we’re back again with even more compositions to make our hair stand on
compositions to make our hair stand on
compositions to make our hair stand on end
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for another top
counting down our picks for another top
counting down our picks for another top ten iconic instrumental movie scores
ten iconic instrumental movie scores
ten iconic instrumental movie scores much like our last list we’re only
much like our last list we’re only
much like our last list we’re only looking at musical compositions that
looking at musical compositions that
looking at musical compositions that were designed to be part of a movie
were designed to be part of a movie
were designed to be part of a movie soundtrack
and we’re discounting the Mission
and we’re discounting the Mission Impossible theme as it was first used
Impossible theme as it was first used
Impossible theme as it was first used for the classic TV series and not the
for the classic TV series and not the
for the classic TV series and not the movie itself
we’re also not counting Kill Bill as
we’re also not counting Kill Bill as it’s not an original theme if you didn’t
it’s not an original theme if you didn’t
it’s not an original theme if you didn’t see a score you thought should be on the
see a score you thought should be on the
see a score you thought should be on the list be sure to check out our first list
list be sure to check out our first list
list be sure to check out our first list of the top ten iconic instrumental movie
of the top ten iconic instrumental movie
of the top ten iconic instrumental movie scores
number 10 28 days later
number 10 28 days later and 28 weeks later if ever there was a
and 28 weeks later if ever there was a
and 28 weeks later if ever there was a shining example of a score that doesn’t
shining example of a score that doesn’t
shining example of a score that doesn’t immediately pound you over the head it’s
immediately pound you over the head it’s
immediately pound you over the head it’s this dark and terrifying piece
composed by John Murphy during the
composed by John Murphy during the zombie booms early days this score is
zombie booms early days this score is
zombie booms early days this score is filled with a foreboding feeling of
filled with a foreboding feeling of
filled with a foreboding feeling of horrifying mystery and melancholy that
horrifying mystery and melancholy that
horrifying mystery and melancholy that infuses the quiet yet looming piano
infuses the quiet yet looming piano
infuses the quiet yet looming piano notes
as the track rises introducing gritty
as the track rises introducing gritty guitars and drums there’s a mood of
guitars and drums there’s a mood of
guitars and drums there’s a mood of creeping danger that accurately
creeping danger that accurately
creeping danger that accurately replicates the feeling of hiding from a
replicates the feeling of hiding from a
replicates the feeling of hiding from a pack of zombies
whether you’re Killian Murphy or Robert
whether you’re Killian Murphy or Robert Carlyle you can’t help but run when that
Carlyle you can’t help but run when that
Carlyle you can’t help but run when that crescendo strikes up
sound familiar long before it introduced
sound familiar long before it introduced jean-luc Picard and the next generation
jean-luc Picard and the next generation
jean-luc Picard and the next generation this adventurous melody was leading
this adventurous melody was leading
this adventurous melody was leading audiences into Star Trek’s first
audiences into Star Trek’s first
audiences into Star Trek’s first cinematic for a though the score of JJ
cinematic for a though the score of JJ
cinematic for a though the score of JJ Abrams reboot series is also dramatic
Abrams reboot series is also dramatic
Abrams reboot series is also dramatic the enticing and triumphant trumpets of
the enticing and triumphant trumpets of
the enticing and triumphant trumpets of the 1979 theme practically scream of
the 1979 theme practically scream of
the 1979 theme practically scream of classic science fiction and the wondrous
classic science fiction and the wondrous
classic science fiction and the wondrous adventures that are so synonymous with
adventures that are so synonymous with
adventures that are so synonymous with the epic series
according to composer jerry goldsmith he
according to composer jerry goldsmith he was heavily influenced by the optimistic
was heavily influenced by the optimistic
was heavily influenced by the optimistic and epic style of the original Star Wars
and epic style of the original Star Wars
and epic style of the original Star Wars theme and wanted to produce a course
theme and wanted to produce a course
theme and wanted to produce a course that could evoke the wandering beauty of
that could evoke the wandering beauty of
that could evoke the wandering beauty of the galaxy we’d say he did a fine job
number eight Forrest Gump as Goldsmith
number eight Forrest Gump as Goldsmith did with Star Trek Alan Silvestri uses
