THE MUSIC OF DANNY ELFMAN

By: Carlee Calton, David Philips, and Melody

Crane

BIOGRAPHY

Daniel Robert Elfman, also known as Danny, was born on May 29, 1953 in Los

Angeles California. He has 3 children named Lola, Mali, and Oliver. He is

married to actress Bridget Fonda. In 1985 he and Tim Burton started working

together and wrote the score for their first film together Peewee's Big

Adventure. The only two films of Tim Burton's that Elfman did not write a

score for, were Sweeny Todd and Ed Wood because they were having a fight.

He became influenced first by the score written for the movie The Day the

Earth Stood Still. He also liked Nino Rota. He has both classical and film music

influences. In 1976 he performed and led the band Oingo Boingo with his

brother Richard Elfman. They toured as a rock band up until 1995 when they

suddenly decided to retire.

SONG CHOICES

We chose to analyze three of Elfman’s numerous

pieces.

1. “The Piano Duet” from Corpse Bride movie

2. “Wheels in Motion” from Charlie and the

Chocolate Factory

and finally…..

3. “Alice’s Theme Song” from Alice in Wonderland

HISTORY OF THE MUSIC

Corpse Bride Piano Duet

Danny wanted to achieve a somber, dark, theme for the song

He wanted to interpret Tim Burton’s perspective of the

movie, and express it through his song; reverse the norm of life

and death in his movie.

- Living world=dark and gloomy

- Underworld (the afterlife)= jazzy, happy, and upbeat

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HISTORY OF THE MUSIC

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s “Wheels in

Motion”

The theme of this movie is crazy and mere insane!

Danny tried best to incorporate that in his pieces

for this film

He wanted a vintage sounding piece for this movie

With a dreamy, dramatic, and surprising mood for

it

HISTORY OF THE MUSIC

Alice in Wonderland’s “Alice’s Theme Song”

written to possess a thematic discipline

to anchor the weirdness of the movie’s characters and

events throughout.

Became inspired to write this piece after listening to Bernard

Hermann’s piece for the movie The Day The Earth Stood Still.

Elfman pointed out the strong emotions brought out from

each character in the piece.

LISTENING GUIDE

Alice's Theme - Danny Elfman

(Lyrics, HD) – YouTube

Piano Duet - Danny Elfman – YouTube

Wheels In Motion - Charlie & The Chocolate Factor

y [OST] - YouTube

WORKS CITED

"Alice In Wonderland Soundtrack 2010 - Listen Here / Download | Movie Moron." Alice In Wonderland Soundtrack

2010 - Listen Here / Download | Movie Moron. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.movie-moron.com/?

p=11763>.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] by Danny Elfman on AllMusic." AllMusic.

N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.allmusic.com/album/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-original-motion-

picture-soundtracks-mw0000187197>.

"Enwikipedia.org." Enwikipedia.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.

<http://www.enwikipedia.org/wiki/danny_elfman>.

"Filmtracks: Corpse Bride (Danny Elfman)." Filmtracks: Corpse Bride (Danny Elfman). N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct.

2012. <http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/corpse_bride.html>.

"Filmtracks: Danny Elfman." Filmtracks: Danny Elfman. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.

<http://www.filmtracks.com/composers/elfman.shtml>.

N.p., n.d. Web. <www.amazon.com/charlie-chocolate-factory-danny-elfman>.

"Sign up for Free." Scoop.it. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. <http://www.scoop.it/t/soundtrack/p/2224942297/silva-

screen-records-releases-batman-begins-double-vinyl-lp>.