Classic FM counts down movie music

Global Radio’s national station Classic FM has been counting down listeners’ favourite movie themes, with The Lord of the Rings coming out on top.

Composers John Williams and John Barry both have two pieces in the Top 10 too – with Barry’s music receiving additional interest following his death earlier this year.

Howard Shore’s theme from Lord of the Rings beat the title music from Gladiator to the number one position on the Classic FM Movie Music Chart.

Now in its third year, the chart was voted for by more than 5,000 Classic FM listeners and readers of Classic FM Magazine.

John Suchet, Classic FM’s morning presenter, said: “Were Mozart and Beethoven alive today, they’d surely be composing film scores – the popularity of movie music with audiences across the UK confirms that today’s classical music is as enduring as ever.”

Here’s the Top 20:

1. The Lord of The Rings Howard Shore
2. Gladiator Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard
3. Out of Africa John Barry
4. Schindler’s List John Williams
5. Dances with Wolves John Barry
6. Pirates of the Carribbean Klaus Badelt
7. The Mission Ennio Morricone
8. Star Wars John Williams
9. Ladies in Lavender Nigel Hess
10. Dr Zhivago Maurice Jarre
11. 633 Squadron Ron Goodwin
12. Lawrence of Arabia Maurice Jarre
13. Chariots of Fire Vangelis
14. Jurassic Park John Williams
15. The Magnificent Seven Elmer Bernstein
16. The Last of the Mohicans Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman
17. Cinema Paradiso Ennio Morricone
18. The Piano Michael Nyman
19. Dangerous Moonlight Richard Addinsell
20. Saving Private Ryan John Williams