Ennio Morricone

Undoubtedly one of the most skilled, prolific and imitated film composers in history. His spaghetti western themes from the 1960s have become so ingrained in popular culture that one need only strike an outlaw pose before someone in the room starts whistling the theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Though most often identified for the grand, heroic gestures of this period, he certainly did not limit himself to this style. From the eerie electronics of The Thing to the cross-cultural orchestration of The Mission, Morricone has shown himself capable of an absolutely remarkable breadth of expression. His forays outside of film music, including trumpet work in seminal improvisation ensemble Nuova Consonanza as well as numerous Avant-Garde and experimental compositions, further entrench his place among this century's most fascinating and important composers.