did with Star Trek Alan Silvestri uses
did with Star Trek Alan Silvestri uses the audible themes of wonder and
the audible themes of wonder and
the audible themes of wonder and spaciousness in his score for this
spaciousness in his score for this
spaciousness in his score for this comedy drama but embellishes them in a
comedy drama but embellishes them in a
comedy drama but embellishes them in a much different way I started moving
much different way I started moving
much different way I started moving around the music reflecting the mind of
around the music reflecting the mind of
around the music reflecting the mind of Alabama’s favorite war hero and
Alabama’s favorite war hero and
Alabama’s favorite war hero and ping-pong player the introductory score
ping-pong player the introductory score
ping-pong player the introductory score for Forrest Gump gracefully meanders
for Forrest Gump gracefully meanders
for Forrest Gump gracefully meanders across the film’s credits creating an
across the film’s credits creating an
across the film’s credits creating an atmosphere of quiet mystery and
atmosphere of quiet mystery and
atmosphere of quiet mystery and contentment
and much like our title character as the
and much like our title character as the song wanders it reaches unpredictable
song wanders it reaches unpredictable
song wanders it reaches unpredictable Peaks fittingly it’s a mysterious and
Peaks fittingly it’s a mysterious and
Peaks fittingly it’s a mysterious and romantic theme befitting the unknown
romantic theme befitting the unknown
romantic theme befitting the unknown paths that forest finds himself on
number seven the Harry Potter franchise
number seven the Harry Potter franchise this boy will be famous there won’t be a
this boy will be famous there won’t be a
this boy will be famous there won’t be a child in that battle who doesn’t know
child in that battle who doesn’t know
child in that battle who doesn’t know his name Jack
his name Jack
his name Jack it can be fairly tricky to translate the
it can be fairly tricky to translate the
it can be fairly tricky to translate the feeling of a fantasy series into a
feeling of a fantasy series into a
feeling of a fantasy series into a musical score but if anyone can do it
musical score but if anyone can do it
musical score but if anyone can do it it’s John Williams
and he did perfectly complementing the
and he did perfectly complementing the plot by punctuating the action in all
plot by punctuating the action in all
plot by punctuating the action in all the right places and inspiring mystery
the right places and inspiring mystery
the right places and inspiring mystery and others
although known as Hedwig’s theme this
although known as Hedwig’s theme this Williams composition is completely at
Williams composition is completely at
Williams composition is completely at home as the theme for the Boy Who Lived
home as the theme for the Boy Who Lived
home as the theme for the Boy Who Lived its opening notes are quieter than a
its opening notes are quieter than a
its opening notes are quieter than a mouse but as enticing as the first words
mouse but as enticing as the first words
mouse but as enticing as the first words of a great book as it enigmatic Li
of a great book as it enigmatic Li
of a great book as it enigmatic Li dances across the film’s
eventually the score rises in rushing
eventually the score rises in rushing anticipation of the action and
anticipation of the action and
anticipation of the action and excitement that is expected of every
excitement that is expected of every
excitement that is expected of every well-known John Williams composition
hans zimmer has been making a powerful
hans zimmer has been making a powerful name for himself in recent years as
name for himself in recent years as
name for himself in recent years as Christopher Nolan’s Golden Boy composer
Christopher Nolan’s Golden Boy composer
Christopher Nolan’s Golden Boy composer something this
not satisfied with creating the heart
not satisfied with creating the heart pounding drums featured in The Dark
pounding drums featured in The Dark
pounding drums featured in The Dark Knight Zimmer produced the iconic horns
Knight Zimmer produced the iconic horns
Knight Zimmer produced the iconic horns that are such a standout in inception
that are such a standout in inception
that are such a standout in inception incorporating hints of Edith Piaf’s
incorporating hints of Edith Piaf’s
incorporating hints of Edith Piaf’s knowledge in a hooker – yeah
knowledge in a hooker – yeah
knowledge in a hooker – yeah throughout Zimmer has said that he hoped
throughout Zimmer has said that he hoped
throughout Zimmer has said that he hoped the score would feel like huge foghorns
the score would feel like huge foghorns
the score would feel like huge foghorns over a city and with the electronic
over a city and with the electronic
over a city and with the electronic flavor he’s added the mixture is
flavor he’s added the mixture is
flavor he’s added the mixture is instantly compelling
while shaking seats across cinemas the
