Schifrin, Lalo
Lalo Schifrin
Composer, conductor, arranger, pianist
Discovered Jazz, Popular, and World Music
Followed Gillespie to New York
One of the most versatile composers among contemporary musicians, Argentine-born pianist Lalo Schifrin not only earned acclaim for his robust playing, but for his adventurous yet tasteful composing and arranging talents as well. Moreover, he soared in a variety of different forms—from the world of jazz and orchestral music to his long list of film and television soundtracks. A musically imaginative writer who begins each day with a Bach prelude before composing because, as he told Catherine Applefeld Olson of Billboard, “It clears my mind,” Schifrin seems to move effortlessly from one field of choice to the next and doesn’t favor any particular genre over another. Rather, Schifrin thrives on the chance to try something new and invigorating, regardless of the style—the opportunity to invest his creations and playing with energy and enthusiasm. He feels equally at home conducting a symphony orchestra, performing at an international jazz festival, scoring a film or television production, or composing a work for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra or the London Philharmonic.
As a jazz musician, Schifrin made his initial mark working with Dizzy Gillespie’s quintet from 1960 through 1962, penning for the legendary trumpeter/bandleader the renowned “Gillespiana,” a piece for jazz quintet and jazz orchestra. Schifrin wrote the musical suite as both a tribute to Gillespie and as an exploration of the Latin rhythms that were an integral part of the trumpeter’s repertoire. “It is based on two classical ideas,” he explained to Billboard’s Steve Graybow. “The first idea is the concerto grosso, which is a group of soloists surrounded by a larger orchestra. The second is the suite of dances found in Baroque music. Together, it paints a musical portrait of Dizzy.”
An accomplished classical composer as well—with numerous credits including “Cantos Aztecas,” recorded by tenor Placido Domingo with orchestra and choir; “Piano Concerto No. 2,” commissioned by the Stein-way Foundation and performed by Mstilslav Rostopovich and Christina Oritz; and “Guitar Concerto,” recorded by Angel Romero with the London Philharmonic—Schifrin combined his talents for the ongoing Jazz Meets the Symphony recordings and concert series. With this project, top-notch artists such as bassist Ray Brown, brassmen Faddis and James Morrison, alto saxophonists Paquito D’Rivera and Tom Scott, and more joined the pianist and various orchestras of note for performances worldwide.
In another aspect of his career that spanned over four decades—the area that brought him the greatest mainstream recognition—Schifrin composed soundtracks for some 120 films and television shows, winning numerous honors for his work including 20 Grammy Award nominations, four Grammy Awards, and six Academy Award nominations. His first score, for 1957’s El Jefe, won the composer an Argentine Journalists Association Award for Best Score, and his
For The Record…
Born Lalo (Claudio) Schifrin on June 21, 1932, in Buenos Aires, Argentina; son of Luis (a violinist and conductor of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires); married, Donna; children: three. Education: Studied music in Argentina with Juan Carlos Paz and at the Paris Conservatory.
Formed own jazz group early in career; International Jazz Festival, Paris, Argentinean representative, 1955; Xavier Cugat’s orchestra, arranger; Dizzy Gillespie’s band, pianist and composer, 1960-62; moved to Los Angeles and focused on film work, mid-1960s though the 1980s; University of California, Los Angeles, teacher of music composition, 1970-71; developed Jazz Meets the Symphony series, early-1990s; focused on jazz and classical composing, 1990s. Guest conductor with philharmonic symphonies, including those in Los Angeles, Israel, Buenos Aires, and Mexico, the Indianapolis and Atlanta symphonies, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Member: Young Musicians Foundation (president and musical director, 1983).
Awards: Received 20 Grammy Award nominations; winner of four Grammy Awards, including two for his theme from Mission: Impossible, 1967, 1969, 1986, and 1997; received six Academy Award nominations; Hollywood Walk of Fame Award; Hollywood Chamber of Commerce; Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, government of France.
