Soundtracks: the magic behind the screen

A film is not only created by images, sounds, a nice plot or attractive actors, there is something further: the music composed for it.
Usually this genre is called Soundtracks or Scores.
But there is an important difference to point out about both terms, in the first case generally refers to popular or commercial songs that are used in the film, all of them with lyrics.
In the second case, score means that a specific composer is in charge of creating the music for a film.
The special characteristic about this genre is that the music is mainly instrumental, although most composers like to include a voice performing the song or some chorus to make the tune powerful.
To create this music, composers rely in the use of a quite big variety of instruments, from the traditional piano, keyboards to the strings including violins and cello, trumpets and sometimes even synthesizers.
Even though, people sometimes are not aware of the magic this music, believe me, a film wouldn't be the same with this music, it simply couldn't stand on its own.
Scores create a special magic to the film as they add a lot of emotions and feelings to the particular film, construct an unique atmosphere and literally bring into life the movie.
I don't believe a film would be the same without this special musical composition as it would lacks of certain emotions that images and sounds many times can't give.
The list of composers can be endless as well as their nationalities and the kind of films they usually tend to work. Even though nowadays most composers are quite flexible as they can create music for a drama and romance or horror.
In my personal opinion and, indeed, my favourites are Rachel Portman, Philip Glass, James Newton Howard, Thomas Newman, Harry Gregson-Williams, Dario Marianelli and Patrick Doyle.
Each of them with a different and unique style but still with something in common: make the movies magical.

Here are some samples, enjoy them
1) Dead things by Philip Glass (from the movie The Hours)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vvyktncO9Q&feature=related

2) Kissing in the rain by Patrick Doyle (from the movie Great Expectations)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSEvISsgaAE

3) The Gravel Road by James Newtom Howard (from the movie The Village)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJEk824VIas

4) Dead already by Thomas Newman (from the movie American Beauty)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sWll2mqPD0

5) Main titles by Rachel Portman (from the movie Cider House Rules)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2H8p4uqCZ0