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Question: Who do you think that has been the most important composer in the film music history?
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Cinemusic.net: Film Music and Soundtracks
Cinemusic.net: Film Music and Soundtracks
Ryan Keaveney. Webmaster
I think the Golden Age composers are what you would consider “important” because they really defined the traditional film music language. While styles have changed over the years, the basic principles of film music were founded by Korngold, Steiner, Newman and Herrmann. These guys really are the giants.
Film Score Monthly . COM
Film Score Monthly . COM
Lukas Kendall. President
Bernard Herrmann, because he invented "psychological" scoring and getting into the interior states of the movie's characters and experiences.
Filmmuziek! - Recensies van de allerbeste soundtracks
Filmmuziek! - Recensies van de allerbeste soundtracks
Arvid Fossen. Webmaster
Every film music composer is obviously inspired by a lot of other film music and classical composers. Therefor it is hard to point out just one as most important. Also, important as an influence does not mean that the music composed of this composer is the best ever made. From my personal point of view, important composers for their influence in the film music as heard today are Bernard Herrmann, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, John Williams, Danny Elfman, Ennio Morricone and Hans Zimmer.
Filmtracks Modern Soundtrack Reviews
Filmtracks Modern Soundtrack Reviews
Christian Clemmensen. Webmaster
Alfred Newman or John Williams, depending on the period of history.
Movie Wave Film Music Reviews
Movie Wave Film Music Reviews
James Southall. Webmaster
There are many different answers to this question.  Alex North wrote the single most important score - A Streetcar Named Desire.  That score changed film music forever and paved the way for so many great composers to come after him.  Jerry Goldsmith has probably written more great music than any other film composer, sadly often on inferior films.  Dimitri Tiomkin was the first film music "superstar", equivalent perhaps to John Williams today.  Bernard Herrmann wrote so much iconic stuff.  Ennio Morricone's vast output contains some music of almost unbelievable brilliance and genius.  But I would have to say Alfred Newman, not only for all his fine music (he did write some of the greatest scores of all), but because of his stewardship at Twentieth Century Fox (and his later influence over the industry as a whole), giving young composers (from North and Herrmann through to Goldsmith) chances that they would never have got otherwise.
Music from the Movies
Music from the Movies
Paul Place. Editor of the printed version
Personally I wouldn’t single any one composer out. Korngold, Steiner, etc., are significant for establishing the craft of film music. Waxman, Herrmann, Bernstein, etc., are significant for establishing the art of film music. North, Rosenman and Schifrin are significant for introducing contemporary symphonic scoring. Morricone is significant for his prolificacy. Williams is significant for making film music ‘popular’. Goldsmith is significant for a body of work which is unmatched in its variety and consistency.
scorereviews.com soundtrack reviews
scorereviews.com soundtrack reviews
Andreas Lindahl. Webmaster
Tough question. Certainly the old masters - Korngold, Rozsa, Herrmann. And Goldsmith. And John Williams of course. And of course composers like Holst, Wagner, etc., who of course never composed for films but have continued to inspire and set the rules for film music composers ever since.
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