Addresses: Record company —Aleph Records, website: http://www.alephrecords.com. Agent for film and television scores —Pero & Kaplan, c/O Philip J. Kaplan, Esq., 801 S. Flowers St., Los Angeles, CA 90017, phone: (213) 629-7124, fax: (213) 622-7575, e-mail: [email protected]. Agent for personal appearaces in the United States —Ted Kurland Agency, Attn: Marilyn Rosen, 173 Brighton Ave., Boston, MA 02134, phone: (617) 254-0007, fax: (617) 782-3524. Publicity information —Maureen O’Connor, Rogers & Cowarn, phone: (310) 201-8816, fax: (310) 788-6633, e-mail: [email protected]. Website —Lalo Schifrin: http://www.schifrin.com.
breakthrough project arrived in 1965 with the music for the film The Cincinnati Kid. Since then, Schifrin went on to pen the unforgettable theme for the Mission Impossible television show, Dirty Harry (1971) and Sudden Impact (1983) starring Clint Eastwood, Bullitt (1968) with Steve McQueen, the Bruce Lee Saga Enter the Dragon (1973), Rush Hour (1998) featuring martial arts star Jackie Chan, and the Oscar-nominated film by Carlos Saura entitled Tango (1999). For his work in this medium, where he succeeded in bridging the worlds of traditional and film music like no other musician of his generation, Schifrin was regarded as the most important film composer of the post-Henry Mancini, post- Psycho era.
Discovered Jazz, Popular, and World Music
Born Claudio—he shortened his name to Lalo after emigrating to the United States—on June 21, 1932, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Schifrin began studying classical music early in life with his father, Luis Schifrin, a violinist and the concert master of the Orchestra of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, as well as Enrique Barenboim (father of concert pianist/conductor Daniel Barenboim). “It’s a very unique city,” he said of growing up in the South American capital, as quoted by Zan Stewart in Down Beat. “We absorb everything. Myself, I absorb like a sponge the music of other cultures, besides classical.” Despite his father’s rigid musical tastes, in addition to his own personal joy as a youthful piano student in the music of Igor Stravinsky, Bela Bartók, and Arnold Schönberg, Schifrin nonetheless was equally drawn to the sounds of jazz greats like Bud Powell and Thelonius Monk. “The first time I heard Monk was on a 78 at the record store,” he recalled. “He was incredible, and I became mesmerized and started to learn jazz from records.” Other interests blossomed too, including the Latin sounds of his native culture as well as music from around the world. An avid moviegoer as well during his childhood, Schifrin spent countless hours at the cinemas in Buenos Aires, where he found himself more captivated by the music than the stories themselves.
Winning a scholarship to attend the prestigious Paris Conservatoire (or Conservatory), where he studied with twentieth-century music great Olivier Messiaen and based his thesis of study on classical and African music, Schifrin traveled to France with the true intent of learning more about jazz. Thus, he led a double life of sorts throughout his stay in Paris; he studied classical music during the week at school, then spent the weekends playing with some of Europe’s hottest jazz artists—people like piano legend Chet Baker and Belgian saxophonist Bobby Jaspar. In addition to jazz, Schifrin over the course of his stay in Paris developed eclectic tastes in modern, especially popular, music.
Performing with the pros overseas made a great impact on the younger pianist, and when Schifrin returned to Argentina in the mid-1950s, he continued to play jazz and started to write music for film. At the same time, Schifrin indulged in the more traditional music that had encompassed his formal training, writing chamber pieces, compositions for ballet, and even symphonies. In 1955, Schifrin represented Argentina in the Third Annual Jazz Festival held in Paris. Soon after that performance, in 1956, he formed his own big band, largely in the tradition of Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie, through which Gillespie himself first heard Schifrin play. Schifrin recalled meeting Gillespie in Argentina, while the trumpeter/bandleader was in the midst of a United States State Department-sponsored tour: “Dizzy’s was one of the first American jazz bands that came to Buenos Aires,” he told Graybow. “My jazz band played for him at a reception, and he asked me if I had written the charts, which I had. Dizzy invited me to come to the United States to be his piano player. At first, I thought he was joking, because I was so surprised.”
Followed Gillespie to New York
Realizing the sincerity of Gillespie’s proposal, Schifrin followed the trumpeter to New York City in 1958. Focusing almost exclusively on jazz upon his arrival and through the early-1960s, Schifrin as a jazz performer worked with such big names as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, and Count Basie. By the mid-1960s, however, having moved to Los Angeles and landing a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to compose scores, Schifrin started to devote most of his energies to film work. And within no time, he had become one of the most prominent and productive of a new generation of film composers in Hollywood. While he maintained a love for jazz in his heart and mind during the height of his film career, Schifrin gave performances only on rare occasions.
