In terms of Orchestral music, who is a worthy successor to John Williams?

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Because John Williams isn't getting any younger, especially after he recovered from a recent illness at age 86.

https://movieweb.com/john-williams-recovering-illness-hospital-stay/

https://comicbook.com/starwars/2018/10/30/star-wars-john-williams-health-scare-recover/

So I know this sounds rather bleak of me to ask this, but I made this topic of out 2 things: Curiosity of who you guys think matches John William's talent? And to show an appreaciation to Orchestral music at large. I feel I am the only one here who actively enjoys Orchestral music these days that I often wonder if anyone shares my enthusiam on the internet? Anyway who I think is worthy of succeeding John Williams?

Well a ton so far, but my safe bet is Michael Giacchino. You may know him for doing the music to Pixar movies like the Increadibles, Ratatouille, and Up. Along with the Abrams Star Trek movies. But to me his masterwork so far was his Orchestral score for Medal of Honor and Call of Duty. These scores give Williams' a run for his Star Wars money.

Call of Duty 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxR7oF9np3U&list=PLD975100EB714E017&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwa3T3yjcPU&list=PLD975100EB714E017&index=8

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anHHKiJ7aDc&t=0s&list=PL83B72EF62A8E53AF&index=4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dSJTdHfD_E&index=14&list=PL83B72EF62A8E53AF

I can list a tone more guys but Michael is the most easy suggestion to matching John Williams.

 

[Squilookle]

Yeah I'd say Giacchino as well, or his protege Chris Tilton.

That said, despite Steve Jablonsky's fall into the electronic mess of the Transformers movies- the one orchestral soundtrack I've heard him do is absolutely sensational- Steamboy. If he went back to that style he could easily be a grand master at it.

One thing's for sure- Williams' successor ain't gonna be Hans Zimmer

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

Although his style is very different, I think Bear McCreary's work is similarly distinctive and really lifts any narrative. If you are looking for someone who does more movies than TV, I think Danny Elfman has a signature style, as Williams does, which he can use in a wide range of stories.

 

[Trunkage]

Although his style is very different, I think Bear McCreary's work is similarly distinctive and really lifts any narrative. If you are looking for someone who does more movies than TV, I think Danny Elfman has a signature style, as Williams does, which he can use in a wide range of stories.

I literally came here to say this. BSG and walking dead are some of my fav title music

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I can list a tone more guys but Michael is the most easy suggestion to matching John Williams.

You should have listed some LOST tracks. It's absolutely spectacular:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSTk5Qik_Rs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttIVRaWXF_o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WetJOa4hTrQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twHXrNtG-7c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqKm6kQjErE


So yeah, I agree wholeheartedly. I think that Michael Giacchino is a genius.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

I can list a tone more guys but Michael is the most easy suggestion to matching John Williams.

You should have listed some LOST tracks. It's absolutely spectacular:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSTk5Qik_Rs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttIVRaWXF_o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WetJOa4hTrQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twHXrNtG-7c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqKm6kQjErE


So yeah, I agree wholeheartedly. I think that Michael Giacchino is a genius.

One of many though. Someone needs to give these guys more work:

Russell Brower

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgjnru0h1zE&list=PLF8h11r9kantiMaZ82fkipvxBCrBnyUER&index=3&t=0s

Mark Griskey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djowEg4wewM&index=2&list=PL0smL-Kfec7TygVJcGUaWRwf0mlpeDpt3&t=0s

Laura Karpman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlDPAnoyOFo&index=9&list=PL7BD815B2F962044F&t=0s

And fuckin Toshihiko Sahash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybo6Q1zGRjY&list=PLZ-UX2ux7q9ETty2hET3AU-7Eh6EwRBFP&index=8&t=0s

 

[Casual Shinji]

Giacchino is very hit and miss. Some of his scores are absolutely brilliant (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up), while others are completely forgetable (pretty much everything else). It's like the dude only works well with cartoons, but as soon as he goes live-action his talent just drops like a stone and his score becomes generic background noise.

