David Arnold

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This article is about the film composer. For the conductor and composer, see David Arnold (conductor).
David Arnold

Background information
Birth name David Arnold
Born February 23, 1962 (1962-02-23) (age 46)
Luton, England, UK
Genre(s) Film score
Occupation(s) Composer
Instrument(s) clarinet, guitar, piano
Years active 1993 - present

David Arnold (born January 23, 1962) is a Grammy Award-winning English film composer, best known for scoring five James Bond films, the blockbuster Independence Day and cult television show Little Britain.

Contents

[edit] Film and television career

While attending the Centre of Arts in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Arnold became friends with director Danny Cannon.[1] The two made their respective major film debuts with The Young Americans. The following year he scored Stargate and Last of the Dogmen, with excerpts from the former ranking third in the most commonly-used soundtrack cues for film trailers. [2]

Arnold would then go on to compose music for Stargate director Roland Emmerich's next two movies Independence Day and Godzilla, as well as four movies for director John Singleton. In addition, he has also scored various comedies, dramas, and nineteenth-century period pieces, as well as providing music for several British television shows including the 2000 remake of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Little Britain. During film production, his compositions are conducted by Nicholas Dodd.

[edit] James Bond

Arnold was a Bond fan from an early age and also a fan of Bond composer John Barry. In 1997, Arnold produced Shaken and Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project, an album featuring new versions of the themes from various James Bond films. The album featured a variety of contemporary artists including Jarvis Cocker, Chrissie Hynde, Propellerheads and Iggy Pop; a version of You Only Live Twice by Björk was recorded but not included on the album. John Barry, the composer of many of the themes on the album, was complimentary about Arnold's interpretation of his work; "He was very faithful to the melodic and harmonic content, but he's added a whole other rhythmic freshness and some interesting casting in terms of the artists chosen to do the songs. I think it's a terrific album. I'm very flattered."[3] Barry contacted Barbara Broccoli, producer of the then-upcoming Tomorrow Never Dies, to recommend Arnold as the film's composer.[4]

He has scored the three subsequent films; The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day and Casino Royale, and is set to return for Quantum of Solace. [5] Arnold also co-wrote the main theme songs for The World Is Not Enough ("The World Is Not Enough" by Garbage) and Casino Royale ("You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell) as well as "Surrender" by k.d. lang which appears during the end credits of Tomorrow Never Dies.

[edit] Other work

He has collaborated with such musical acts as The Cardigans, Kaiser Chiefs, Massive Attack, and Pulp, and solo artists Natasha Bedingfield, Björk, Chris Cornell, Shirley Manson and Mark Morriss(The Bluetones).

In 2001, he provided a new arrangement of Ron Grainer's Doctor Who theme music for a series of audio dramas from Big Finish Productions.

Arnold is the second cousin of Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, and is an ambassador for aid agency CARE International in the UK. He has made minor appearances in two different episodes of "Little Britain" as separate characters.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Awards

  • Won: Grammy Award - Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television - Independence Day
  • Nominated: BAFTA Award - Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music - Casino Royale
  • Nominated: Grammy Award - Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media - You Know My Name from Casino Royale (songwriter)

[edit] References

  1. ^ David Arnold. soundtrack.net. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
  2. ^ Top 100 Frequently Used Cues. soundtrack.net. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.
  3. ^ Burlingame, Jon. "Bonding with the Score: David Arnold blends the traditional with the modern in music for 'Tomorrow Never Dies.'", Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Company, 1997-12-18. Retrieved on 2007-01-01. 
  4. ^ Macnee, Patrick (Narrator). The Bond Sound: The Music of 007 [DVD (Documentary)].
  5. ^ David Arnold Back For 'Bond 22'. commanderbond.net. Retrieved on 2007-10-08.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Éric Serra
1995		 James Bond film score composer
1997–current		 Succeeded by
Incumbent