Hans Zimmer And Lisa Gerrard - Gladiator: Music From The Motion Picture

This is the album that got me hooked on film scores in the first place. It contains one of Zimmer's biggest sounding themes to date (as heard in 'The Battle' and 'The Barbarian Horde') and was also one of the first scores to utilize the old-world, quazi-ethnic vocal style of Lisa Gerrard ('Now We Are Free' being the best example). Unfortunately, this style of vocals, which was something of a novelty at the time this score was produced, has been done to death in the years since.

'Gladiator' is an important score, despite receiving a 3-star average among film score reviewers and critics. It marked a turning point in Zimmer's scoring style that would influence everything he has done since, as well as influencing a new crop of composers (compare this with Steve Jablonksky's score for 'The Island' or Klaus Badelt's score for 'Pirates of the Caribbean').

'Gladiator' marks the pinnacle of a style of film scoring for Zimmer that began with 'Crimson Tide', 'The Peacemaker' and 'The Rock'. But don't forget Lisa Gerrard's or Klaus Badelt's contributions to this score. Both are responsible for the equally memorable 'Earth', 'Elysium' and 'Patricide' themes, not to mention Gerrard's moving vocal work.

If you're after an introduction to the world of film music, then this is an excellent starting point - big themes that have an instant catchyness about them, but infused with enough depth to keep you coming back for repeat listens.