Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition

The Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media has been awarded since 1960. The award is presented to the composer of the music.

There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:

• In 1958 it was awarded as Best Musical Composition First Recorded and Released in 1958 (over 5 minutes duration)
• In 1960 it was awarded as Best Musical Composition First Recorded and Released in 1959 (more than 5 minutes duration)
• In 1962 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Theme or Instrumental Version of Song
• From 1964 to 1963 and from 1967 to 1970 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Theme
• In 1965 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Composition (other than jazz)
• From 1971 to the present it has been awarded as Best Instrumental Composition

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

(note, this list is incomplete - other awards to follow)

1970s

• Grammy Awards of 1979
  • John Williams for "Theme From Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
• Grammy Awards of 1978
  • John Williams for "Main Title From Star Wars"
• Grammy Awards of 1977
  • Chuck Mangione for Bellavia
• Grammy Awards of 1976
  • Michel Legrand for Images performed by Michel Legrand & Phil Woods
• Grammy Awards of 1975
  • Mike Oldfield for "Tubular Bells - Theme From The Exorcist"
• Grammy Awards of 1974
  • Gato Barbieri for "Last Tango in Paris" performed by various artists
• Grammy Awards of 1973
  • Michel Legrand for "Brian's Song"
• Grammy Awards of 1972
  • Michel LeGrand for "Theme From Summer of '42"
• Grammy Awards of 1971
  • Alfred Newman for "Airport Love Theme"
• Grammy Awards of 1970
  • John Barry for "Midnight Cowboy"

1960s

• Grammy Awards of 1969
  • Mason Williams for "Classical Gas"
• Grammy Awards of 1968
  • Lalo Schifrin for "Mission: Impossible"
• Grammy Awards of 1967
  • Neal Hefti for "Batman Theme"
• Grammy Awards of 1966
  • none
• Grammy Awards of 1965
  • Henry Mancini for "The Pink Panther Theme"
• Grammy Awards of 1964
  • Riz Ortolani for "More - Theme From Mondo Cane"
• Grammy Awards of 1963
  • Bobby Scott & Ric Marlowe for "A Taste of Honey"
• Grammy Awards of 1962
  • Galt MacDermott for "African Waltz" performed by Cannonball Adderly
• Grammy Awards of 1961
  • Duke Ellington for Anatomy of a Murder
• Grammy Awards of 1960
  • Nelson Riddle for "Cross Country Suite"