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David Newman

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

David Newman is an American composer and conductor who became known mainly for his film music. He was born in 1954 in Los Angeles, the son of the Hollywood composer Alfred Newman. His brother Thomas, his sister Maria and his cousin Randy are also composers, so that Hollywood and film music naturally belonged to his childhood.

Music and breakthrough

His first film work was, in 1984, Tim Burton's short film Frankenweenie. In 1987 he composed the music for Throw Momma from the Train, the start of a long collaboration with the director Danny DeVito, for whom he also scored The War of the Roses, Hoffa and Matilda. In the early years he wrote mainly music for B-movies, later mostly for comedies. For the animated film Anastasia from 1997 he received an Oscar nomination, after his father had earlier written the music for the 1956 live-action film. He also composed for Ice Age, Serenity and The Brave Little Toaster. In 1997 he re-recorded the 20th Century Fox fanfare, a piece his father had written.

Influence

Newman regularly conducts major orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and, since 2012, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. His music shows how in Hollywood a family of composers passed on the orchestral film sound from generation to generation.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to the 20th Century Fox fanfare in his 1997 recording. Notice how a few seconds of orchestra are enough to recognize an entire film studio.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists