabriel Yared
34 The World is Not Enough David Arnold
35 The Hours Philip Glass
36 The Shawshank Redemption Mozart/Thomas Newman
37 The Third Man Anton Karas
38 Platoon Samuel Barber
39 The Dambusters Eric Coates
40 The Deer Hunter Stanley Myers
41 The Good the Bad and the Ugly Ennio Morricone
42 Star Trek movies Jerry Goldsmith
43 Once Upon a Time in America Ennio Morricone
44 Sense and Sensibility Patrick Doyle
45 Edward Scissorhands Danny Elfman
46 Once Upon a time in the West Ennio Morricone
47 Ben Hur – Miklos Rosza
48 Amelie – Yann Tiersen
49 1492 Conquest of Paradise Vangelis
50 Much Ado about Nothing Patrick Doyle

[§eth]

BOOOOO only 1 title from Hans Zimmer? I demand a recount. No Prince of Egypt or Lion King, Wow not even Armageddon for fabulous track #9- What\'s the world coming to?

[Netvudu]

Most of those are certainly great but I was missing a few titles too (though not Armageddon precisely images/icons/grin.gif ), plus some of those movies seem to be voted just for having populat main themes more than the actual soundtrack itself.

My main surprise was no Basil Poledouris. Both Conan and The Hunt FRO should be there. And no Bernard Herrmann either!

[Runyon]

As soon as they put Hans Zimmer on the list, and especially at #2 considering all the masters of this genre, they lost all credibility.

Imagine, Zimmer over Morricone, Herrmann, Williams, Newman, or dozens of others....forget it. It\'s just ridiculous.

[Simon Ravn]

Thanks for giving me a good laugh:)

[andyt]

Yeah, I was hugely disappointed withthe list and the show ... so I\'m not going to fall in the trap of trying to defend it. But still it makes interesting reading as to what this particular group of listeners \"like\".

The only observation I\'d make is that it was made by listeners to a classical radio station, not necessarily film-composition enthusiasts (like many on this forum).

I think they should also tighten the rules, and make it original compositions. Theres a blatant difference between musical written for film, and music chosen to accompany a film.

[A_Sapp]

images/icons/smile.gif

[Alexcremers]

The Hours, it just out and already at number 35! HaHaHaHaHaHa! What\'s that at number 1? Oops!

------------
Alex Cremers

[Rich Pell]

Whoever created this list seems fixated on Hollywood Movies.Ive heard some increadible music in Indie or smaller budgeted box office films. Rich

[Nick Batzdorf]

Look at #18!

[Rudi]

I wouldn\'t take the order too seriously. Like many other such \"popular\" polls (Greatest Movie, Actor/Actress, Singer etc.) it is always biased by whatever film/top 10 etc was released in the previous couple of years.

The important bit is not who is in the top 100 at the moment, but who will still be there in 1, 2, 5, 10 years from now on.

Some great composers in there!

Rudi

[folk prophet]

They missed Willow, Stargate, Dragon Heart, Independence Day and a few others, eh?

(Silverado, Cutthroat Island...etc...)

[greatzed]

In my honest opinion, Sleepy Hollow by Elfman should have been first, but it didn\'t even make the list! #18 isn\'t even a film score, so I don\'t know what they were thinking.

[Jared Hudson]

From the 44,000 that voted, I can bet that at least 75% were just music listeners, and voted for stuff they liked the best (duh), but I\'m saying as in the style.
Unfortunately, it seems that many people I\'ve come across enjoy BIG music, with hard hitting percussion, screaming choir, etc. LOTR fits that perfectly. Gladiator is 2nd? Go figure. Star Wars is 3rd...ka-ching! Edward Scissorhands...in the 40\'s? What happened? The music is so extremely original, in it\'s own character and style, and it is used repeatedly in many other movie trailers (like the Rudy, Forrest Gump, and LOTR music). So why is it down so low on the list? Probably cause it\'s a lighter score, and doesn\'t kick your *** from a big subwoofer under the couch (btw..don\'t set up home theaters like that folks). I myself love the LOTR soundtrack and applaud Howard Shore for the score, but for others, I don\'t think they get enough credit. There is more to music than pounding drums and huge choirs.
Some may think my response is ignorant, but I feel this way when I see lists like this. Just my little bit of input (or ranting maybe). images/icons/wink.gif

Jared Hudson

[JonP]

I\'d take Classic FM polls with the biggest pinch of salt you\'ll ever be able to clasp twixt you\'re thumb and forefinger.

