Michael Giacchino returns for the latest Mission Impossible film Ghost Protocol. Both film and soundtrack are the best in the series to date, the music swinging between moments of nail-biting tension and all-out action, cleverly integrating Schifrin's much-loved television theme. More...
With his moody soundtrack to A Streetcar Named Desire composer Alex North completely rewrote the rulebook, making an important turning point in the history of film music. His ground-breaking score was the first to use jazz, and was a major influence on later composers. More...
The Shakepearean adaptation Titus is one of Elliot Goldenthal's best collaborations with partner Julie Taymor. His music mimics the production's anachronistic mixing of cultures. Goldenthal is an expert at this, and the classical, bombastic and jazzy mix is one of his best film scores to date. More...
To complete our Macabre Theme for Halloween, our Horror in Music article takes a peek at the scary side of music, with lots of examples from Classical, Film, Television, Musicals and Popular. Join us on the dark side! More...
For John Carpenter's The Thing, composer Ennio Morricone's music paints a bleak picture of isolation and "alienation". As we approach Halloween, we review this classic horror score. More...
An animated religious movie seems an unlikely film for beautiful music, but composer Mark McKenzie has clearly poured his heart and soul into The Great Miracle and created a lush, sweeping, spiritual masterpiece. More...
Based on a James Herbert novel, Haunted is a ghost story with strong emotional threads of romance and regret. Composer Debbie Wiseman focusses her music on these elements with gorgeous melodies tinged with sadness. More...
The Tree of Life is a challenging film by director Terence Malick. The music by Alexandre Desplat follows the drama all the way, and though elusive and confounding, repeated listening rewards with one of the standout scores of 2011. More...
Director Dario Argento's films are often known for their synth-rock soundtracks. But for Giallo composer Marco Werba has created an orchestral score with haunting themes, which ably delivers the film's suspense and horror. More...
This year marks the centenary of Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975) one of the most influential film composers, with acclaimed scores for Psycho, Vertigo, Marnie, Fahrenheit 451, Citizen Kane, Taxi Driver and North by Northwest. More...
In War Horse composer John Williams bridges from the idyllic countryside of Devon to the ravages of war-torn France. His multi-faceted score balances sentimentality with a genuine yet understated sympathy for the many characters caught up in this "war to end all wars". More...
Let's kick off 2012 with a look at film music released last year. 2011 was a strong and varied year for film scores. Check our Best Film Scores of 2011. Marco Beltrami's Soul Surfer gets a well-deserved place in the top 10. More...
Christopher Young is known mainly for his horror scores, but he is a versatile composer. The Rum Diary is a jazz-based soundtrack which is full of fun-loving music, often led by saxophone with a live sound and feel-good warmth. More...
The Adventures of Tintin is John Williams' first animation score, and its no surprise that his music is richly thematic and character-driven. But its the music's limitless energy which carries you deep into the adventure. More...
Continuing our Horror Theme for Halloween, we look at that most iconic horror film score Psycho by Bernard Herrmann. Herrmann's strings-only approach mirrors Hitchock's black and white palette, proving that less can be more. More...
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the latest score in a busy year for Patrick Doyle. His music is often dark and brooding with good use of electronic sounds and African rhythms, yet lending the apes a sympathetic warm nobility. More...
The music for Water for Elephants is a beguiling and hugely attractive effort by James Newton Howard, blending soothing melodies and darker sections in one smoothly melodious package. One of this year's great scores. More...
Captain America the latest Marvel superhero has a gloriously old fashioned score by Alan Silvestri. The film has a nostalgic retro feel as it explores the character's origins and Silvestri's music grows the heroic theme as the story unfolds. More...
"The Martial Arts Trilogy" is a new album by Tan Dun, with highlights from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Banquet and Hero. The album ties in with a Tour which starts this summer and visits locations in the US, Europe and Asia. More...
Take a look at the lighter side of music with our latest article on the subject of Humour in Music. From classical and stage to film and television, the article is richly illustrated with lots of examples. More...
New from Music Box Records is "Le Bon Plaisir" by Georges Delerue. A previous LP release was only 24 minutes long with dialogue mixed over the music. This first release on CD omits the dialogue and includes previously unreleased music. More...
No-one can match Jerry Goldsmith for action music, and his score for Rambo First Blood Part II is the utmost in thrilling macho action. Though the plot is ridiculous, Jerry's score turns the film into a guilty pleasure. More...