Everyone has a favorite composer, or group of composers. Post three examples (preferably a YouTube link or something easily accessible) of why your favorite is your favorite!

Alan Menken

Is my all time Favorite Composer!

Battle on the Bell Tower (Beauty and the Beast) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o8eTaMBuozA

Sanctuary (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSvuouzBo8g

The Cave of Wonders (Aladdin) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ry3DIytrXrU

There has never been one better than the master, Jerry Golsmith.

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_vghXqO7AQ
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGVLoZNklmo
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCz0lA-IR0

Mark Isham's OUAT Music!!

Orchestral Suite (Opening to the Pilot) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eIgXghdesEk

Rumpelstiltskin in Love (used for the emotional scenes with belle, best used in the episode skin deep) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=71zok43rtPw

To Neverland (Captain Hook's theme) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8MYvs1Xx-6o

Oh my god this'll be so hard for me.

Limit to how many composers? :laugh:

Oh my god this'll be so hard for me.

Limit to how many composers? :laugh:

YOU WILL RESTRAIN YOURSELF SIR! ONE'S THE LIMIT! ;)

YOU WILL RESTRAIN YOURSELF SIR! ONE'S THE LIMIT! ;)

Restraint? What is this restraint of which you speak? Today's motto is "instant gratification takes too long."

Anyone who knows me well knows my favorite composers are the Dynamic Music Partners!

Here are three of my favorite tracks by them. (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bx_2TC4QmNqkTzZjV1gyd2VOOEE)

1) A World Made of Cardboard - this track accompanies the explosive finale to the DCAU. I love the range of this track. It starts out with hard-hitting sythnh, dissolves into the plinking theme that accompanies Metron, then goes into a more orchestral tone (albeit samples are used, of course). To top it all off, for what I believe is the first time outside outside his animated series, Shirley Walker's theme is re-tooled at the end as Superman shows Darkseid "just how powerful he can be". It was incredibly exciting to me when I realized that.

2) Aqualad Brain Pur�e - from Young Justice episode 210. Like the 1st track is starts off with some synth and goes into a more subdued plinking sound; the orchestral-sounding samples afterwards sound amazing. That flute popping in and out in the background is heavenly. Really fun to listen to and just listen to everything going on.

3) Farewells - an assortment of rather depressing tracks from the first few Batman Beyond episodes. Though the series strove to be dark and edgy in its music, which didn't always end up turning out well, the composers' experiments with the grungy tone with cues of this emotion turned out really interesting.

Sorry Skelly, I think it's going to be at least 4 composers...

I can't help myself!!!

YOU WILL RESTRAIN YOURSELF SIR! ONE'S THE LIMIT! ;)

https://giant.gfycat.com/SoreSolidKodiakbear.gif

Zbigniew Preisner
https://youtu.be/nTWP-2T9fRM Dekalog, one of my many favorites of him


Howard Shore especially because of his Works on the Lord of the Rings Soundtracks and the way he composed them with Themes and everything from the classical Operas
https://youtu.be/-gbWL7MJ_kI Here I choosed 'Feast of Starlight' from Hobbit II


Shigeru Umebayashi
https://youtu.be/eKqKTdLXBxs from "The Grandmaster", but love and adore many others of his Scores like In the Mood for Love


and of course, cant be without him, He has to be on the list.
Ennio Morricone
https://youtu.be/acgVUCe1Y0M from Once upon a Time in America Deborah s Theme


Those composers, their works and Movies in which their Music were used have special meanings to me. Maybe I loved the Movies and the Soundtracks/Scores, or personal reasons were included too.




I like many more like Klaus Badelt s "The Promise" or "Gladiator" by Hans Zimmer with the great Lisa Gerrard - but those 4 have really convinced me with their AMAZING Styles and Skills.

Everyone has a favorite composer, or group of composers. Post three examples (preferably a YouTube link or something easily accessible) of why your favorite is your favorite!


YOU WILL RESTRAIN YOURSELF SIR! ONE'S THE LIMIT! ;)

Awww Jesus, only One ? Damn, that's cruel ! :laugh:

But i gotta go with Magnus Gangstad J�rgensen aka. Philter, 30 Year old Indie Composer from Norway because
well, his Music speaks to me like no other does...