while shaking seats across cinemas the track entitled time is a slow climb to
track entitled time is a slow climb to
track entitled time is a slow climb to triumphant success that drives the film
triumphant success that drives the film
triumphant success that drives the film and brings us all along for the ride
gone our Brad Fidel synthesized drips of
gone our Brad Fidel synthesized drips of the 1980s only to be replaced by Brad
the 1980s only to be replaced by Brad
the 1980s only to be replaced by Brad Fidel’s lower octave bread filled
Fidel’s lower octave bread filled
Fidel’s lower octave bread filled orchestral sound for the 1990s
it’s strangely fitting that the closer
it’s strangely fitting that the closer to judgement day we get the more
to judgement day we get the more
to judgement day we get the more terrifying and hopeless the terminators
terrifying and hopeless the terminators
terrifying and hopeless the terminators music becomes
hard-hitting drums that emulate the
hard-hitting drums that emulate the sounds of war and Gulf our ears leading
sounds of war and Gulf our ears leading
sounds of war and Gulf our ears leading to a grand choir whose voices sound
to a grand choir whose voices sound
to a grand choir whose voices sound eerily like pained cries what sticks
eerily like pained cries what sticks
eerily like pained cries what sticks most in our minds is the clanging of
most in our minds is the clanging of
most in our minds is the clanging of metal mixed into the soundtrack which
metal mixed into the soundtrack which
metal mixed into the soundtrack which grows more frequent and louder as the
grows more frequent and louder as the
grows more frequent and louder as the rise of the machines draws ever closer
rise of the machines draws ever closer
rise of the machines draws ever closer the war that is not the third film
number four Schindler’s List I hear your
number four Schindler’s List I hear your name goes into listening to fuel trucks
name goes into listening to fuel trucks
name goes into listening to fuel trucks give us a moment to put our hearts back
give us a moment to put our hearts back
give us a moment to put our hearts back together before we talk about this one
together before we talk about this one
together before we talk about this one composed by frequent Spielberg
composed by frequent Spielberg
composed by frequent Spielberg collaborator John Williams this
collaborator John Williams this
collaborator John Williams this oscar-winning piece pays homage to old
oscar-winning piece pays homage to old
oscar-winning piece pays homage to old world war two courses with its grieving
world war two courses with its grieving
world war two courses with its grieving violin arrangements played by famed
violin arrangements played by famed
violin arrangements played by famed violinist Itzhak Perlman list is an
violinist Itzhak Perlman list is an
violinist Itzhak Perlman list is an absolute good
the list is life a tune this heroin is
the list is life a tune this heroin is not something we’d seen often before in
not something we’d seen often before in
not something we’d seen often before in Williams repertoire and in fact he tried
Williams repertoire and in fact he tried
Williams repertoire and in fact he tried to back out altogether after seeing the
to back out altogether after seeing the
to back out altogether after seeing the powerful film
he told Spielberg the movie deserved a
he told Spielberg the movie deserved a better composer but Spielberg contended
better composer but Spielberg contended
better composer but Spielberg contended that everyone better was already dead
that everyone better was already dead
that everyone better was already dead and thus a classic yet melancholic
and thus a classic yet melancholic
and thus a classic yet melancholic instrumental was born
number three Titanic when collaborating
number three Titanic when collaborating on aliens composer James Horner and
on aliens composer James Horner and
on aliens composer James Horner and director James Cameron clashed mightily
the composer therefore never expected
the composer therefore never expected the brilliant director to come knocking
the brilliant director to come knocking
the brilliant director to come knocking again but after being highly impressed
again but after being highly impressed
again but after being highly impressed by the somber work Horner composed for
by the somber work Horner composed for
by the somber work Horner composed for Braveheart
Braveheart
Braveheart Cameron hired the composer to produce a
Cameron hired the composer to produce a
Cameron hired the composer to produce a similarly tragic theme as a send-off to
similarly tragic theme as a send-off to
similarly tragic theme as a send-off to the famous ship
flying the heavenly choirs and wordless
flying the heavenly choirs and wordless vocalizations are spread across the
vocalizations are spread across the
vocalizations are spread across the soundtrack in a graceful collection of
soundtrack in a graceful collection of
