John Barry

John Barry is the original composer for James Bond, and his arrangement of Monty Norman's James Bond theme is one of the most well-known and accomplished pieces of film music on the planet. In all, he scored 11 Bond films and wrote a plethora of title songs, some of which have become cultural touchstones. In From Russia with Love, Barry introduced his own theme for James Bond entitled "007," an adventurous, almost Western-sounding theme bolstered by a seven-note ostinato. Goldfinger features what is perhaps the most famous Bond title song, sung by Shirley Bassey. Thunderball has two primary themes, one of them based on the rejected title song "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," and further develops the 007 theme. You Only Live Twice acknowledges the film's Japanese setting while also featuring a beautiful title song and a relentless "Space March." On Her Majesty's Secret Service boasts one of the best, most thrilling action themes ever written, a robust brass melody that plays over a four-note descending ostinato on synthesizers and thrumming electric guitar. And that's before the exquisite Louis Armstrong-performed song, "We Have All the Time in the World." Barry's last Bond score was The Living Daylights, in which the composer wove three stellar primary themes throughout and used electronics that don't sound cheesy today, unlike in some other Bond scores (The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only, and Goldeneye). Other Barry Bonds were Diamonds Are Forever, The Man with the Golden Gun, Moonraker, Octopussy, and A View to a Kill.  One of Barry's best known (and notorious) techniques was the writing of long, legato phrases that often repeated themselves. This musical characteristic can be heard in the scores for the many Oscar-bait films he did, such as Out of Africa, Somewhere in Time, Born Free, and Dances With Wolves. He could also do the kind of majestic action needed for films like Raise the Titanic and The Black Hole. Barry passed away in January of 2011.

The Black Hole

Dances With Wolves*

Goldfinger*

The Living Daylights*

On Her Majesty's Secret Service**
Raise the Titanic
Thunderball*
You Only Live Twice*