1: Philter - Slow Motion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUnWP8t6r8k)
2: Philter - Ghost (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlv2AKwENFw)
3: Philter - 8-Bit Smiles (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qp2e6TeSug)

Philter did Legend of Iya, or something close to that name. Really fun stuff to listen to.

Ghost reminds me of Snake Eater a little bit.

I also heard Slow Motion a while ago in the other thread, beautiful song as well.

Who else but Jerry Goldsmith.

Planet of the Apes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7l88xSZCxo)
Chinatown (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmOhNyitewI)
Capricorn One (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjGumnQ1cZ0)

Capricorn One is amazing.

---------- Post added at 08:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:24 PM ----------

Okay, this was very, very hard for me to narrow down. I was going to do John Williams, but... well that was just impossible.
Every single one of these songs I love and enjoy so much, that was one thing I made sure of, that this list contained that of what composer and which of their songs I enjoy the most.

Though, I swear there's like 10 more songs from each composer I could've picked :laugh:

Shiro Sagisu - all tracks are from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

1. Decisive Battle (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVQzlZY1lkOTFqWDA/view) - Probably one of the best action / battle cues I've ever heard in my life.
2. Angel of Doom (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVYzVqNHNpX3B6cWs/view) - One of my favorite things about this track is not only the melody, the percussion, of course, but also the way it sounds... the strings especially. It's epic.
3. Thanatos (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVOS1rZWhYal9fVEE/view) - A sort of mellow but wonderful track. It sound like it's from the 60s, which I love.

Michael Giacchino

1. Rjuken Sabotage (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVUUNEWGR6WlEtaDg/view) (Medal of Honor) - One of his most exhilarating action cues.
2. The Battle of Monte Cassino (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVZHpaVDlWdHVjSG8/view) (Medal of Honor: Underground) - An excellent action track with great melody and beautiful interludes. The ones by the strings, are excruciatingly beautiful.
3. Arnhem (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVWG53VW5fOE9aajQ/view) (Medal of Honor: Frontline) - This track, made me cry this past listening. A grieving track for the fallen city of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden, that has so much emotion. There's not been a single time whereas I've listened to this track, and a tear hasn't come to my eye. I can say with all my certainty, that this is Michael Giacchino's best and most beautiful track.

Spencer Nilsen - I don't feel much like putting notes on these right now. :p They're just awesome, and are some of Spencer Nilsen's best compositions. The Ecco tracks convey the feeling of the ocean perfectly.

1. time forgotten (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B18GQkZXWsEVbURENnlYT0k5dUE) (Ecco the Dolphin)
2. st. gabriel's mask (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVRHJJTFdnWEpiRzg/view) (Ecco: The Tides of Time)
3. Tidal Tempest (US) (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B18GQkZXWsEVcXoyREpnNUttRlk) (Sonic CD)

Koichi Sugiyama

1. Noble Requiem~Saint (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVM1YyQ1dxd0R4Zlk/view) (Dragon Quest V) - Devastating, with sorrow, but beautiful.
2. Endless World (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVaE1memxxSzFTcFE/view) (Dragon Quest II) - Excellent, catchy adventure music. Lot of great memories with this tune.
3. Ch�teau (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B18GQkZXWsEVYkxoRWRJNjdoSVk/view) (Dragon Quest II) - Just beautiful, and elegant. Sometimes I feel like crying. :p

Not Specifically a composer but one of my favorite music types. Disney Parks!

Disneyland Paris Discoveryland Loop https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U46JROyliWI

Disneyland Paris Frontierland Loop https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fxE5HnuwiLM

Disneyland Paris / Walt Disney World "TimeKeeper" Attraction Exit Music https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EdNgHvna48Q
(Fun Note TimeKeeper Was Voiced By The Late Robin Williams here is a Ride Thru video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_hDFADaYLzM

I don't listen to film scores and I only occasionally listen to classical music so none of my favorite musicians are what you'd normally call "composers," but my favorite songwriter is John K. Samson. I also consider him my songwriting teacher even though I've never met him. Listening to his music made me understand how rock and roll could be gently poetic and still be rock and roll, how to make endless variety out of the simplicity of pop chord progressions, and how subtlety can enhance emotion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkBpz5ci3g4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdwMkA1WaGU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lbhNed9lXc

Restraint? What is this restraint of which you speak? Today's motto is "instant gratification takes too long."

