Famous Film Score Composers
Famous Film
Score
Composers
Kenneth Beck
Enterprise HS
Music Applications
John Williams
Born in Queens, New
York February 8, 1932
Conductor of the
Boston Pops and
London Symphony
Orchestra
Attended UCLA, Los
Angeles City
College, and
Juilliard.
Most nominated composer in Oscar history with 42 nominations for Best
Original Score
John Williams
Thundering theme pieces for major science fiction and fantasy films
Extensive use of leitmotifs in scores
Often scores the films of Steven Spielberg
Known as the composer of some of the most recognizable themes in the history of film
John Williams
Indiana Jones
Early Harry Potter movies*
Jaws
Olympic Theme
Star Wars (all)
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
Jurassic Park (all)
Superman
Catch Me If You Can
Hook
Home Alone (All)
**Was to do all of HP films, but chose other films instead **
(Memoirs of a Geisha over HP4)
Hans Zimmer
Born in Hesse,
Germany Sept. 12,
1957
Self-taught through collaboration and experience
If Steven Spielberg didn’t have the loyalty with John
Williams as he has had for years,
Zimmer would be
Spielberg's counterpart.
Hans Zimmer
Uses elements from the characters culture in the music.
tribal chants in The
Lion King
Ukulele in Pearl
Harbor
Guitar with vocals in
Gladiator.
Mixes synthesizers with real instruments and soloists
Often uses solo cello and acoustic/electric guitar.
Frequently works with
DreamWorks Animation
Hans Zimmer
Pirates of the
Caribbean 1-3
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight Rises
Driving Miss Daisy
Inception
The Lion King
Kung Fu Panda 1-2
Madagascar 1-3
Shark Tale
The Dilemma
Sherlock Holmes
The Ring
Weatherman
Mission Impossible
(all)
Gladiator
Rain Man
SO LET’S TAKE A VOTE…
HP3:
PRIZONER OF
AZKABAN
PIRATES OF THE
CARIBBEAN 2:
DEAD MAN’S
CHEST
Assignment:
How is music used in the movie selected?
As you are watching:
Write down examples of how music is used in the previous ways discussed
Listen to the different types of songs that are played…
Are they in the background
Are they being performed
Is it important to the storyline?
Who is the film score composer and how does the music of this film fit his trademarks?
Hint: It is one of the two composers we just discussed.
Your answer should not be less than an page in length.
