So what exactly is the greatest film score of all time? Well, if you ask me, it’s hands down John Williams’ score for the Star Wars Saga. I mean, that’s a no-brainer, right? Alas, no one asked me. Instead, the vote was put to 21,000 ClassicFM listeners, who for the sixth year running, placed Howard Shore’s score to the Lord of the Rings trilogy at the top of the list.

John Williams’ score for Schindler’s List came in second place, and Hans Zimmer’s work on Gladiator ​came in at number three on the ​Movie Music Hall of Fame​ poll. John Williams’ work on the Star Wars saga came in at four. (Really? Freakin’ Gladiator beat Star Wars? OK, fine. I’m letting it go now.)

All shade-throwing aside, Howard Shore’s score for The Lord of the Rings is pretty damn amazing, so it’s hard to get too mad about it winning. Even Frodo himself chimed in on Shore’s win, as actor Elijah Wood said to ClassicFM, “​​The music is a huge part of the identity of those films.​ I think film scores are always extremely important with regard to the atmosphere and the emotional connection that you have to a film. Those pieces of music — you think about the Hobbiton theme — they’re really iconic.”

As for the legion of John Williams fans out there who might be a wee bit miffed that the man didn’t score the top prize, he still has more scores in the top thirty than any other composer. In fact, Williams’ soundtracks feature eight times in the top thirty, with Saving Private Ryan, ET, and Raiders of the Lost Ark all scoring high on the list, while the original Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Jurassic Park are all firmly in the top ten.

As a reminder of how awesome and epic Howard Shore’s score to the Lord of the Rings is, we’ve posted some of the iconic music in the video above.

Do you agree or disagree with The Lord of the Rings as the greatest film score of all time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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HT: Digital Spy
IMAGE: New Line Cinema