However, Schifrin’s career in Hollywood eventually grew stale over time. “They typecast me,” said Schifrin to Entertainment Weekly’s Dave Karger. “They didn’t trust me with a love story. I was too weird.” Although Schifrin continued to score music for both television and film well into the 1990s—including, with Danny Elfman, for the 1996 film Mission Impossible based on the television series and for the 1998 film Something to Believe In —the composer turned to classical and jazz as his primary focus, beginning in the early-1990s with the development of Jazz Meets the Symphony, for which Schifrin served as the featured composer, pianist, and conductor.
According to Schifrin, the idea of combing the two genres—jazz and classical music—arose years before, during the composing of two early film scores. “In The Cincinnati Kid, Ray Charles sang backed by a symphony orchestra,” he related to Stewart. “Then for the chase scene in Bullitt, I wrote a symphonic score combined with saxophone solos, all at very fast tempos. Years later, when I arranged music for Dizzy, Ray Brown, Grady Tate and myself to play for a tour with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, I began to fully realize that the two distinct musical forms could be combined.” Since its formation, Jazz Meets the Symphony, represented by a total of four albums—plus a release combining the first four recordings entitled Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection, which garnered three Grammy nominations—has been Schifrin’s primary focus. He planned to record a fifth installment in the autumn of 2000.
Each recording features shorter pieces, both covers and originals, alongside longer medleys that were written by or associated with Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Fats Waller, Bix Beiderbecke, and, most notably, Gillespie. “I have to find pieces that adapt to the symphonic idiom without losing the jazz,” Schifrin explained to Stewart. “The jazz comes first, and the music has to be interesting for the symphony players, so I don’t do long notes for the strings and have the rhythm section moving with a guy improvising. Everybody has a challenging part. It’s like walking a tightrope. If you walk too much on one side, it becomes completely classical and too academic. It it’s too much jazz, the classical musicians can’t play it.”
Latin Music Meets Jazz
In addition to uniting jazz with classical influences, Schifrin also explored the blending of jazz with Latin elements for 1999’s Grammy-nominated Latin Jazz Suite, recorded in Cologne, Germany and featuring the WDR Big Band, Jon Faddis, saxophonist David Sanchez, and drummer Ignacio Berroa. Using his upbringing in Buenos Aires as a point of reference, Schifrin for the project mixed jazz with Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, Pampas (a style of Argentine music), and Brazilian sounds. “All these influences and others were important to me, and in this suite I wanted to write things that, hopefully, are autobiographical, writing about my impressions or inventions based on my memories, based on what I know, or what I’m trying to know,” he explained to Stewart.
Schifrin released Latin Jazz Suite on his own Aleph Records, a label he formed in 1998 that concentrated on his jazz, Latin, and classical recordings as well as his film and television scores; Schifrin’s wife, Donna, with whom he shared a Beverly Hills, California, mansion once owned by Groucho Marx, headed the company. As Schifrin explained to Eileen Fitzpatrick of Billboard, he felt he needed an outlet for his work beyond that of his Hollywood years: “I have so many facets but have primarily been known for film scores,” he noted. “I have great connections and friends in the Latin and classical community, and forming the label enables me to take advantage of all these connections.”
Although the tireless musician stayed occupied with Jazz Meets the Symphony as he approached the age of 70, he still maintained relationships within the classical realm. Among his works in this area include arrangements for the Three Tenors—José Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti—like their debut performance as a trio in 1990 in Caracalla, Italy, as well as all three of the Grand Finale concerts celebrating the World Soccer Championships: Italy in 1990, Los Angeles in 1994, and Paris in 1998. Two of the tenors also commissioned Schifrin to arrange music for two successful Christmas programs, Christmas in Vienna in 1992 with Diana Ross, Carreras, and Domingo, as well as A Celebration of Christmas in 1995 with Carreras, Domingo, and Natalie Cole.
Along with his Grammy and Oscar nominations, Schifrin received numerous honors over the course of his career. Among them include the BMI Lifetime Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres from the French minister of Culture, and more. Even as the years passed, Schifrin never slowed down. As he continued to record, compose music, and perform in the world’s most renowned concert halls and at jazz festivals across the United States and Europe, Schifrin did so with the same enthusiasm of a much younger man. “For me this is not work,” he said to Stewart. “It’s the continuation of my teenage years when I discovered all the music I was totally blinded by. I’m still blinded by it and I’ll die blinded by it.”