I see far too many 8 second videos on the Facebook posted with the message "Wait for it XD"

I thought for a long time about how to properly reply to this thread. The reality of the matter is that picking a single favourite composer/musician/artist who fits all the categories and situations of what makes me love music is a question I've never, ever, been able to answer. Be that as it may, I've compiled a list of three composers/musicians/artists, ergo I will demonstrate my passion for music through writing of it, as music to me is not something I listen to, and rather prefer to experience on a deeper, subconcious level. It is true to say that over the years I have steadily allowed music to become my heartbeat; an essense of purity that defines my actions. I would not be alive without music and concurrently without music I feel nothing. Sufficed to say, the actions I have had taken in recent years, months and weeks are a direct result of this inability to think for myself. Even now I am struggling to keep my selection to three composers/musicians/artists, revising what I want to post in my head while I write this intro. If this hasn't given a general understand of how I view music, well, I'll let the music speak for itself.

<hr>
U2 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U2)

Growing up in the 90's and subsequently experiencing most of my memorable childhood in the early 2000's, a lot of the music I heard was influenced by what my mother enjoyed listening to. A culmination of her young adulthood came together in the form a 6-CD changer in our family vehicle. One of the most precious things inside that CD player was greatest-hits U2 CD. Of all the music I was exposed to as a child, U2 is one of those that has been racked throughout my mind. Countless emotions, memories and feelings accociated with some of the greatest songs ever written, and yet here we are today, seemingly having forgotten about U2. I asked three of my younger coworkers, ages 15, 16 and 17: "Do you know the band U2?". A brief pause of thought and the only answer I received from the three of them was "Who's that?". U2 is my first pick because of how it helped shape my childhood. U2's music brought joy to my mother throughout her young adulthood and in turn my growing up was heavily influenced by it. Five of the most memorable songs for me are as follows.

Vertigo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98W9QuMq-2k)
I Will Follow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2BqLlVHlWA)
All I Want Is You (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bF-8cCCNoY)
Pride (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHcP4MWABGY)
Mystery track, click to find out ;) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM4vblG6BVQ)

The final track in that list, being my all time favourite song from U2. I felt quite nostalgic writing this first bit, and for good reason. I think, sometimes, the reason why I find it so hard to revisit old music is because it makes me feel too human. As if, I have the chance to fix what I've become, but the thought of having to admit to that is frightening. A mental block stopping me from going to that sort of place because it means that I've lost. That I've become broken, and the realization of that isn't something I can really deal with right now, maybe not for a very long time. Despite the fact that I can easily acknowledge that it is very true. U2 is great, even their new music is finding inventive ways to get into your head.^{here's a newer favourite of mine. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC3ahd6Di3M)}

<hr>

Yasuharu Takanashi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuharu_Takanashi)

One of the greatest things that had ever happened to me was the discovery of the Naruto manga. Brilliantly transformed into an anime (which is still ongoing, by the way). The anime for me was much more enjoyable as I was not an avid fan of reading way back then. Through the trials and tribulations of childhood, teenage hormones, high school and even now in adulthood, the music of Yasuharu Takanashi never fails to get me where I want to go. However, since there hasn't been any new releases of Naruto music for a few years, and the last official anime soundtrack being released seven years ago, most of the music from the show is heavily associated with my middle school years. Not the best of times. A lot of memories rife with candid anxiety and situations I never want to be in again. In the end it was always the music that pulled me out of the frying pan, and untilamtely into the fire. I have a love-hate relationship with the music from the Naruto series, due to how much I love how it sounds and of how much it reminds me of the terrible past. That being said, Naruto Shippuden is due for a third official soundtrack release! PRAISE THE HEAVENS! There has been a LOT of music composed for that show in the past seven years, and there is especially a few themes I hope will make it onto the new soundtrack. I would not say I am an avid fan of Yasuharu Takanashi as my experience from him is limited to the music of Naruto Shippuden. And, in fact, it was Toshio Masuda who composed the music for the original Naruto anime. Takanashi does a wonderful job of combining heavy rock with traditional Japanese cultural influence. My top five picks from Yasuharu Takanashi are as follows.

