Film scores have been an integral part of movies since 1908 when Camille Saint-Saens wrote a composition to accompany the film Assassination of Duc de Guise. A live orchestra played the music while the movie played. The first film composition integrated within a movie came with King Kong in the 1930s.
Since then, musical composers worldwide have added to each film’s emotional storytelling. The best movie scores become embedded in our memories and upon hearing them allow us to revisit their movies. It should come as no surprise that the best film scores of the 21st century have continued with the legacy, allowing us to recall our favorite films upon hearing even a minute part of the score.
Today, live philharmonic performances recreate those memories, allowing you to relive those storylines through full orchestra performances.
Hans Zimmer’s “Time” from Inception (2010)
German composer Hans Zimmer is well-known for writing some of the top movie scores of all time. His Academy Award-winning score forThe Lion King cemented him in film.
Zimmer’s 2010 score of “Time” from the film Inception is another iconic and hypnotic score in which the rhythm and melody capture the film’s dream-like essence. The use of brass and strings emotes the film’s tension and fills the viewer with anticipation.
Alexandre Desplat’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Theme (2014)
Frenchman Alexandre Desplat’s whimsical score properly addresses the film’s characters in the quirky world of The Grand Budapest Hotel. Deserving of his Academy Award win for Best Original Score, Desplat’s accordion-led theme captured the essence of times gone by for the film’s eccentric characters.
It should be noted Desplat also created scores for the last two Harry Potter films and won a second Academy Award forThe Shape of Water.
Ramin Djawadi’s “Game of Thrones” Theme (2011-2019)
Part of what made the eight seasons of HBO’s Game of Thrones so epic was the musical score known as the Game of Thrones theme, written by Ramin Djawadi. In just 10 weeks, Djawadi created one of the greatest film scores of all time, reflecting the show’s dramatic plotlines. Strings and bass tugged viewers into the grandeur and danger of the characters.
Djawadi earned two Emmy Award wins and three Grammy nominations for the series.
Ludwig Göransson’s “Black Panther” Theme (2018)
With Marvel Comics all the rage in 21st-century films, each has portrayed its own culture through script and musical score. Nothing has grasped its theme better than Ludwig Göransson’s “Black Panther” theme.
Winning the 2019 Academy Award for Best Original Score, Göransson celebrates African culture, connecting it to the film’s message of empowerment. Some critics consider it one of the top movie scores of all time. By using traditional African rhythms and combining them with modern orchestral elements, Göransson creates a soundtrack that is both unique and memorable.
John Williams’ “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
There is little doubt that J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, followed by her revisions for the following film scripts, reveals the most beloved characters and storylines in modern history. When asked where to look for composers who could capture the essence of those iconic films, John Williams was chosen for the first three films.
The American composer of Star Wars and Jaws did not disappoint in encapsulating the adventure and wonderment of Rowling’s writings through a distinct melody and soaring strings. Included was “Hedwig’s Theme,” written for the first film, which became a recurring theme for all eight franchise installments.
Other composers tasked with the later films include Patrick Doyle, Nicolas, Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat, each contributing their touch to some of the best film scores of the 2000s.
Scores That Stay With Us
Every year brings new films into theaters and our homes, each telling captivating tales enhanced through the power of music. No doubt music further brings to life the tales of the characters and the stories each film, from today and yesteryear, is created to tell.
Check out our upcoming music concerts, featuring Bram Stoker’s Dracula in Concert and Marvel Studios’ Black Panther in Concert.