Selected discography
Solo
Lalo Schifrin Y Su Orquestra, Columbia, 1956.
Spectrum, Epic, 1957.
Piano Espaol, Tico, 1960.
Piano, Strings & Bossa Nova, MGM, 1962.
Bossa Nova, New Brazilian Jazz, Audio Fidelity, 1962.
Lalo=Brilliance, Roulette, 1962.
Jazz Faust, 1962.
’7 Faces of Dr. Lao“/” The Wave” [45], MGM, 1963.
“Haunting”/“Theme from Dime with…”[45], MGM, 1963.
Between Broadway & Hollywood, MGM, 1963.
“Broken Date”/“The Good Life” [45], Verve, 1963.
(With Bob Brookmeyer) Samba Para Dos, Verve, 1963.
The Ritual of Sound, 1963.
The Living Cell, 1964.
Etude on Rhythm, 1964.
Lalo’s Meditation, 1964.
New Fantasy, Verve, 1964.
(With Louie Bellson) Explorations, Roulette, 1964.
Once a Thief and Other Themes, Verve, 1965.
The Sphinx, 1965.
Three Pieces for Percussion And Strings, 1966.
Marquis De Sade (also known as Schifrin/Sade), Verve, 1966.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, MGM, 1967.
Concerto for Trumpet, 1967.
There’s a Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin On, Dot, 1968.
Dialogs for Jazz Quintet and Orchestra, 1969.
Improvisations for Jazz Soloists And Orchestra, 1969.
Variants on a Madrigal of Gesualdo, 1969.
Canons for String Quartet, 1969.
Grabado in Vivo!, RCA Victor, 1970.
Rock Requiem, Verve, 1971.
Pulsations for Electronic Keyboard, Jazz Band and Orchestra, 1971.
Madrigals for the Space Age, 1972.
“Latin Soul”/“Dirty Harry” [45], Verve, 1972.
“Bolero”/“Dona Donna” [45], Twentieth Century, 1975.
Towering Toccata, CTI, 1976.
Black Widow, CTI, 1976.
Continuum Journeys Voyage, Label X, 1977.
Gypsies, Tabu, 1978.
Canons, Entr’acte, 1978.
No One Home, Tabu, 1979.
Invocations, 1980.
Capriccio for Clarinet and Strings, 1981.
Ins and Outs, Palo Alto, 1982.
Resonances, 1987.
Double Bass Concerto, 1987.
Dance Concertantes for ClarientAnd Orchestra, 1988.
(With Placido Domingo) Cantos Aztecas for Vocal Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus, Pro Arte, 1988.
Les Solistes Francais Orchestre Philharmonique De Paris, Conducted by Lalo Schifrin, Cybelia, 1988.
Hitchcock: Master of Mayhem (also known as Masters of Mayhem), Pro Arte/lntersound, 1990.
Those Fabulous Hollywood Marches (also known as Hollywood Marches), Pro Arte/lntersound, 1990.
Kol Nidrei, 1990.
Grand Finale, 1990.
The Trial of Louis XVI, 1990.
Impresiones: Fantasy for Trumpet and Orchestra, 1991.
Carnaval of the Animals, Dove Audio, 1992.
Romancing the Film, Pro Arte, 1992.
Jazz Meets Symphony, Atlantic, 1992.
Cantares Argentinos, 1992.
Piano Concerto, 1992.
More Jazz Meets Symphony Atlantic, 1993.
Bandido!, 1994.
Homage a Ravel, 1995.
Filmclassics (also known as 100 Ans De Cinema), Aleph, 1995.
Lili’uokalani Symphony, Urtext, 1995.
Firebird, Four Winds, 1995.
Gillespiana, 1996.
Schifrin Meets Piazzolla — Jazz Meets Tango, 1996.
Concertos/tr¢picos, Auvidis, 1996.
Mission Impossible and More!: The Best of Lalo Schifrin, Motor, 1996.
A Rhapsody for Bix, 1996.
Psalms, 1996.
Dirty Harry Anthology, Aleph, 1998.
Jazz Mass, Aleph, 1998.
Metamorphosis: Jazz Meets the Symphony #4, Aleph, 1998.