soundtrack in a graceful collection of sad goodbyes and final solitude that was
sad goodbyes and final solitude that was
sad goodbyes and final solitude that was rewarded with a well deserved Oscar and
rewarded with a well deserved Oscar and
rewarded with a well deserved Oscar and yes
yes
yes Horner wrote that song as well
number two the Pirates of the Caribbean
number two the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise
if the thirst for adventure doesn’t
if the thirst for adventure doesn’t immediately hit you upon hearing this
immediately hit you upon hearing this
immediately hit you upon hearing this soundtrack you’re clearly not listening
soundtrack you’re clearly not listening
soundtrack you’re clearly not listening very well with bellowing crescendos
very well with bellowing crescendos
very well with bellowing crescendos occurring without warning at a moment’s
occurring without warning at a moment’s
occurring without warning at a moment’s notice this grand and epic score
notice this grand and epic score
notice this grand and epic score inspires a rush of adrenaline in the
inspires a rush of adrenaline in the
inspires a rush of adrenaline in the hearts of any would-be pirate you will
hearts of any would-be pirate you will
hearts of any would-be pirate you will always remember this is the day that you
always remember this is the day that you
always remember this is the day that you almost caught captain Jack Sun glorious
almost caught captain Jack Sun glorious
almost caught captain Jack Sun glorious in tone and greatly befitting a
in tone and greatly befitting a
in tone and greatly befitting a swashbuckling romp through the Caribbean
swashbuckling romp through the Caribbean
swashbuckling romp through the Caribbean the score is a collaboration between
the score is a collaboration between
the score is a collaboration between Hans Zimmer Klaus Vidal and a team of
Hans Zimmer Klaus Vidal and a team of
Hans Zimmer Klaus Vidal and a team of several composers but you could say they
several composers but you could say they
several composers but you could say they all pirated Zimmer stone a little bit
before we unveil our top pick here are a
before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions first up is
few honorable mentions first up is
few honorable mentions first up is Kirkland they keep everything open and
Kirkland they keep everything open and
Kirkland they keep everything open and allow indexes and their Apache
allow indexes and their Apache
allow indexes and their Apache configuration so little W get magic is
configuration so little W get magic is
configuration so little W get magic is all that’s necessary to download the
all that’s necessary to download the
all that’s necessary to download the entire Kirkland Facebook
you
you number one et the extra-terrestrial and
number one et the extra-terrestrial and
number one et the extra-terrestrial and the award for most entries on this list
the award for most entries on this list
the award for most entries on this list goes to John Williams duh the heart and
goes to John Williams duh the heart and
goes to John Williams duh the heart and soul of the movie the et theme is filled
soul of the movie the et theme is filled
soul of the movie the et theme is filled with majesty and a magical tone that
with majesty and a magical tone that
with majesty and a magical tone that emulates the atmosphere of this beloved
emulates the atmosphere of this beloved
emulates the atmosphere of this beloved blockbuster in an era of other iconic
blockbuster in an era of other iconic
blockbuster in an era of other iconic Williams compositions like Star Wars and
Williams compositions like Star Wars and
Williams compositions like Star Wars and Indiana Jones ET score is another that
Indiana Jones ET score is another that
Indiana Jones ET score is another that reminds us of our childhood and takes us
reminds us of our childhood and takes us
reminds us of our childhood and takes us back to a golden age in Hollywood
fitting perfectly into the film and
fitting perfectly into the film and highlighting its themes and emotions
highlighting its themes and emotions
highlighting its themes and emotions it’s a dreamlike Fantasy montage of
it’s a dreamlike Fantasy montage of
it’s a dreamlike Fantasy montage of music whose beauty stems purely from
music whose beauty stems purely from
music whose beauty stems purely from healthy imagination
while not as dramatic as others on this
while not as dramatic as others on this list the oscar-winning score from ET is
list the oscar-winning score from ET is
list the oscar-winning score from ET is a perfect addition to a phenomenal
a perfect addition to a phenomenal
a perfect addition to a phenomenal family film
do you agree with our list what other
do you agree with our list what other instrumental scores have we missed
for more musical top 10s published every
for more musical top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to
day be sure to subscribe to
day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
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