As for a worthy successor to John Williams (though I think Williams is a tad too over praised).. Joe Hisaishi. He's the guy who scored most of the Ghibli movies.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Giacchino is very hit and miss. Some of his scores are absolutely brilliant (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up), while others are completely forgetable (pretty much everything else). It's like the dude only works well with cartoons, but as soon as he goes live-action his talent just drops like a stone and his score becomes generic background noise.

As for a worthy successor to John Williams (though I think Williams is a tad too over praised).. Joe Hisaishi. He's the guy who scored most of the Ghibli movies.

Did you NOT HEARD HIS MEDAL OF HONOR AND CALL OF DUTY I LINKED?!

His Orchestral score for a World War 2 themed work is miles ahead of every other World War 2 themed Orchestral score I have heard.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Did you NOT HEARD HIS MEDAL OF HONOR AND CALL OF DUTY I LINKED?!

His Orchestral score for a World War 2 themed work is miles ahead of every other World War 2 themed Orchestral score I have heard.

His Medal of Honor score has a bit more going on, but even then it pales in comparison to the work he's done for Pixar. And as a WW2 score I can't say it stands out significantly.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Did you NOT HEARD HIS MEDAL OF HONOR AND CALL OF DUTY I LINKED?!

His Orchestral score for a World War 2 themed work is miles ahead of every other World War 2 themed Orchestral score I have heard.

His Medal of Honor score has a bit more going on, but even then it pales in comparison to the work he's done for Pixar. And as a WW2 score I can't say it stands out significantly.

What WW2 Orchestral score you do find to be stand out?

Saving Private Ryan's score is more sombre then epic.

 

[CaitSeith]

These scores give Williams' a run for his Star Wars money.

Really? Why? They lack a strong consistently distinctive melody (which was Williams' specialty).

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

These scores give Williams' a run for his Star Wars money.

Really? Why? They lack a strong consistently distinctive melody (which was Williams' specialty).

I here a consistant melody that permiates throughout Medal of Honor and Call of Duty.

Unless what do you mean by consistant melody, because that sounds vague and I am probably talking bullshit.

All the more reason to satisfy my dream of being an orchestral conductor.

 

[Casual Shinji]

What WW2 Orchestral score you do find to be stand out?

None.


WW2 scores have the tendency to not be very memorable. Maybe Shindler's List, because it stays away from the typical sweeping orchestral structure. And the only other one I can think of is Kenji Kawai's score for Apocalypse: World War 2, and that's only because I watched that documentary so much.

 

[CaitSeith]

These scores give Williams' a run for his Star Wars money.

Really? Why? They lack a strong consistently distinctive melody (which was Williams' specialty).

I here a consistant melody that permiates throughout Medal of Honor and Call of Duty.

Unless what do you mean by consistant melody, because that sounds vague and I am probably talking bullshit.

All the more reason to satisfy my dream of being an orchestral conductor.

Talking bullshit? If you are taking the orchestral conductor dream seriously, then probably you aren't talking bullshit.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

These scores give Williams' a run for his Star Wars money.

Really? Why? They lack a strong consistently distinctive melody (which was Williams' specialty).

I here a consistant melody that permiates throughout Medal of Honor and Call of Duty.

Unless what do you mean by consistant melody, because that sounds vague and I am probably talking bullshit.

All the more reason to satisfy my dream of being an orchestral conductor.

Talking bullshit? If you are taking the orchestral conductor dream seriously, then probably you aren't talking bullshit.

Along with a dream of being or working with a visonary animator so I can fufill my dream of recreating or continuing the legacy of Disney's Fantasia.

That movie inspired me to make something similar to it, but this time doing it on Youtube.

 

[SckizoBoy]

I'll be the weird guy and say Thomas Bergersen... (in fairness, he pulls off more of a Hans Zimmer style than John Williams, but eh, I'm a fan).