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Composer Herman Stein Is Gone

Published at:  Mar 28, 2007 9:45:26 AM CDT



ScoreKeeper here sadly reporting the loss of a monstrous force in movie music.

Herman Stein passed away of congestive heart failure on March 15, 2007 at the age of 91. One of the premier composers of bone-chilling scores for horror and sci-fi films throughout the 1950’s and 60’s, his music will forever be paired with such monster movie classics as IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953), CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954), REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1955), THIS ISLAND EARTH (1955), TARANTULA (1955), THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US (1956), and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (1957) as well as episodic television scores for LOST IN SPACE (1965) and VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (1966).

During the last several years there’s been a resurgence of Herman Stein’s film scores realized through a series of CDs on the Monstrous Movie Music label. New performances of many of his classic film scores have been recorded ensuring that his music will be preserved for all posterity. For more information on these new recordings visit Monstrous Movie Music (http://www.mmmrecordings.com/).

THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON has long been my favorite Universal monster movie series. Every time the creature’s hand appeared from the depths of the murky water, the clashing chords of his diabolic fanfare would signal certain death for some unfortunate soul. Pure bliss.

Thank you Herman for your magnificent music! You will sorely be missed.

On behalf of Ain’t It Cool News I’d like to extend our condolences to Stein’s family during this difficult time.

For more details you can check out this article from LA Times.





ScoreKeeper!!!





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    Readers Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 9:47:03 AM CDT

    Wow, that was a whole lot of horn players...

    by childe roland

    ...this guy employed. Seriously, some of the most instantly recognizable and memorable music in entertainment history came from this guy's soul. Here's hoping the angels gave him one helluva fanfare on the way in.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 9:53:48 AM CDT

    Some memorable stuff

    by turd furgeson

    Rest in peace

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 9:59:38 AM CDT

    You know your stuff, Scorekeeper.

    by uncapie

    Sorry, to hear another great one gone from the 50's Universal era.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 9:59:43 AM CDT

    piste

    by pipergates

    sad

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 10:00:13 AM CDT

    You know your stuff, Scorekeeper.

    by uncapie

    Sorry, to hear another great one gone from the 50's Universal era.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 10:03:21 AM CDT

    Which Muster was this again?

    by lord thislewick

    The wolfboy or possibly the dragon under the stairs?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 10:46:26 AM CDT

    Decomposing The Composers

    by douche baggins

    I can just picture Herman and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, sitting on a cloud, playing their harps. They're reunited and it feels so good!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 11:17:57 AM CDT

    What's with all the film composer deaths lately?

    by osmosis jones

    Basil Poledouris and Shirley Walker within a month of each other last year, man. :o(

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 12:40:54 PM CDT

    Where are the composers to replace these guys?

    by kwisatzhaderach

    Where are the new Bernard Herrman's, Jerry Goldsmith's and Basil Poledouris's? Anyone? Today's composers suck.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 8:46:14 PM CDT

    normal view, Normal View, NORMAL View, NORMAL VIEW!!!!!

    by mediocrates

    i get that stuck in my head nearly every day.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 28, 2007 11:31:40 PM CDT

    Keep an eye on Michael Giacchino

    by osmosis jones

    His work on Lost stands with the very best of Bernard Herrmann.

    Reply to Talkback

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