Guy Moon, the Emmy-nominated composer behind Nickelodeon’s The Fairly OddParents, died at 63 in an accidental traffic collision in Los Angeles. A prolific writer of scores for animation (Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy) and live-action projects (The Crash, The Brady Bunch Movie, and more), his family announced a celebration of life in California and Wisconsin, memorializing a career that left a lasting mark on animated television and film.
Richard Smallwood, a renowned gospel composer and singer known for blending classical and gospel music, died at age 77 from kidney failure complications. He led the Richard Smallwood Singers and influenced many artists with his hits.
Hermeto Pascoal, a legendary Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist known for blending jazz with traditional Brazilian music, has died at 89. Self-taught and innovative, he created over 2,000 pieces, played numerous instruments, and was celebrated by figures like Miles Davis. His work often incorporated household objects, and he remained active in music into his late 80s.
Peter Connelly, a composer known for Tomb Raider, was jailed for 16 months for fraudulently obtaining UK government COVID-19 loans and inflating his company's finances during the pandemic, leading to liquidation and disqualification as a company director.
Lalo Schifrin, a renowned Argentine-American composer best known for the 'Mission: Impossible' theme and over 100 film and TV scores, has died at 93 due to pneumonia complications. His diverse career spanned genres from jazz to classical, and he collaborated with many notable artists and orchestras worldwide, earning multiple awards including an honorary Oscar.
Lalo Schifrin, renowned Argentine-American composer known for his jazz-infused themes for iconic TV shows like Mission: Impossible and Mannix, has died at 93. He was a six-time Oscar nominee and a versatile musician who blended jazz and classical music, scoring numerous films and TV series, and received an honorary Oscar in 2018.
Lalo Schifrin, renowned composer of the iconic Mission: Impossible theme and scores for over 100 films and TV shows, has died at age 93. He was a celebrated jazz pianist, conductor, and Grammy winner, with a career spanning classical and jazz music, and received an Honorary Oscar in 2019. His work has left a lasting impact on film and television music.
Peter Schickele, the American composer known for his serious concert music as well as his alter ego, the fictional composer P.D.Q. Bach, has passed away at the age of 88. He composed over 100 symphonic, choral, solo instrumental, and chamber works, and his music was performed by prestigious ensembles and artists. Schickele's comedic persona, P.D.Q. Bach, brought him widespread recognition for his musical parodies and satirical compositions.
Composer Leo Geyer has re-created incomplete musical scores from Auschwitz concentration camp, where prisoner orchestras performed during the Holocaust. Geyer matched up pages and composed missing sections to bring the music back to life. The Constella Orchestra will perform four of the pieces in a work called "The Orchestras of Auschwitz" to raise funds for the ongoing project. Music served as a form of resistance and a glimmer of hope in the darkness of the camp, providing solace to prisoners and even serving as a tool for survival.
The New York Philharmonic is programming Julia Perry's "Stabat Mater," a 1951 work for contralto and strings, marking the first time the orchestra has included her in their program. Perry, a Black composer who died in 1979, had a successful career in the 1950s and '60s but fell into obscurity after her death. The upcoming performance of "Stabat Mater" and other recent presentations of Perry's works are bringing attention to her legacy and influencing the field. The 100th anniversary of Perry's birth is approaching, and a world premiere recording of her Violin Concerto is set to be released in March 2024.
Composer Danny Elfman has been sued by a second woman for sexual misconduct. The anonymous accuser filed a lawsuit alleging sexual assault, gender violence, emotional distress, harassment, and negligence. The plaintiff claims that Elfman exposed himself and engaged in inappropriate behavior over a five-year period, while treating her as his protegé. Elfman's spokesperson denies the allegations, stating they are baseless and absurd. This second lawsuit follows similar allegations made by another composer, Nomi Abadi, in a previous case settled with a nondisclosure agreement.
A new tribute album titled "Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog" is being released to honor the incredible life and legacy of Moondog, an eccentric musician and composer who captivated New York City in the 1960s and 1970s. Known for his Viking-inspired attire and blind appearance, Moondog was revered by major musicians and covered by artists like Janis Joplin. The album features vocal performances from Rufus Wainwright, Jarvis Cocker, and Joan as Policewoman, among others, and aims to introduce more people to the joy and wonder of Moondog's music. Moondog's archive, filled with hundreds of compositions, showcases his diverse range of musical styles and instruments, many of which he created himself. The tribute album is just the beginning of efforts to spread Moondog's message, with plans for a follow-up set and a tribute show at Carnegie Hall in November.
Gustavo Santaolalla, the renowned composer behind the scores for films like Brokeback Mountain and Babel, discusses his journey as a musician, his unique approach to composing, and his work on the third episode of HBO's The Last of Us. Santaolalla reflects on his ability to create music without being able to read or write it, his transition from musician to composer, and the emotional connection he strives to evoke through his compositions. He also discusses his involvement in The Last of Us and the importance of telling LGBTQ+ love stories in a predominantly heterosexual world.
Yuka Kitamura, composer at FromSoftware, has announced their departure from the game studio after 12 years. Kitamura, known for their work on games such as Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Elden Ring, will now be working as a freelance composer.
Fragments of a skull believed to belong to Ludwig van Beethoven, the renowned German composer, have been returned to Vienna from the United States for study at the Medical University of Vienna. The remains, known as the Seligmann fragments, will be examined by medical and DNA experts to gain insight into Beethoven's health issues. The fragments were donated by an American businessman who inherited them from his Austrian-born mother, who received them from her great-uncle involved in the reburial of Beethoven. The study of Beethoven's skull is expected to generate public interest and potentially shed light on the composer's life and medical conditions.