Shippuden (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-BxMw52r1Q)
Mountain Haze (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Ji8yvd7ng)
My Name (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/68272387/Currently%20Listening/33%20My%20Name.wav)
Snow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4VUCU7jrUs)
Mystery track, click to find out ;) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9COuHx3khAw)

<hr>

Martin O'Donnell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_O%27Donnell) & Michael Salvatori (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Salvatori)

The most influential music I have ever come across is the work of Martin O'Donnel and Michael Salvatori. To say the least, it saved my life. As I am sure probably many of you are aware, my life revolves around Halo. The story of its main character driven by the miracukous and wonderous music composed by Maritn O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori. I have listened to the music of Halo more than I have listened to anything else. The music means more to me than anything really, there's nothing more to be said. Either that or I've reached my thinking capacity.

Epilogue (Beholden, Road to Voi, Subsume) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kcFE4uFZ9o)
High Charity Suite (Rue and Woe, Respite, Antediluvia, Persuit of Truth) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbwLYxYIavo)
Neon Night (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQRH6kLMa1k)
Ghosts and Glass (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isaOrKNHw7g)
The Traveler (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USzlcxkGAeM)

It took me nearly a decade to f igure out what my favourite song was since the first time it was asked to me. And for the last year or so it has given me great pleasure to be able to answer that question.
Roll Call, Duty Bound, Price Paid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omMX9OkyweY)

Thanks to SonicAdventure for inspiring to me post that.

The High Charity Suite, Neon Night, I also absolutely love these tracks. The saxophone in Neon Night just kills me.

---------- Post added at 05:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 PM ----------

Momonoki, your post has made me realize that I did an insufficient job as describing how my each of the 3 favorite songs from the composers I listed affected me on such a certain level, and how much I enjoy them.
With the way I felt then, the way I feel now, and the way I'll feel tomorrow, I don't think I'll have something I'm sure on for a long time.
Picking a select few composers, while choosing only 3 songs from them is definitely one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

The only track I think I did an acceptable explanation on is Michael Giacchino's Arnhem. Even for that, I feel I don't know enough adjectives and other words, and ways of words to describe how this piece of music makes me feel.

I'll have to revise my list sometime.

Momonoki, your post has made me realize that I did an insufficient job as describing how my each of the 3 favorite songs from the composers I listed affected me on such a certain level, and how much I enjoy them.
With the way I felt then, the way I feel now, and the way I'll feel tomorrow, I don't think I'll have something I'm sure on for a long time.
Picking a select few composers, while choosing only 3 songs from them is definitely one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

The only track I think I did an acceptable explanation on is Michael Giacchino's Arnhem. Even for that, I feel I don't know enough adjectives and other words, and ways of words to describe how this piece of music makes me feel.

I'll have to revise my list sometime.

Music is so diverse in every way. It hits you right in the soul if you allow it. I really enjoy writing, and pondering awbout philosophical and psychological expression, thoughts and ideas. I often spend so much time psychoanalysing everything around me without even knowing it. Back to music, it's just not "music" anymore to me. I don't know if a word exists to accurately describe it, like you said. "Eternal". "Absolute". "Forever". "Benign".


I don't think I'll have something I'm sure on for a long time.

I feel this way as well, about most things in my life. I am only truly sure of music, and of the direction of life. But everything else is a mystery. I recently made a new playlist. First one in a long time. I used to make them a lot back in the day, I would pick an intro song and an outro song and would fill the space inbetweemn with 20 or so songs, to tell a story. However, the story is entirely interpreted by the viewer. There are no track names to remove bias. And this is the biggest playlist I've ever made. 90 songs. 6 hours 14 minutes. I'll send it to you if you want.

Music is so diverse in every way. It hits you right in the soul if you allow it. I really enjoy writing, and pondering awbout philosophical and psychological expression, thoughts and ideas. I often spend so much time psychoanalysing everything around me without even knowing it. Back to music, it's just not "music" anymore to me. I don't know if a word exists to accurately describe it, like you said. "Eternal". "Absolute". "Forever". "Benign".

I think writing is one area where I lack. It's something I need to work on more. Reading books, I know is a good way.

