My favourite movie scores

1) Interstellar – Hans Zimmer

Zimmer delivered magnificently for Interstellar, receiving an Oscar for his soundtrack.He worked on it for over two years. Zimmer visited London’s Temple Church to record its historic organ. An ensemble of 34 strings, 24 woodwinds, four pianos, and a 60-voice mixed choir were later added. The feeling of air resonates throughout the music, and it takes your breath away.

2) American Beauty – Thomas Newman

Thomas Newman used a range of musical instruments to create a soundtrack for Sam Mendes’s award-winning movie, including marimbas, pianos, xylophones and bongos, as well as more unconventional tools such as metal bowls. The striking and thoughtful music perfectly portrays the mid-life crisis being experienced by Kevin Spacey’s lead character.

3) Joker – Hildur Guðnadóttir

When Joaquin Phoenix danced beneath the flickering fluorescent lights of a rundown building’s bathroom as Todd Phillips’ latest reincarnation of the villainous Joker, it was Hildur Guðnadóttir’s string theme which completed the suspence ofthe scene. Guðnadóttir, who is a classically trained cellist, plays a Halldorophone during the chilling sequence – an electro-acoustic cello that has, alongside the four traditional strings, a set of resonating strings. Picture and soundtrack created an integrated whole that left me speechless.

4) Suspiria – Thom Yorke

Suspiria comprises instrumental tracks, interludes, and songs, incorporating instruments such as piano, guitar, flute, drums, and modular synthesisers. “Suspirium” is a piano waltz with flute and sparse production. “Has Ended” is a slow-creeping groove,intense bass-line, and chilling piano accompaniment. “Volk” is a tension-filled instrumental with white noise and cacophony rhythms.

5) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Ennio Morricone

Ennio Morricone remains one of the most prolific music composers in history, known for his work on many classic Spaghetti Westerns. However, his best and most well-known piece of music is certainly the genre-defining theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The theme, which plays during the film’s climax revolving around a three-way Mexican standoff, has become a convention itself within the Western genre.