Danny Elfman

Tyler Atwood Music 1010 Wednesday Class

Daniel Robert Danny Elfman, who has since his birth in 1953, achieved many feats in the musical world. Although he has not only done classical and theatrical music, he has many roots in rock and roll, through his band Oingo Boingo. He has influences stretch back to the 1930s. In an interview with John Braheny, he explains I wouldn't listen to anything if it was written from 1940 on. Its almost like it didn't exist. The orchestral music I listened to all came from turn of the century through the 30s. You know I loved Stravinsky, I loved Darius Milhaud, Prokofiev. Those were really my favorites. (Braheny, 1990) Elfman was raised in a diverse area of Los Angeles, California. After high school, he followed his brother Richard into the circus, The Grand Magic Circus. Danny Elfman then spent a year in Africa, and when he returned he joined is brother in the musical theatrical troupe called the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. As part of the troupe, Danny was the musical director for Mystic Knights until his brother Richard left the group in 1976. He then took over has the director and lead singer of the troupe. (Elfman, 2011) While growing up, Elman never had any formal training. (Braheny, 1990) He was good at imitating others, and taught himself music by copying the sounds of others. He used this skill later in life while in Mystic Knights. His brother Richard can be quoted saying, Danny could just listen to an intricate Django Rheinhardt guitar solo and then figure it out and play it and then figure out the intricate Stephan Grappelli violin accompaniment! (Elfman, 2011) Danny continued to perform with the troupe into the 1980s, when he sho rtened the name to Oingo Boingo. They transformed from the musical-theatrical ensemble to a rock band.

The term rock can often be used loosely when talking about Oingo Boingo, mainly because Danny Elfman never necessarily had a strong rock influence growing up. (Elfman, 2011) In 1985, Elfman began to be known by the film industry for writing the score for Pee wees Big Adventure. This was not his first score though. Years earlier, Elfman had scored his brother Richards film Forbidden Zone. This is probably one of the first times Elfman looked more towards classical, because the film contained about thirty to forty minutes of instrumental music. (Silber, 1989) The first Emmy award Danny Elfman received was for his work for the television show Desperate Housewives in September, 2005. (BMI, 2005) This was not his first time doing work for the small screen. He had already done the theme for the sitcom The Simpsons as well as work for Pee Wees Playhouse. This also wasnt his first award, although it was it first Emmy specifically. After becoming more of a film composer, Danny Elfman has famously done work for a majority of Director Tim Burton. Their relationship began early in both of their careers. They worked together on films such as Beetlejuice and Batman. (Silber, 1989) Elfman has since gone on to score a majority of Burtons films, only excluding

the films Ed Wood, and Sweeney Todd. (IMDB, 2013)

Danny Elfman and director Tim Burton work on the score for Alice in Wonderland (Gallo, 2010)

Ironically, after his work on Tim Burtons The Nightmare Before Christmas, Danny Elfaman had gone full circle, from being a cover artist to being an artist who gets covered. In the 2006 rerelease of the hit movie, the soundtrack included covers of some of the songs by bands such as Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, and Marilyn Manson. (Montgomery, 2006) Though it was probably an exciting time, Danny Elfman continued to work on his current projects and kept himself busy writing amazing scores, and inspiring lives. To this day, Danny Elfman continues to write amazing scores for films, and other projects with classical music. I can only hope that he continues to work through his old age and write amazing scores and jingles for Hollywood. As we look at his remarkable past we can only imagine what kind of inspirational music he has yet to write. I know Im not alone in my appreciation for Elfmans music, and I cant be the only one who wishes for a bright, yet slightly dark themed future for the theatrical music that Elfman will write.

References
BMI, N. (2005). Composer Danny Elfman Scores First Emmy Award. Retrieved from bmi.com: http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234561 Braheny, J. (1990). bluntinstrument. Retrieved from bluntinstrument.com: http://www.bluntinstrument.org.uk/elfman/archive/JohnBraheny1990.htm Elfman, R. (2011, November 11). Oingo Boingo: The Complete History. Retrieved from bussinemusic.com: http://www.buzzinemusic.com/article/music-oingo-boingo-05072009 Gallo, L. (2010). Alice in Wonderland - composed by Danny Elfman. Retrieved from scoringsessions.com: http://scoringsessions.com/sessions/29864/mg_8237.jpg IMDB. (2013). Danny Elfman. Retrieved from imdb.com: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000384/?ref_=sr_1 Montgomery, J. (2006). Fall Out Boy, Panic, Marilyn Manson Add To New 'Nightmare Before Christmas' Soundtrack. Retrieved from mtv.com: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1539534/fall-outboy-panic-on-nightmare-soundtrack.jhtml Silber, F. (1989). Danny Elfman: Wunderkind of Filmmusic. Retrieved from boingo.org: http://www.boingo.org/articles/FanfareArticle.html