A while ago, our team at the School of Popular Music looked at some of the greatest music themes ever created for film. We’re back with more legendary compositions which turned out to be as timeless as the movies they were written for – those of you taking music lessons in Guernsey might even be interested in learning how to play some of them yourselves!

Gone With The Wind – Max Steiner

The sweeping score of this wartime romance is as iconic as Rhett Butler’s final, damning words to Scarlett at the end of the film. Steiner created leifmotifs and themes to suit various characters and settings, such as “Tara’s Theme” for the beloved O’Hara plantation and which is now recognised as the film’s most famous music themes. The entire soundtrack took 12 weeks to write and ended up being two hours and thirty-six minutes long.

Indiana Jones: The Raiders of the Lost Ark – John Williams

The Indiana Jones theme is just another accomplishment to add to Williams’ already impressive list of musical achievements. The Raiders score is adventurous, bold, and brassy – encapsulating all the qualities of the film’s titular hero. The triumphant and lilting notes are the emotional bridge that connects audience to Indiana Jones as he successfully pulls off another dangerous and seemingly impossible stunt to save the day.

Mission: Impossible – Various Artists

If you’ve ever sat up late at night cramming for an exam the following morning, or gone to stay over at the in-laws for the weekend, it’s more than likely you were playing this theme over and over in your head. Originally created for the original 1960’s TV series by Argentinian composer Lalo Schifrin, it was then remade by U2 band members Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton for 1996 movie starring Tom Cruise. One of the most recognised music themes out there!

Doctor Zhivago – Maurice Jarr

Perhaps the most famous leitmotif from this particular soundtrack is “Lara’s Theme” – a masterpiece carried by an orchestra of violins, balalaikas, horns, woodwind instruments and the glockenspiel. Wistful and romantic, it perfectly sums up the longing felt between Yuri and Lara as they disappeared in and out of each other’s lives throughout the narrative of the film.

Blade Runner – Vangelis

A large part of what makes this cult classic so entrenched in film history is its dark yet gripping score by Greek composer Vangelis, which has perhaps made it the greatest in the sci-fi genre. The chilling environment of robotics and machinery in Blade Runner’s dystopian universe is reflected in the electronic, synth-drenched score, at once conveying both stifling alienation and suppressed yet heightened emotion.

If you’re both a film fanatic and music lover who’s searching for music lessons in Guernsey, you’ve come to the right place. The School of Popular Music offers tuition for all kinds of instruments as well as singing lessons. We cater for all levels, including beginners and those with more experience.
Contact us for more information about our music tuition in Guernsey and follow us on Facebook for updates!