Iron Man 3 composer Brian Tyler said musical scores for feature films helped to keep “symphonic music alive”.
The 43-year-old American, who has composed scores for more than 70 films, conducted his music with the Philharmonia Orchestra at London’s Royal Festival Hall this weekend.
Talking about the importance of film music, Tyler said it was a field “bursting” with talented people who were making symphonic music more accessible to the public.
“I’m not only friends with, but I really admire Hans Zimmer and Michael Giacchino, who have been doing some fantastic work,” Tyler told the Press Association.
“Thomas Newman has the ability to make me cry when he does these beautiful melodies, and so does James Newton Howard. These are people that have found a way to make music that I think transcends the genre.”
He added: “Alan Silvestri is another one among so many more. I listen to their work and it’s so impressive and so musical.
“I think it’s really the modern way of keeping symphonic music alive and in the ears of the public by being associated with movies.”
As part of the Philharmonia at the Movies series, Saturday’s Brian Tyler Live: Film Music For Stars, Cars & Superheroes saw the renowned composer perform many of his scores.
Thomas Newman has the ability to make me cry when he does these beautiful melodies, and so does James Newton Howard
Concertgoers listened to music from the Fast and the Furious franchise, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Now You See Me, The Expendables, Star Trek: Enterprise and Children of Dune.
Alongside video game music, including that in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and several original Tyler works, the Californian also included a special tribute to multi-award-winning composer John Williams.
One of today’s musical giants, Williams has written soundtracks for some of Hollywood’s biggest films including Schindler’s List, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and the Star Wars, Harry Potter and Indiana Jones franchises.
Tyler began scoring features shortly after he received his Master’s degree from Harvard University.
A multi-instrumentalist, in addition to the piano, guitar, drums, bass and cello, he is also proficient in synth programming, GuitarViol, charango and bouzouki, among others.
He showcased many of those instruments for 2013 heist film Now You See Me, starring Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Sir Michael Caine, Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo. Tyler has also scored the forthcoming sequel, Now You See Me 2.
Although he has been nominated for major awards, such as the Oscars, the Baftas and the Emmys, he is yet to win. But Tyler is content with his standing.
“It makes me happy that, through so many of the films I’ve scored being a success, a lot of people are able to hear my music, which is the thing that’s most important to me. That people hear it, that they enjoy it, and that it becomes part of their lives.”