The best film scores of all time, according to this prestigious British radio station, this is it!

Between Itzhak Perlman’s rolling violin on Schindler’s List, the triumphant brass of Ben-Hur, the haunting strings of Jaws and the romantic melody of Titanic, which is the greatest film score of all time? From John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone or John Barry, who created the best soundtrack in the history of cinema?

This is the question asked by a prestigious British radio station Classic FM Recently presented to listeners, they took part in a big survey. More than 10,000 people voted and the winner was announced on air this Monday night: it’s The Lord of the Rings, the soundtrack composed by Howard Shore for Peter Jackson’s trilogy.

Hugely popular, but also rich and complex, Saga’s music owes its success to its particularly inspired use of leitmotifs, meticulously linking precise themes to characters, places or feelings.

Happy with this result, the Canadian maestro spoke in a low voice: “Many thanks to all the Classic FM listeners. I’m so happy to be able to bring you a little closer to JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth.”

Right behind The Lord of the Rings on this impressive ranking podium, we find two John Williams soundtracks (which also appear five times in the top 20. Classic FM): Schindler’s List and Star Wars.

Here are 20 works that made it to the top of the list:

1. The Lord of the Rings – Howard Shore
2. Schindler’s List – John Williams
3. Star Wars – John Williams
4. Out of Africa – John Barry
5. Gladiator – Hans Zimmer
6. Oscar Wilde – Debbie Wiseman
7. Dances with Wolves – John Barry
8. Jurassic Park – John Williams
9. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Ennio Morricone
10. Mission – Ennio Morricone
11. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – John Williams
12. Chariots of Fire – Vangelis
13. Indiana Jones – John Williams
14. Cornish Ladies – Nigel Hess
15. Doctor Zhivago – Maurice Jarre
16. Magnificent Seven – Elmer Bernstein
17. Interstellar – Hans Zimmer
18. Godfather – Nino Rota
19. Titanic – James Horner
20. Pirates of the Caribbean – Klaus Badelt

(re)discover our top 5 soundtracks by John Williams, who was the most quoted composer by Classical FM listeners)…