The Reel Lalo Schifrin, Hip-O, 1998.
Represi¢n, 1998.
Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection, Aleph, 1999.
Latin Jazz Suite, Aleph, 1999.
Talkin’ Verve Lalo Schifrin, Verve, 1999.
With Dizzy Gillespie (as pianist, arranger, and conductor)
Gillespania, Verve, 1960.
An Electrifying Evening, Verve, 1961.
Carnegie Hall Concert, Verve, 1961.
A Night in Birdland Live, Vol. One, 1961.
A Musical Safari, 1961.
New Wave, 1962.
Dizzy on the French Riviera, 1962.
The New Continent, 1962.
Dizzy Gillespie/Double Six of Paris, Verve, 1963.
Free Ride, Pablo, 1977..
Film work (composer)
Rhino!, MGM, 1964.
Joy House (also known as The Love Cage), MGM, 1964.
The Cincinnati Kid, MGM, 1965.
Dark Intruder, Universal, 1965.
Once a Thief, MGM, 1965.
Blindfold, Universal, 1966.
Murder’s Row, Columbia, 1966.
I Deal in Death, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966.
Way Way Out, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966.
The Liquidator, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1966.
Cool Hand Luke, Warner Bros./Seven Arts, 1967.
The President’s Analyst, Paramount, 1967.
Who’s Minding the Mint?, Columbia, 1967.
The Venetian Affair, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1967.
Sullivan’s Empire, Universal, 1967.
The Fox, Warner Bros., 1968.
Where Angels Go, Trouble Fellows,Columbia, 1968.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (documentary), 1968.
Mission Impossible versus the Mob (also known as Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob), Paramount, 1968.
Hell in the Pacific (also known as The Enemy), Cinerama, 1968.
The Brotherhood, Paramount, 1968.
Sol Madrid (also known as The Heroin Gang), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968.
Coogan’s Bluff, Universal, 1968.
Bullitt, Warner Bros., 1968.
Eye of the Cat (also known as Wylie), Universal, 1969.
Che!, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1969.
WUSA, Paramount, 1970.
Imago (also known as How Now, Sweet Jesus? and To Be Free), Magarac, 1970.
I Love My Wife, Universal, 1970.
THX 1138, Warner Bros., 1970.
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You, United Artists, 1970.
Kelly’s Heroes, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1970.
Mrs. Pollifax-Spy, United Artists, 1971.
The Hellstrom Chronicle, Cinema V, 1971.
Pretty Maids All in a Row, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1971.
The Beguiled, Universal, 1971.
The Wrath of God, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1972.
Rage, Warner Bros., 1972.
Joe Kidd, Universal, 1972.
Prime Cut, National General, 1972.
Dirty Harry, Warner Bros., 1972.
The Neptune Factor (also known as The Neptune Disaster and An Underwater Odyssey), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973.
Hit!, Paramount, 1973.
Harry in Your Pocket, United Artists, 1973.
Charley Varrick, Universal, 1973.
Enter the Dragon (also known as The Deadly Three ), Warner Bros., 1973.
Magnum Force, Warner Bros., 1973.
Man on a Swing, Warner Bros., 1973.
Golden Needles (also known as The Chase for the Golden Needles), American International Pictures, 1974.
The Master Gunfighter, Taylor-Laughlin, 1975.
The Four Musketeers (also known as The Revenge of Milady), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1975.
Sky Riders, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1976.
Day of the Animals (also known as Something Is Out There), Film Ventures, 1976.
Special Delivery (also known as Dangerous Break), American International Pictures, 1976.
St. Ives, Warner Bros., 1976.
Voyage of the Damned, Avco-Embassy, 1976.
The Eagle Has Landed, Columbia, 1977.
Rollercoaster, Universal, 1977.
Telefon, United Artists, 1977.
The Manitou, Avco-Embassy, 1978.
Nunzio, Universal, 1978.
The Cat from Outer Space, Buena Vista, 1978.
Return from Witch Mountain, Buena Vista, 1978.
Boulevard Nights, Warner Bros., 1979.
Escape to Athena, Associated Film, 1979.
The Amityville Horror, American International Pictures, 1979.
Concorde: Airport ’79 (also known as The Concorde Affair, Airport ’79, The
Concorde-Airport ’79 and S.O.S. Concorde), Universal, 1979.
