THE OSCARS

Jan A.P. Kaczmarek won for his score to "Finding Neverland," which was also his first nomination.

Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

"I cannot tell you how happy I am," Kaczmarek said in accepting his award. "I should certainly take this opportunity to, as the first person in the room to thank [Miramax Films co-chairman] Harvey Weinstein for his support."

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"Musicians [are] usually forgotten," he added. "But [there are] extraordinary people who made music alive. And without them, the best music just doesn't exist."

He beat a field that included several nominees who have had many nominations over the years. John Williams, nominated for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," has received an astounding 43 nominations. Thomas Newman, up for his work on "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," is a seven-time nominee. The others were John Debney for "The Passion of the Christ" and James Newton Howard for "The Village."

The truest intrigue in this category may have occurred before the nominations were even announced, as several high-profile scores were declared ineligible for a variety of reasons — among them Eastwood's for "Million Dollar Baby," Howard Shore's "The Aviator" and Craig Armstrong's "Ray."