As you will see from this list – most of the music comes from the movies because of the added emotional impact of the visual as well as auditory senses. That being said I’ll go first with my favorite movie composers and their work that made them so for me.
James Horner –
The haunting music from the movie Glory – blends the sacrifice, patriotism, and struggle for equality - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EgOpIlZcTs
The theme for the magnificent Ludlow
The music from the Bicentennial Man as a robot strives to achieve a humanity he already possesses - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q10Bmr9ssg&feature=related
Basil Poledorus-
The music from Conan the Barbarian which made me want to pick up a sword and look for some Hyborians to engage – just got the blood flowing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZIEUPudUDk&feature=related
The music from the best TV movie ever made – Lonesome Dove as in the final scene CPT Call, played by Tommie Lee Jones, reminisces about all the missed chances and lost friends – a truly magnificent use of music. If you watch anything from this list – watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLFDZxdvRSY&feature=related
Franz Waxman –
One of the truly inspiring pieces from my youth from the movie Prince Valiant – only the piece from his final sword fight as a young man finally realizes his potential – starts at the 25 second mark - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu56XKcFihI
The music from Taras Bulba called the Ride to Dubno makes you believe you’re on a horse next to the Cossacks - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4O5Hpq6Qj4&feature=related
Jerry Goldsmith
Just the first 30 seconds from the theme to a 1970s TV mini-series called QB VII – it always stuck with me and truly inspired me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ieJ_TWYlU
The main title theme, just the first minute or so from the movie Patton – caught my attention as a teenager and means even more now having been a Solider – captures the innate thrill of serving the call to the trumpets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu11QRO9BrQ&feature=related
The start of the main title theme from the movie The Blue Max which can take you up into the air and make you think you’re flying. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOHZ1bBaUGA
John Williams (The Master)
Has he ever done a bad score – I think his best and one that still gets me every time is the beginning to Superman – just totally motivated after I hear it – every time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9vrfEoc8_g
The scariest music ever – the opening theme from Jaws – made me scared to go into even pools, I played this song before every water polo game I played in college: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDcrMScGaj8&feature=related
Capturing the wonder and joy of seeing something truly remarkable in the music from Jurassic Park
Star Wars – the opening notes of the main title can take me back to the darkened theater in the 1970s when I first saw this and wondered at it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG5OsfOuEy0
The rest of these are single entries and not from a single composer but no less inspiring (I keep using that word – but stay with me – we following a theme here)
The music from the main title of the movie Exodus - I didn’t see the actual movie until years later but this music just spoke to me – striving for a goal - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cr4odojoSs
The opening scene from Chariots of Fire and Vangelis’ music captures the joy of youth with its fleeting physical ability - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-7Vu7cqB20
The simple beauty, heroism, and grace of the main character is perfectly portrayed in the piano solo from the ending music in Forrest Gump - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcOt6mfjxeA&feature=related
Fighting against impossible odds with comradery from the music to The Magnificent Seven - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iteRKvRKFA
Sacrifice and paternal love from the ending scene in Armageddon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCA5f-kBcxs&feature=related
The perfect feeling of freedom and nature’s beaty from Born Free - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhGeH07lo5M
The aching combination of love and loss from the final scene of Ghost – if you don’t have a tear in your eye after watching this – you’re dead inside already - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crY-QmZcANQ&feature=related
Two songs from Brisitsh/Irish military history maintain the ability to reach my heart every time: Men of Harlech sung in the face of the charging horde from Zulu - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf_Fj4-MO9o&feature=related
The haunting words from The Minstrel Boy which bemoans the price Soldiers must pay, sung by Sean Connery before plunging to his death in The Man Who Would be King – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfMJM1J4lKg&feature=related
Ther march of the Roman army in Quo Vadis – even as a young boy this song attracted my martial leanings - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8cARpn37Ik&feature=related
I wanted to include music from the Man of La Mancha – but there was too much (Impossible Dream – Golden Helmet of Membrino – just great stuff) but I had to draw the line somewhere, believe or not. Okay we’re down to the last two – neither from the movies which at this point should thoroughly shock you. You’ll notife there was no bagpipe music so far – which, if you did know me, would have shocked you. That is hereby rectified with the greatest bagpipe song ever to waft through the mist to pluck at martial spirits – Scotland
Finally (at long last) – the single most inspiring piece of music I have ever heard. I first heard in a trailer for a forgettable movie Courage Under Fire and then came to worship when I heard it played by the US Army Herald Trumpets – Fanfare for a Common Man, composed by Aaron Copeland as we were sending men off to World War 2 – in my view best piece of music ever composed:
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