Intuitive Music

 

 

Legendary film composer Elmer Bernstein passed away on Wednesday (August 18, 2004) at the age of 82 in his home in Ojai, California. He was known for the scores to several influencial films including ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, ‘The Magnificient Seven’, ‘Sudden Fear’, and over 200 more film and television scores.

 

Elmer Bernstein was born in 1922 in New York City and began studying piano at Julliard by the age of 12. He later got his biggest influence and direct teachings from reputed contemporary composer Aaron Copland. During the McCarthy era, Bernstein was one of the hollywood people graylisted by the government and subsequently worked on several low budget films including ‘Cat Women of the Moon’ and ‘Robot Monster’. During this period, Bernstein was recognized as a innovater in electronic music, being the first to use certain experiments in sci-fi thrillers.

 

Later, he went on to compose for films such as ‘The Great Escape, ‘Oklahoma’, ‘The Ten Commandments’, ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’, ‘Ghost Busters’, ‘Airplane!’, and several others.

 

He was nominated for an Oscar 14 times and won 1 along with nominations for the Grammys, Tonys, Emmys, and Golden Globe Awards.

 

Bernstein is survived by a wife, 2 sons, 2 daughters, and 5 grandchildren.