Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition

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Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition
Awarded forquality instrumental compositions
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded1960
Currently held byMaria Schneider, "Sputnik" (2021)
Websitegrammy.com

The Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition (including its previous names) has been awarded since 1960. The award is presented to the composer of an original piece of music (not an adaptation), first released during the eligibility year. In theory, any style of music is eligible for this category, but winning compositions are usually in the jazz or film score genres.

The Grammy is awarded to the composer(s) of the music, not to the performing artist, except if the artist is also the composer. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:

  • In 1959 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 1963 to 1964 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.

2020s[]

Year Winner(s) Work Performer(s) Nominees Ref.
2022 Winner TBA on 31 January 2022
2021 Maria Schneider Sputnik Maria Schneider Orchestra
  • Arturo O'Farrill for Baby Jack, performed by Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
  • Christian Sands for Be Water II, performed by Christian Sands
  • Alexandre Desplat for Plumfield, performed by Alexandre Desplat
  • Remy Le Boeuf for Strata, performed by Remy Le Boeuf's Assembly of Shadows ft. Anna Webber & Eric Miller
2020 John Williams Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite John Williams
  • Fred Hersch for Begin Again, performed by Fred Hersch & the WDR Big Band conducted by Vince Mendoza
  • Brian Lynch for Crucible for Crisis, performed by the Brian Lynch Big Band
  • Vince Mendoza for Love, A Beautiful Force, performed by Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts & the Temple University Studio Orchestra
  • Christian McBride for Walkin' Funny, performed by Christian McBride


2010s[]

2019

  • Terence Blanchard for Blut und Boden (Blood and Soil), performed by Terence Blanchard

Nominees

    • Jeremy Kittel for Chrysalis, performed by Kittel & Co.
    • Alan Silvestri for Infinity War, performed by Alan Silvestri
    • John Powell & John Williams for Mine Mission, performed by John Powell & John Williams
    • Alexandre Desplat for The Shape of Water, performed by Alexandre Desplat


2018

Nominees

    • Pascal Le Boeuf for Alkaline, performed by the Le Boeuf Brothers & the JACK Quartet
    • Vince Mendoza for Chorus #3, performed by Vince Mendoza & the WDR Big Band Cologne
    • Nate Smith for Home Free (For Peter Joe), performed by Nate Smith
    • Chuck Owen for Warped Cowboy, performed by Chuck Owen & the Jazz Surge

59th Annual Grammy Awards (2017)

  • Ted Nash for Spoken at Midnight, performed by the Ted Nash Big Band

Nominees

  • Thomas Newman for Bridge of Spies (End Title), composed by Thomas Newman
  • Tim Davies for The Expensive Train Set (An Epic Sarahnade for Double Big Band), performed by the Tim Davies Big Band
  • for Flow, performed by the Alan Ferber Nonet
  • Ennio Morricone for L'Ultima Diligenza di Red Rock - Versione Integrale, composed by Ennio Morricone

58th Annual Grammy Awards (2016)

  • Arturo O'Farrill for The Afro Latin Jazz Suite, performed by Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra ft. Rudresh Mahanthappa

Nominees

57th Annual Grammy Awards (2015)

  • John Williams for The Book Thief, composed by John Williams

Nominees

  • Stanley Clarke for Last Train to Sanity, performed by the Stanley Clarke Band
  • Gordon Goodwin for Life in the Bubble, performed by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
  • Rufus Reid for Recognition, performed by Rufus Reid
  • Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile for Tarnation, performed by Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile

56th Annual Grammy Awards (2014)

  • Clare Fischer for Pensamientos for Solo Alto Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra, performed by the Clare Fischer Orchestra

Nominees

55th Annual Grammy Awards (2013)

  • Chick Corea for Mozart Goes Dancing (Chick Corea & Gary Burton - Hot House)

Nominees (performing artists, followed by the title of the composition, with performer(s) and album title in parentheses)

  • Chuck Loeb for December Dream (Fourplay - Esprit de Four)
  • Chris Brubeck & Dave Brubeck for Music of Ansel Adams: America (Temple University Symphony Orchestra - no album title listed)
  • Bill Cunliffe for Overture, Waltz and Rondo (Temple University Symphony Orchestra - no album title listed)
  • Bill Holman for Without a Paddle ( - High On You)

54th Annual Grammy Awards (2012)

Nominees (artists names, followed by album title, in parentheses)

  • John Hollenbeck for Falling Men (John Hollenbeck, Daniel Yvinec & l'Orchestre National de Jazz – Shut Up and Dance)
  • Gordon Goodwin for Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn) (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band – That's How We Roll)
  • Randy Brecker for I Talk To The Trees (Randy Brecker & the DR Big Band – The Jazz Ballad Song Book)
  • Russell Ferrante for Timeline (Yellowjackets – Timeline)

53rd Annual Grammy Awards (2011)

  • Billy Childs for The Path Among The Trees, from Autumn: In Moving Pictures Jazz – Chamber Music Vol. 2, performed by the Billy Childs Ensemble

52nd Annual Grammy Awards (2010)

  • Michael Giacchino (composer) for "Married Life" (from the motion picture Up)

2000s[]

1990s[]

1980s[]

1970s[]

1960s[]

1950s[]

References[]

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