What genre does music like the theme from 300 or Gladiator fall under (not soundtrack)?

For example "The Battle" by Yvonne S. Moriaty (Gladiator) or "Returns a King" by Tyler Bates. I know it's part of soundtracks, but I want to find more music like it. Im guessing something along the lines of "opera" or "epic music", please tell me where I can find more!|||My pleasure.



The film scores you cited are in a tradition of film-score writing, which is stylized but takes all its cues from classical music. Much of that classical base was from the late romantic period and the first half of the twentieth century.



Here is the last movement of Resphigi's Pines of Rome. It is a 'tone poem' - i.e. it is loosely based on a premise of evoking images, or just as likely an image inspired the composer to conjure up a particular sound. This is a famous piece, orchestra huge, this final movement (4th) a grand and slow build up to the thunderous ending. the link will lead you to the other three. I think you might like the rest of the piece as well (Just LOOK at the size of the bass drum beater head at 4'29 !!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH4csOibl鈥?/a>



Sergei Prokofiev, Alexander Nevsky, an historically important early film score - later reworked for concert presentation as a cantata (Chorus, orchestra, solo singers) This segment accompanies a battle scene - "Battle on the Ice." It sounds a bit exotic (Slavic 'accent) and epic, and you might call it,a bit "goth." You will begin to hear where all the video game and film composers got a lot of their ideas.There is a slow and moody intro, the momentum picks up at 2'15'' ~ this link plays straight into the second clip, the rest of the scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mBr-Py8D鈥?/a>



From Prokofiev's ballet - scenes of pagan Russia, "The Scythian Suite," parts I and 2 - wild and woolly, another part of that 'sound' others have imitated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8Y1lLfVz鈥?/a>



Carl Orff's Carmina Burana is too well know, in a way. For chorus and orchestra, the O Fortuna is simply the introduction to about twenty short segments, various songs and some dance movements. Lots of good picks on youtube, I only recommend you find one that links to all of it - it is a piece of many moods, and very nice,



Arthur Honegger, Symphony No. 5, last movement. In the classical department, this earlier twentieth century work still 'sounds' very well' and also sounds to me a bit 'dated.' It eremindsme of episodes from the Flash Gordon serials in black and white form the late thirties. Again, some of this 'vocabulary' is now a staple in the film composer's color box:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDLr19IPt鈥?/a>



If you are still with me, I add now a piece I love. Late Romantic - Modern, music of mixed character, with those characters working with and against each other. It is extended, a continuous ten minutes, and has a dramatic narrative feel ('cinematic'). It goes military and threatening, and builds nicely. It too, to a degree, has entered the vocabulary of film scores.

Carl Nielson, Symphony No. 5, 1st movement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5QWhL5Sw鈥?/a>



A more modern piece: Rautavaara, Symphony No. 7, "Angel of light," is simultaneously beautiful, with elements which are a bit nervy or disturbing, all nicely woven together. Here the first 1/2 of the first movement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpzt3DNqF鈥?/a>



I do hope to have helped you find some of the classical music of the type you were looking for, and what else you might enjoy.



Feel free to email me with any questions or further recommendations for you.





With my best regard, P.B.