Psychoanalysing is something I do every damn day, almost every hour. Thinking about how our minds work, why we do the things we do, why things are the way they are, the hell I (we) enjoy music so much, why I think the way I do, and how others can be so different in this field. I really started to think this way in about early October-current, when I started to read a book on psychology. It made me think a lot. Watching Neon Genesis Evangelion around this time, psychology being a main subject/theme of the series, and playing Call of Duty: Black Ops a month or so later, a game which also deals a little with psychology; it all added up, and it changed the way I looked at things, my perspective on everything.

Not completely, because there's always room for improvement, and there always will be, because nobody is perfect. I just need to utilize and put what I know to good use, figuring out how to first.


the hell I enjoy music so much
A little expansion on this: composing music is something I'm thinking about almost every minute of the day, maybe not so literally, but so often to where I sometimes can feel very excited, which can be all it takes to create something good.
I'm thinking about it so often because I listen to it even more often than the latter activity. It's a never ending cycle.


I feel this way as well, about most things in my life. I am only truly sure of music, and of the direction of life. But everything else is a mystery. I recently made a new playlist. First one in a long time. I used to make them a lot back in the day, I would pick an intro song and an outro song and would fill the space inbetweemn with 20 or so songs, to tell a story. However, the story is entirely interpreted by the viewer. There are no track names to remove bias. And this is the biggest playlist I've ever made. 90 songs. 6 hours 14 minutes. I'll send it to you if you want.

Sure, that sounds great.

Speed Racer changed my life. It's loud, explosive, heartfelt, beautiful. I didn't think such a thing was possible. In three minutes I'm torn between joy, watery eyes, and the edge of my seat. No joke. The final race builds up and tugs on every string connected through the entire film and explodes like an orgasm. A cinematic orgasm; a sensory assault. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvwhIStnDw8) That wouldn't have been possible without Micheal Giacchino's music. This score is my most played score and I'm not afraid to admit that the film is my favourite film. The Wachowski's are brilliant. Giacchino is spectacular. This score sorely deserves the Deluxe Edition treatment from Varese.

Star Trek Into Darkness (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiYyeVsOtl8) might be a bad Star Trek film, but it's a great film. Joke about the lens flares, but if that's really the biggest complaint (from non-trekkies, anyway,) it's difficult to hate this one. And the score... My goodness. Giacchino did a great job with the 2009 Star Trek, but he blew it out of the water with Into Darkness. London Calling/London Falling are standout beautiful. Harrison's themes are dark and absolutely perfect. Kirk's theme (Warp Core Values, Kirk Enterprises, etc.) is probably my favourite, and the takes on the original theme are awesome; Giacchino is proving to be the master at breathing new life into classic material (like he did Speed Racer!). The Deluxe Edition is a near-complete limited release, still available, and everyone should own a copy. (https://www.varesesarabande.com/products/star-trek-into-darkness-deluxe-edition) You won't be disappointed if you do.

Every Thursday I sit down at my computer, prepare for a project I want to complete, then start playing Marco Beltrami's I, Robot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xw40Y-OlxM) sessions. The synaptic crackles sprinkled throughout give me goosebumps, and I even feel they help me think better. The action cues are abrupt and powerful, and there's a dark, moody ambience. It's kinda gothic and juxtaposed with the beautifully designed futuristic world of the film and I love it. This score also deserves the Deluxe Edition treatment from Varese, and even the expanded "complete" versions on YouTube are missing a bunch of great music from the sessions.

I'm a fan of action scores and of course this is subjective and personal. I've read plenty of bad reviews on these three scores but they're my favourite and I suppose that makes Giacchino my top composer; he's made two of them.

I haven't actually heard Michael Giachhino's Star Trek or Speed Racer scores. With what you said, I'll be checking them out. Why not? He's one of my favorite composers anyway. :p
Beltrami's I, Robot score I'd already heard great things about, and I also just loved the Gods of Egypt score, so that seems a given.

My introduction to Giacchino was his Medal of Honor scores. They're just amazing. His Medal of Honor music is where he shines brightest, I think.
If you want to hear 3 amazing tracks from those scores, you can just check this post (Thread 204784).

I had no idea he composed videogame music!

The Medal of Honor music you posted is indeed beautiful. I'm gonna have to check out those scores.

I know I haven't heard all of his music, but Arnhem I think is the most beautiful cue he's ever written. I cry every time. It never fails. :laugh:

Hey CloneMaster, your inbox is full.

Fixed. :p