Its the largest and most popular commercial radio station in the uk, mainly churns out easy listening, and has strong financial links with some of the big recording companies like Sony.

[Netvudu]

Unfortunately, it seems that many people I\'ve come across enjoy BIG music, with hard hitting percussion, screaming choir, etc. LOTR fits that perfectly. Gladiator is 2nd? Go figure. Star Wars is 3rd...ka-ching! Edward Scissorhands...in the 40\'s? What happened? The music is so extremely original, in it\'s own character and style, and it is used repeatedly in many other movie trailers (like the Rudy, Forrest Gump, and LOTR music). So why is it down so low on the list? Probably cause it\'s a lighter score, and doesn\'t kick your *** from a big subwoofer under the couch (btw..don\'t set up home theaters like that folks). I myself love the LOTR soundtrack and applaud Howard Shore for the score, but for others, I don\'t think they get enough credit. There is more to music than pounding drums and huge choirs<font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">Jared I mostly agree with what you said, but let´s not forget that Schindler´s List soundtrack is up there as well. Dang! the exception to the rule images/icons/grin.gif


I find it weird that people used to classical music didn´t have more...uh...cultivated tastes. I bet if they made a classical music poll we would just get a \"greatest hits\" of classical music and nothing else.

[Gary M. Thomas]

Hey, that\'s quite a nice listing of some truly remarkable films. (And, I\'ll agree with most of the choices) I\'m glad to see that the name John Williams is quite prevalent in this list. He\'s really a phenomenal talent... (and my favorite film composer!) images/icons/grin.gif Gary

[Gary M. Thomas]

Hey Andy... Is this list in any special order? Or, is this just the top 50 soundtracks which were chosen.
I mean, I can understand these soundtracks being picked as the top 50 favorites.... but certainly NOT in this order images/icons/confused.gif . Come on.... I think they need re-arranging quite a bit.... Gary

[HiRez]

Hmm, Jaws should definitely be in there, as well as The Milagro Beanfield War, This Is Spinal Tap, and Hedwig & The Angry Inch. I also enjoyed the soundtrack from The Italian Job very much recently, though I was lukewarm on the movie itself. And what about Bond, James Bond!?

[Rich Pell]

Whats increadible to me is that there were NO Bernard Hermann Soundtracks mentioned.Also Jerry Goldsmiths Omen Soundtrack is a masterpiece (even thought parts of it rips off Carmina Burrena).What were they thinking??(said in a \"as if i really care\"tone). Rich

[Hasen]

That\'s the stupidest list I\'ve ever seen in my life. And do you know why? \'Cos it was voted for by people and people are stupid. \"A person is smart but people are stupid.\" Tommy Lee Jones, Men In Black. images/icons/cool.gif

Good effort Mr Williams with those Star Wars tunes and all but I\'m afraid Gladiator is better. images/icons/rolleyes.gif

That ET set you did wasn\'t half bad either but I\'m sorry to say that Titanic is far better. images/icons/rolleyes.gif

And where the fcuk is Batman? images/icons/mad.gif

[folk prophet]

Originally posted by Jared Hudson:
From the 44,000 that voted, I can bet that at least 75% were just music listeners, and voted for stuff they liked the best (duh), but I\'m saying as in the style.
Unfortunately, it seems that many people I\'ve come across enjoy BIG music, with hard hitting percussion, screaming choir, etc. LOTR fits that perfectly. Gladiator is 2nd? Go figure. Star Wars is 3rd...ka-ching! Edward Scissorhands...in the 40\'s? What happened? The music is so extremely original, in it\'s own character and style, and it is used repeatedly in many other movie trailers (like the Rudy, Forrest Gump, and LOTR music). So why is it down so low on the list? Probably cause it\'s a lighter score, and doesn\'t kick your *** from a big subwoofer under the couch (btw..don\'t set up home theaters like that folks). I myself love the LOTR soundtrack and applaud Howard Shore for the score, but for others, I don\'t think they get enough credit. There is more to music than pounding drums and huge choirs.
Some may think my response is ignorant, but I feel this way when I see lists like this. Just my little bit of input (or ranting maybe). images/icons/wink.gif

Jared Hudson <font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">Actually, my biggest complaint about the LOTR soundtrack was that is didn\'t \"kick (my) ***\" enough. Oh, it had it\'s moments. But there were so many missed oportuities in that score (in, of course, my opinion.)

