Since there have been films, there have been film scores. Even at in the very beginning, pianists had to improvise music on the spot for silent films when otherwise there would just be the shuffling of the audience. Now film composing has become an art form, with iconic cinematic melodies cementing themselves as an important part of pop culture. Scores are in a genre of their own. They can be said to be somewhere between classical music with their optional orchestras, and pop music with their accessibility. A lot is at stake for a good film score, they can be so subtle that its a tedious drone or they can be so overbearing that the film suffers from it entirely. Some scores dont even need the film beside them to work as many people listen to them separately. Therapeutic scores help us relax and exciting scores pump us up. But the most special and personal scores make our hearts ache. They evoke powerful emotion from us, bringing us immediately to tears if they hit the right notes at the right time. Those moments sum up why we love the movies and their scores. From John Williams to Hans Zimmer, James Horner to Ennio Morricone, Howard Shore to Thomas Newman. Heres a list of fifteen of the most heart-aching and unforgettable scores in recent film history.
15. Gladiator
Ridley Scotts swords-and-sandals epic revived a dead genre and went on to win 5 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. Composer Hans Zimmers breath-taking score takes its scale to another level. Its music with an atmosphere of raw intensity to go hand in hand with Crowes performance. Its very dramatic, and although sometimes it bubbles under the surface with Zimmers signature metallic hum, it can rise with a force similar to the work of classic composer Robert Wagner. However, its at its most beautiful when co-composer Lisa Gerrards angelic backing vocals echo over the tracks. Its chill inducing and feels timeless. They have an ethereal effect, one quite metaphysical, intriguing us further into Gladiators theme of the afterlife. Not only did Gladiator begin a trend of the ancient period movies that followed, but also Zimmers score set their tone.