Which of the film music composers who died in recent years do you miss the most?

My personal list of composers I really miss:

Jerry Goldsmith – To me the most versatile of the Hollywood composers of his generation. If you collect his works and know them, you can see his style developing over the years and decades, him always trying new things up to the very end of his life. Goldsmith was never boring and he will be missed the most.

James Horner – The one who guided me through my youth, together with the older Jerry Goldsmith. Not an easy character, I am told, but his music great and unique, like Icarus making a run then spreading his wings and fly. Just listen to Krull or The Rocketeer or Apollo 13 and you will understand what I mean. My number two.

John Barry – The one I always prefer to this day when relaxing with a good score – and a glass of wine. His style was always very recognizable up to the very last piece of music, but still remains lovely and unique. Jazz and sinfonic music flowing together and of course the James Bond-movies which would be missing a lot without his scores. My number three.

Basil Poledouris – Basil’s music always felt very personal to me, every score being a somewhat different kind of experience. From Conan to Flesh + Blood to RoboCop to Cherry 2000 a journey through the life of a composer. And a journey that ended too soon. My number four.

Shirley Walker – "Taken away from us before her time." How fitting in this case! Working closely together with Elfman made him outshine her in some cases, but once she started doing her own music, it became clear that there was another great composer’s career waiting to happen! Unfortunately, the big scores never really arrived. She will be missed. Especially, since there are not enough women in this business. My number five.

Michael Kamen – Another good one gone too early. I was really looking forward to the next steps in his career! In some regards he reminded me of Morricone when working together with Rock Bands (Metallica). In the 90s he even outshined bigger names. Willing to experiment – just think about Event Horizon and working together with Orbital. And then, suddenly, it was over and a void in Hollywood film music had opened. My number six.

And finally, my number seven, Joel Goldsmith. Sometimes it’s just not fair to have a famous and talented father. But Joel still did his best. Like many others I say he should – and will – be rediscovered one day. Not one of the greatest composers of all time, but one that had his own style and stories to tell. In a good way.

Michael Kamen without a doubt, Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Berstein, Basil Poledouris, Maurice Jarre and now James Horner

it’s a tough list trying to recall every names and their music but so here’s a few that would immediately pop up in my mind.

Jerry Goldsmith – Rambo 1 & 2, Mulan, River Wild

John Barry – Somewhere in Time, I Had a Farm in Africa

Basil Poledouris – Conan, Robocop…

James Horner – Titanic, Mask of Zorro, Avatar,

Wojciech Kilar – Bram Stoker’s Dracula…

Elmer Bernstein, Maurice Jarre, Michael Kamen, Joel Goldsmith…

and Shirley walker – Final Destinion, Willard, Superman TAS, Batman TAS

James Horner and Jerry Goldsmith.

John Barry, first and foremost; then Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner and Elmer Bernstein, for sure. Of older composers, I miss Alfred Newman, Alex North, Franz Waxman, Hugo Friedhofer and Bronislau Kaper.

Danny Elfman… Oh Wait.

For me ALLS..but in specially Horner , Barry , Poledouris