The soundtrack to The Lord Of The Rings has been voted as the best classical film music for the second year running.
More than 10,000 Classic FM listeners selected their favourite scores with Howard Shore’s music from the fantasy films, based on JRR Tolkien’s books, taking the top spot.
The Canadian composer and conductor, 77, previously had two original score Oscars for The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring and The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King.
The final film also earned an Academy Award for best original song for the end credits track Into The West, with music and lyrics from Shore, Annie Lennox, and Fran Walsh.
Shore, who also won two Golden Globes and four Grammys for the body of work, said: “I’m proud and delighted to have maintained my crown at the top of the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame.
“Thank you so much to the many Classic FM listeners who voted. I’m very happy that film fans are still connecting to my music and the journey to JRR Tolkien’s Middle-earth.”
Taking Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame 2024’s second and third place was American composer John Williams for war film Schindler’s List and science fiction movie Star Wars, respectively.
Williams dominates the favourite film music list, with six entries in the top 20 alone, also including Jurassic Park, at number seven, Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone, at number 11, and Saving Private Ryan, at number 19, as well as tracks from the Indiana Jones franchise at number 17.
Coming in at fourth is Hans Zimmer with the roman epic Gladiator. The German film score composer also reached 16th with science fiction film Interstellar.
English composer John Barry earned number five and six, respectively, with Dances With Wolves and Out Of Africa.
Two spots, number eight and nine, was earned by Italian composer Ennio Morricone for The Mission and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, respectively.
The radio station credits the 2024 Paris Olympics for helping Greek composer Vangelis’ stirring Chariots Of Fire move two places into the top 10.
The highest ranked female composer was British conductor Debbie Wiseman, with her music to Oscar Wilde biopic Wilde reaching number 13.
English composer Angela Morley’s score for the animated film Watership Down, Icelandic musician Hildur Guonadottir’s Joker music, American film composer Germaine Franco’s tracks for Disney’s Encanto and British composer Rachel Portman’s work for Chocolat also featured in the top 100.
Talk show host Jonathan Ross, presenter of Classic FM At The Movies, revealed the number one on air, and said: “The Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame is one of my favourite days of the year, celebrating the very best film scores from across the decades.
“Howard Shore’s incredible music is so integral to The Lord of the Rings films, bringing to life the beautiful, spectacular stories. I’m thrilled to see his music sticking in the hearts – and ears – of Classic FM listeners.”
New entrants in the list include Zimmer’s Academy Award-winning score for science fiction epic Dune, Murphy’s score for Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3 and James Newton Howard’s music for The Hunger Games franchise.
Classic FM is available online, DAB digital radio and TV, and at 100-102 FM.
The top 20 is as follows:
1. The Lord Of The Rings – Howard Shore
2. Schindler’s List – John Williams
3. Star Wars – John Williams
4. Gladiator – Hans Zimmer
5. Dances With Wolves – John Barry
6. Out Of Africa – John Barry
7. Jurassic Park – John Williams
8. The Mission – Ennio Morricone
9. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Ennio Morricone
10. Chariots Of Fire – Vangelis
11. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone – John Williams
12. Doctor Zhivago – Maurice Jarre
13. Wilde – Debbie Wiseman
14. Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl – Klaus Badelt
15. The Godfather – Nino Rota
16. Interstellar – Hans Zimmer
17. Indiana Jones – John Williams
18. Ladies In Lavender – Nigel Hess
19. Saving Private Ryan – John Williams
20: Titanic – James Horner