[andyt]

Originally posted by Netvudu:
[QUOTE] I bet if they made a classical music poll we would just get a \"greatest hits\" of classical music and nothing else. <font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">Okay, you asked for it ..

1 Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
2 Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A 5
3 Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor
4 Vaughan Williams R. The Lark Ascending
5 Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor
6 Ungar, J. The Ashakan Farewell
7 Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in Eb
8 Beethoven Symphony No. 9 Choral
9 Shore, Howard Lord of the Rings
10 Pachelbel Canon in D
11 Vaughan Williams R. Fantasia on a theme by Tallis
12 Beethoven Symphony No. 6 Pastoral
13 Barber S. Adagio for Strings
14 Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor
15 Sibelius Finlandia
16 Elgar Enigma Variations
17 Mozart Requiem
18 Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3
19 Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
20 Holst The Planets Suite
21 Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture
22 Vivaldi Four Seasons
23 Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2 in E minor
24 Handel Messiah
25 Bizet Pearl Fishers\' Duet (Au fond du temple saint)
26 Fauré Requiem
27 Mozart Piano Concerto No.21 in C
28 Mascagni Cavalleria Rusticana
29 Allegri, Gregorio Miserere
30 Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major
31 Dvorak Symphony No. 9 in E minor
32 Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor
33 Rodrigo Concierto de l\'Aranjuez
34 Jenkins, Karl The Armed Man (A Mass For Peace)
35 Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor
36 Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A
37 Albinoni Adagio for Organ and Strings in G minor
38 Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 in F
39 Shostakovich The Gadfly
40 Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor
41 Beethoven Symphony No. 5
42 Mahler Symphony No. 5 in C# minor
43 Handel Zadok the Priest
44 Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
45 Mozart Marriage of Figaro
46 Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine
47 Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherezade
48 Verdi Requiem
49 Mozart Laudate Dominum
50 Bach J.S. Double Violin Concerto in D minor

You\'ll have to go to their web site if you want to see the rest of the Top 300 !!
They do this vote every year, and its pretty stable. Bruch was the fav for many years, but Lark Ascending would get my vote.
(Personally I\'m appalled that Lord of the Rings soundtrack is in there at all.)
Someone commented on Classif FM being the largest commercial radio stationin the uk pumping out \"easy listening\". It may be the largest station, but say it is easy listening is totally misleading and wrong. certainly they are play more accessible classical music ... but \"easy listening\" ??.. no way..

[JonP]

certainly they are play more accessible classical music ... but \"easy listening\" ??.. no way.. [/QB]<font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">When was the last time you heard anything by Webern or Ligeti or Lutoslawski on there?.

When was the last time you switched it on in the background for a morning and didn\'t hear the three tenors singing the usual stuff?.

When was the last time you turned it on and they didn\'t just play the most popular movements of the most popular pieces (soemtimes not all the way through even) interspersed with adverts
for pampers and charity donations?.

They have an entire weekday afternoon dedicated to pensioners, to mums at home with their kids or doing the school run, to tired out city workers driving through the rush hour in which they play nothing but \"smooth classics\" - the moonlight sonata etc etc.

Look, I\'m not trying to say that they don\'t ever play pieces the whole way through like BBC radio 3 (they have mock concerts in the evening where it happens), but by and large it sells itself as a station that provides classical music as background music. Bung on the Golliwogs Cakewalk - happy audience. Bung on a bit of Rossini or the latest Philip Glass filmscore - everyone\'s happy. But PLEASE PLEASE don\'t try and pretend its not there for easy listening because for the bulk of the time it is!.

If you want to hear pieces all the way through as they were intended, listen to Radio 3. You\'re far more likely to hear any number new works by composers alive and dead you probably wouldn\'t even have heard of. You can hear the Proms every evening playing the entire concert without any advertising breaks to screw the piece up images/icons/smile.gif

Its a very wealthy commercial station that uses polls in order to work out what its going to put on its next commercial cd release. Its audience are the easy listening brigade and not representative of the larger audience of serious listeners.