Love and Bullets, Associated Film, 1979.
The Nude Bomb (also known as Maxwell Smart and the Nude Bomb and The Return of Maxwell Smart), Universal, 1980.
The Competition, Columbia, 1980.
The Big Brawl (also known as Battle Creek and Battle Creek Brawl), Warner Bros., 1980.
Brubaker, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980.
Serial, Paramount, 1980.
When Time Ran Out (also known as Earth’s Final Fury), Warner Bros., 1980.
Loophole (also known as Break In), Brent Walker, 1980.
Buddy Buddy, United Artists, 1981.
Caveman, United Artists, 1981.
The Fridays of Eternity [Argentina], 1981.
The Skin (also known as La Pelle), [Italy], 1981.
Airplane II: The Sequel, Paramount, 1982.
Amityville II: The Possession, Orion, 1982.
The Seduction, Avco-Embassy, 1982.
A Stranger Is Watching, MGM/United Artists, 1982.
The Class of 1984, United Film, 1982.
Fast-Walking, Lorimar, 1982.
Doctor Detroit, Universal, 1983.
The Sting II, Universal, 1983.
The Osterman Weekend, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1983.
Sudden Impact, Warner Bros., 1983.
Tank, Universal, 1983.
Bad Medicine, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985.
The Mean Season, Orion, 1985.
The New Kids, Columbia, 1985.
Black Moon Rising, New World, 1986.
The Ladies Club, New Line Cinema, 1986.
The Fourth Protocol, Rank, 1987.
The Silence of Bethany, 1987.
Berlin Blues, Pathe Communications, 1988.
Little Sweetheart, Nelson Entertainment, 1988.
The Dead Pool, Warner Bros., 1988.
Return to the River Kwai, TriStar, 1989.
FX2—The Deadly Art of Illusion (also known as FX2), Orion, 1991.
The Beverly Hillbillies, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1993.
Manhattan Meringue, BMG Home Video, 1994.
The Scorpion Spring, New Line Home Video, 1995.
(With Danny Elfman) Mission Impossible, Paramount, 1996.
Money Talks, New Line Cinema, 1997.
Something to Believe In, Aleph, 1997.
Rush Hour, Aleph, 1998.
Tango, Hollywood Partners, 1998.
Television work (composer)
Series
The Big Valley, ABC, 1965.
T.H.E. Cat, NBC, 1966.
Mission: Impossible, CBS, 1966-73.
Mannix, CBS, 1967.
The Young Lawyers, ABC, 1970.
Petrocelli, NBC, 1974.
Starsky and Hutch, (pilot), ABC, 1974.
Bronk, CBS, 1975.
Starsky and Hutch, ABC, 1975-76.
Danger Theatre, Fox, 1993.
Movies
See How They Run, 1964.
The Doomsday Flight, 1966.
How I Spent My Summer Vacation (also known as Deadly Roulette), 1967.
The Young Lawyers, 1969.
The Mask of Sheba (also known as Quest: Mask of Sheba), 1970.
The Aquarians (also known as Deep Lab), 1970.
Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol, 1971.
Escape, 1971.
Earth II, 1971.
Hunter, CBS, 1973.
Night Games, 1974.
Back to the Planet of the Apes, 1974.
Guilty or Innocent: The Sam Sheppard Murder Case, 1975.
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within, 1975.
Foster and Laurie, 1975.
Brenda Starr, 1976.
Good Against Evil, 1977.
The President’s Mistress, 1978.
The Nativity, 1978.
Institute for Revenge, 1979.
Chicago Story, 1981.
Victims, 1982.
Falcon’s Gold (also known as Robbers of Sacred Mountain ), 1982.
Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess, 1983.
Starflight: The Plane that Couldn’t Land (also known as Starflight One), 1983.
Spraggue (also known as Spraggue: Murder for Two), 1984.
Command 5, 1984.
Bridge Across Time (also known as Arizona Ripperand Terror at London Bridge), 1985.
Triplecross, ABC, 1985.
Beverly Hills Madam, 1986.
Kung Fu: The Movie, 1986.
Hollywood Wives, 1986.
Out on a Limb, 1987.
Shakedown on the Sunset Strip, CBS, 1988.
Original Sin, NBC, 1989.
