Classical Film Score Essentials

Apple Music Classical

Classical Film Score Essentials

The very best soundtrack adds infinite magic to its movie. In 1934, influential Austrian composer Erich Korngold arrived in Hollywood to write film music, bringing lush German Romanticism to the silver screen. Ever since, composers have conjured huge soundscapes to bring love stories, thrillers, biopics, and more to compelling life. Here are some of the very best, including John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Alexandre Desplat, and one of cinema’s most recent talents, Hildur Guðnadóttir.

Tears

1:46

Main Title Theme (From "Blue Velvet")

Angelo Badalamenti, Dirk Brossé, Brussels Philharmonic

1:25

Train to Emerald City

Stephen Schwartz, John Powell

2:17

Hedwig's Theme (Theme from Harry Potter)

Synchron Stage Orchestra, Wizarding World, John Williams

5:03

Time (From "Inception" Soundtrack) [Arr. for Organ by Anna Lapwood]

5:09

Finnish Waters

4:51

I. Prelude

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen

2:58

The Imperial March (From “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”) [Live at Suntory Hall, Tokyo, 2023]

Saito Kinen Orchestra, John Williams

3:09

Main Titles

Theodore Shapiro

1:20

The Maze

Anthony Willis, London Contemporary Orchestra

2:21

American Beauty

3:06

Gwideok Diving

Jang Young Gyu

1:26

Herald of the Change

5:01

The King of the Golden Hall

3:49

Married Life (from "Up", Arr. for Cello & Piano by Julian Riem)

Raphaela Gromes, Julian Riem

4:13

Cornfield Chase

2:06

The Shape of Water

Alexandre Desplat

3:42

Call Me Joker

Hildur Guðnadóttir

4:48

Tearing Herself Away

Lyric Quartet, Philip Glass, Michael Riesman

5:03

The Ecstasy of Gold

Ennio Morricone

3:23

Theme from Schindler's List

John Williams, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Itzhak Perlman

4:15

Time

4:35

V. Love Theme

Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, Massimo Colombo, Riccardo Muti

2:50

Comptine d'un autre été, l'après-midi

2:20

Prelude

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Los Angeles Philharmonic

2:03

Theme, Cubana and Finale

Richard Kaufman, London Symphony Orchestra

6:05

Gone With The Wind - Main Title

John Mauceri, Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra

4:27

Theme from Jurassic Park

3:25

Can You Hear the Music

Ludwig Göransson

1:50

VII. Waltz No. 2

Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton

3:39

Open Spaces

Jonny Greenwood

3:55

Chariots of Fire Theme

London Philharmonic Orchestra, David Parry

3:18

Main Title

John Williams, Boston Pops Orchestra

4:05

I'm Forrest... Forrest Gump

2:39

Pi and Richard Parker

2:14

Main Titles (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)

James Newton Howard

2:54

Desert Capriccio (Music from the Film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon")

Yo-Yo Ma, Shane Shanahan, Joel Fan, Joseph Gramley

1:34

II. Song About Alexander Nevsky

London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn

3:21

Daylight Express To Lutz

Alexandre Desplat

2:16

Theme from "Love Story"

2:51

Gabriel's Oboe

Ennio Morricone, Yo-Yo Ma, Roma Sinfonietta

3:12

Robin Hood Meets Little John - Robin Hood Fights with Little John - Jolly Friendship

William Stromberg, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Moscow Symphony Orchestra

3:55

Prelude to "Ben-Hur" (feat. Boston Pops Orchestra & Keith Lockhart)

Boston Pops Orchestra, Keith Lockhart

4:00

IV. Touch Her Lips Softly and Part

James DePreist, Oregon Symphony

2:12

Prelude (From "The Big Country") [Live]

Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra, Iain Sutherland

3:03

I. Prelude

Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

4:25

Main Title (From Game of Thrones: Season 8)

1:51

The Imitation Game

Alexandre Desplat, London Symphony Orchestra

2:37

Shawshank Prison (Stoic Theme)

1:52

Title Music (From "633 Squadron") [Live]

Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra, Iain Sutherland

2:37

Royal Talon Fighter

Ludwig Göransson

4:00

Holiday Flight

0:58

A Place In the Sun - Suite

London Symphony Orchestra, John Williams

7:58

Main Title

Hugo Friedhofer

1:35

On Reflection

7:14

Main Title and First Victim

3:26

20th Century Fox Fanfare

Alfred Newman, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt, Howard Griffiths

0:28