Deep breath.......and relax. images/icons/smile.gif

[spinach ravioli]

Originally posted by andyt:
</font><blockquote><font size=\"1\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">quote:</font><hr /><font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">Originally posted by Netvudu:
[QUOTE] I bet if they made a classical music poll we would just get a \"greatest hits\" of classical music and nothing else. <font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">Okay, you asked for it ..

1 Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
2 Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A 5
3 Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor
4 Vaughan Williams R. The Lark Ascending
5 Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor
6 Ungar, J. The Ashakan Farewell
<snip>
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">Weird!!! What a wacky list. Well, I guess if I made a list of what I think is great, people might disagree vehemently also. Hey let\'s try it! The very short list version...

John Adams - Harmonielehre
Bartok - String Quartets; Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste
Beethoven - Symphonies 3-9; String Quartets
Aaron Copland - Appalachian Spring
Paul Hindemith - Mathis der Maler
Witold Lutoslawski - Symphonies 3 & 4
Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet
Shostakovich - String Quartets
Stravinsky - La Sacre; The Firebird; Agon

[JonP]

Bit too challenging for Classic FM spinach! images/icons/wink.gif

[HiRez]

Originally posted by andyt:
Okay, you asked for it ..

1 Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor <font size=\"2\" face=\"Verdana, Arial\">Well that is my favorite of all time so I\'m happy to see it at #1 but no Chopin on the entire list??? Bah.

[Alexcremers]

They also publish a monthly magazine which my mother used to buy. It\'s a very boring one too. It\'s all superficial and lighthearted crap. I told her so. Of all magazines about classical music she needed this one.

If you don\'t mind I\'m quoting myself here from another board but with the same thread:

It\'s radio, people! Just radio. It means nothing, indeed. These listeners only know what their favorite station is dictating for so long. Ah, radio stations always force a certain style of music to a group of people that willingly accept the terms of these taste makers. I don\'t need and I certainly don\'t want radio.

------------
Alex Cremers

[JonP]

Their worst fault?: the compressors/limiters they use to flatten the dynamics on classical music. It robs the music of its very essence just so people can hear every note above the noise of their Toyota engines. Its really quite revolting to the trained ear.

Classic FM fills a certain gap. It has played a part in introducing classical music to audiences who otherwise might not have really ever come across it much. But in order to make it commercially viable they have obviously had to appeal to the casual listener and in so doing, often reduced great music to rubble in the process by turning it into background muzak.

I\'ve been employed by the BBC as arranger and performer on and off for the past decade since leaving university and I\'ve seen that Classic FM and its various CD albums, magazines and gradual dominance of the concert hall programmes have had quite a drastic effect on the programme output of the BBC\'s concert and symphony orchestras. Challenging works are often replaced by the tried and tested in order to bring in the standard purple rinse audience for fear of having their budget further eroded by the teams of accountants and marketing gurus who\'ve overtaken the Beeb.

The BBC\'s radio 3 is one of the only stations of its kind anywhere in the world that is not run as a commercial venture and thus is able to promote new and unperformed classical/serious (or whatever politically correct term is in current use - you know what I mean) music to broaden tastes and widen ears. It is now very much in danger of losing its status and respect. Anybody anywhere who\'s never heard it and loves the deeper side of concert music should listen to it while its still able to function as it always has.

[andyt]

JonP,

Fair comment. I agree with all your criticisms of ClassicFM. I guess I took your \"easy listening\" as meaning Burt Bacharach, Andy Williams, etc (nothing against these mind you).

Yeah, it is marketed to people who are not that serious about their classic music. But I think its a perfectly legit market, and Radio 3 can be way, way too specialist.

I find myself switching between radio3 and classic FM most of the day, going over to Radio 3 when ClassicFM plays the 3 tenors and switching to classicFM when Radio 3 gets too dull (and it can).

I think the other golden treasure everyone should be alerted to on here is the vast archive of Discovering Music prgrammes from radio 3, availabe to listen over the internet. I\'ve posted about it before, but it didn\'t get much attention. And also their \"stage and screen\" programme , with has interviews from hollywood composers, and whose back catalogue can also be heard on the internet. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/classical/discover.shtml (\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/classical/discover.shtml\")

[sporter]

Sweet Home Alabama!!!! images/icons/grin.gif