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Forums Forums General Discussion Danny Elfman doesn’t read music?

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  • #37359
    Rlassiter
    Participant

    I have heard (through a very unvaluable source) that Elfman has an assistant who takes what he plays on the keyboard and transcribes it. In fact, I was even told that he doesn’t even read music! Truth? No matter, I suppose…I love what he does for his musical genius, not his theory. Just wondering…
    While I’m asking questions…around where Danny works, are there any premiers he does with live orchestras at all? I am dying to hear Elfman music live!!

    #55300
    Mr. Dantz
    Participant

    Elfman does read. Bartek (his orchestrator) writes/transposes to save time.

    And there’s a concert playing of Serenada Schizophrena by Elfman on Sunday in California. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but look it up. There’s plenty of info here.

    #55302
    Dawg Man
    Participant

    Danny reads music. He taught himself how, and has said so in countless interviews.

    #55306
    John Mullin
    Participant

    Yeah, the rumor you’re talking about goes waaaaaaay back and not only is it a distortion of how he actually works, but it fails to ackknowledge that nearly every film composer working these days does things in very similar ways (the notable exceptions being, of course, the old old pros like John Williams, John Barry, Morricone and Randy Newman).

    An interview with Steve Bartek from years ago spells out Danny process (or least, what it was at the time). He works the basic cue out on a sequencer and lays in many of the samples and non-orchestral sounds that will be used in the final cue. He then makes a print out on which he writes – by hand! – much of the orchestral stuff and usually an additional 30-50% of what the cue will be. Elfman has admitted that his way of writing isn’t exactly text-book, but Bartek has added that anyone who knows anything about music can look at it and understand exactly what Elfman is saying.

    Since mock ups of EVERY CUE are required by pretty much anyone who does a film score these days, Elfman’s team does that as well, but both Elfman and Bartek have been explicit that no one on the team is permitted to take too many liberties with the music.

    In the recording process, some elements are replaced by the live orchestra, but some stay in the final mix (often the exotic percussion that he’s recorded and layed down and any funky samples and synth effects that he wants in there).

    Although he did not study at Julliard, his method of working has obviously proved successful enough for him to continue to deliver music on time to the people who’ve hired him. Love or hate his music, you have to admit that he’s been able to write and record extremely complex, sophisticated pieces in a way that more than proves his chops as a professional musician.

    By the way, many of the other big guys working today don’t get as hands on with their music as Elfman regularly does. John Ottman works the whole cue out on a sequencer and lets his orchestrators and transcribers take it from there. Christopher Young’s methood of working is quite similar, from what I hear, as is David Arold’s and numerous other guys who are don’t have to answer these bulls*** charges every few years.

    #55312
    Dawg Man
    Participant

    I remember some college professor wrote a scathing review of Elfman’s musical “ignorance” in a keyboard magazine some time ago, way back. It was fun to see Elfman write a followup, basically telling the guy that he was wrong and to go screw himself.

    In truth, I think all this anger comes from a certain amount of jealousy in the academic world. Talent makes the composer, not book smarts.

    #55319
    Rlassiter
    Participant

    Well…Thanks guys! The moment I heard it, I knew it was a load of crap…and of course I thought, “The forum! They’ll know!”. It’s amazing what people will do out of jealousy.

    #55361
    evil-dead
    Participant

    you should check out the film score guide to batman. in that book there’s a whole chapter on his compositional process and it has quotes from all such magazines (mentioing the keybaord magazine reference, as well as others) and a bibliography if you are that interested in reading the source articles.

    #55364
    Rlassiter
    Participant

    That’s sounds really interesting…where can I find this book? A specific title or something .

    #55366
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    _danny elfman’s batman: a film score guide_ by janet k. halfyard

    #55375
    chocothrax
    Participant

    Danny Elfman would kinda have to be a retard not to know how to read music after over 20 years of film scores…

    #55385
    Dawg Man
    Participant

    I know, right!

    It would be hilarious though if we all found out he didn’t.

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