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.

History

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.

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Multiple wins

1. 12 wins

2. John Williams

3. 3 wins

4. Michel Legrand

5. Wayne Shorter

6. 2 wins

7. John Barry

8. Billy Childs

9. Bela Fleck

10. Herbie Hancock

11. Arturo O'Farrill

12. Mike Post

13. Maria Schneider

Multiple nominations

1. 21 nominations

2. John Williams

3. 12 nominations

4. Chick Corea

5. 9 nominations

6. Henry Mancini

7. 8 nominations

8. Pat Metheny

9. 7 nominations

10. Gordon Goodwin

11. 6 nominations

12. Lyle Mays

13. 5 nominations

14. Quincy Jones

15. Chuck Mangione

16. Vince Mendoza

17. Maria Schneider

18. 4 nominations

19. Billy Childs

20. Dave Grusin

21. Herbie Hancock

22. Wynton Marsalis

23. Arturo O'Farrill

24. Mike Post

25. Wayne Shorter

26. Alan Silvestri

27. Patrick Williams

28. 3 nominations

29. Benny Carter

30. Paquito D'Rivera

31. Duke Ellington

32. Pascal Le Boeuf

33. Michel Legrand

34. Bob Mintzer

35. Lalo Schifrin

36. 2 nominations

37. John Barry

38. Elmer Bernstein

39. Michael Brecker

40. Dave Brubeck

41. Jorge Calandrelli

42. Harry Connick Jr.

43. Tim Davies

44. Alexandre Desplat

45. Harold Faltermeyer

46. Russell Ferrante

47. Béla Fleck

48. Bob Florence

49. David Foster

50. Kenny G

51. Michael Giacchino

52. Ludwig Göransson

53. Neal Hefti

54. Fred Hersch

55. Bill Holman

56. James Horner

57. James Newton Howard

58. Howard Levy

59. Johnny Mandel

60. Edgar Meyer

61. Hugo Montenegro

62. Ennio Morricone

63. Randy Newman

64. Thomas Newman

65. Claus Ogerman

66. Chuck Owen

67. Astor Piazzolla

68. John Powell

69. Billy Preston

70. Nelson Riddle

71. Lee Ritenour

72. Nino Rota

73. Arturo Sandoval

74. Barry White

75. Josef Zawinul

References