#88 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - John Williams In my last post I mentioned the orchestral instrument libraries I compose with. One of those libraries is aptly called Hollywoodwinds although it might be more accurately named Johnwilliamswinds. It's full of his signature runs, trills and other effects that turn a great film into something magical. I chose a video of one of the E.T. soundtrack pieces being conducted by Williams himself. The sound quality may be middling but the

Continuing the countdown of the top 100 popular classics according to Classic FM... #99 - William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet - Craig Armstrong Following on from Gladiator, we have another film soundtrack at 99. Although, this entry seems to be all about one scene in particular - the one with the balcony. Unlike Gladiator, I wasn't visualising the film when I listened to this piece, which alters the experience. I did enjoy it though, it's stirring, uplifting without being sc

This is the first in a series I'll be posting as I listen and blog my way through Classic FM's Hall of Fame top 100. My ambition to explore music that's over 30 years old will have to wait though, as number 100 is the soundtrack to Gladiator by Hans Zimmer, released in 2000. (The Hall of Fame is for popular classics, so I'm expecting to encounter lots of familiar pieces, including more film soundtracks. They refresh the Hall of Fame every year so I'm using the 2020 list, whic