This is a list of my favorite instrumental music. I listened to this at various stages of my life, but they stayed with me. They make me emotional, they touch my soul somewhere deep. I hope you like them. Share your favorite instrumental music in the comment section.
Bombay Theme
Composer: A R Rahman
It was first composed for the movie Bombay. Later, it was used in many other movies and series around the world, including the hollywood film Lord of War. If you don’t know about the composer A R Rahman, then here is a small attempt to introduce him. His music in Roja (his first film) was so new that the whole industry was stunned. All songs from this movie are great. The songs created a new genre – “The A R Rahman Genre”. No one could put it in any other bucket. His music is also defined as slow-burn. Because it is so new that, for some people, the ear rejects it first. But when you are a bit more familiar with it, it refuses to leave your head. He got Academy and Grammy awards for Slumdog Millionaire. But those who know his repertoire, know that Slumdog is not even among his Top 20 works.
Cosmos Theme
Composer: Vangelis
This was composed for the TV show Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980). This heavenly music stirs something deep in the heart. It captures the show’s grandeur about the grand Cosmos we live in. I regard Vangelis as a modern master like the masters of Old such as Mozart and Beethoven. All his creations are majestic.
Any other name
Composer: Thomas Newman
It was used in the Oscar winning film American Beauty. Despite being nominated 15 times, Newman never won an Oscar. That’s sad. But his music speaks for himself. He does not need an Oscar. Oscar needs him.
Itachi’s Theme
Composer: Toshiro Masuda
It’s from a Japanese Anime called Naruto. Itachi is a complex character in this anime. I think this piece of music captures his mystery, his pain perfectly.
Ryuk’s Theme
Composer: Yoshihisa Hirano
It’s from a Japanese Anime called Death Note. Somewhat of a horror theme. Ryuk is a Shinigami, which means he is a god of death. This ominous music evokes horror without portraying evil.
The main theme of this anime is also very good, Death Note theme –
Composer: Hideki Taniuchi and Yoshihisa Hirano
No Time for Caution
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Hans composed it for the movie Interstellar. It’s haunting and awe-inspiring. It captures the urgency, the time sensitivity of the scene – time is of the essence and there is no time for caution.
King of the Golden Hall
Composer: Howard Shore
Composed for the movie Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002). Howard Shore is a magician. He created magic for this epic fantasy world, completely justifying the epic scale of this timeless novel.
WKKB
Composer: M M Keeravani
This is composed for the film Bahubali: The Beginning. WKKB is an abbreviation but I don’t want to elaborate it since it will be a spoiler for the movie. There is a small section with lyrics in Telugu language, but it mostly works as an instrumental. All the songs in this film are amazing. Keeravani won an Oscar for another film called RRR, but this film is more deserving. Hollywood and Oscar are slow in their recognition of non-English music.
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Obviously, I am forgetting some. I will revise this list from time to time. If you are itching to listen to my favorite songs, click here – List of My Favorite Songs. Warning – it’s quite long and incomplete.