Little White Lies (also known as First Impressions), NBC, 1989.
Face to Face, CBS, 1990.
Miniseries
A.D. (also known as A.D.—Anno Domini), NBC, 1985.
Earth Star Voyager, ABC, 1988.
The Neon Empire, Showtime, 1989.
A Woman Named Jackie, NBC, 1991.
Specials (composer, unless otherwise noted)
Jake’s M.O., 1987.
Wolf Trap Salutes Dizzy Gillespie: An All-Star Tribute to the Jazz Master, PBS, 1988.
Music arranger, Jose Carreras, Diana Ross, Placido Domingo: Christmas in Vienna, Arts and Entertainment, 1992.
Music arranger, Tibor Rudas Presents Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti with Mehta: The Three Tenors in Concert 1994, PBS, 1994.
Stage work (composer)
Jazz Faust (ballet), 1963.
The Trial of Louis XVI (opera), 1988.
Sources
Books
The Complete Marquis Who’s Who, Marquis Who’s Who, 1999.
Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Volume 5, Gale Research, 1988.
Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Volume 21, Gale Group, 1999.
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 4: Writers and Artists, St. James Press, 1996.
Periodicals
Billboard, February 28, 1998, p. 80; July 18, 1998, p. 17; September 25, 1999, p. 65.
Down Beat, April 1995, p. 40; October 1996, p. 17; November 1998, p. 63; February 2000, pp. 49-51.
Entertainment Weekly, June 7, 1996, p. 38.
Time, June 3, 1996, p. 21.
Online
Lalo Schifrin Official Website, http://www.schifrin.com (April 27, 2000).
—Laura Hightower
Schifrin, Lalo 1932–
Schifrin, Lalo 1932–
(Lalo Shifrin)
PERSONAL
Some sources cite original name as Claudio Schifrin or Boris Schifrin; born June 21, 1932, in Buenos Aires, Argentina; son of Luis (a violinist and conductor) Schifrin; married Donna; children: William (a writer), Frances (an art director and designer), Ryan (a writer and director). Education: Graduated from the Paris Conservatoire in 1956; studied music in Argentina with Juan Carlos Paz; also studied law.
Addresses: Agent—First Artists Management, 1600 Ventura Blvd., Suite 605, Encino, CA 90069. Publicist—Rogers and Cowan Public Relations, Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., Seventh Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
Career: Composer, conductor, arranger. Formed a jazz group early in career; International Jazz Festival, Paris, Argentinean representative, 1955; arranger for Xavier Cugat's orchestra; pianist and composer for Dizzy Gillespie's band, beginning c. 1960, and involved with other Gillespie productions and recordings; Aleph Records, founder, 1998. Glendale Symphony Orchestra, music director, 1989–c.1995; guest conductor with philharmonic symphonies, including those in Los Angeles, Israel, Buenos Aires, and Mexico, the Indianapolis and Atlanta symphonies, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. University of California, Los Angeles, teacher of music composition, 1970–71. Young Musicians Foundation, president and music director, 1983; conductor at the Pan American Games, Argentina, 1995; cultural affairs adviser to the president of Argentina and secretary of the cabinet, 1998; Los Angeles Latin Jazz Institute and Festival, music director, 1999; appeared with numerous symphony orchestras. Composer for promotional spots.
Awards, Honors: Grammy Award, best original jazz composition, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 1964, for "The Cat for Jazz Band and Productions"; Grammy Award, best original jazz composition, 1965, for Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts; Grammy Award nomination (with others), best original score written for a motion picture or television show, 1966, for The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; Grammy Award, best instrumental theme, Grammy Award, best original score written for a motion picture or television show, 1968, Ringtone Award, BMI Film & Television awards, 2005, all for Mission: Impossible; Academy Award nomination, best music, original music score, 1968, for Cool Hand Luke; Academy Award nomination, best music, original score for a motion picture (not a musical), 1969, Grammy Award nomination, best original score written for a motion picture, 1969, both for The Fox; Academy Award nomination, best music, original score, 1977, Golden Globe Award nomination, best original score for a motion picture, 1977, both for Voyage of the Damned; Academy Award nomination, best music, original score, 1980, Golden Globe nomination, best original score for a motion picture, 1980, both for The Amityville Horror; Golden Globe Award nomination, best original score for a motion picture, 1981, both for The Competition; Academy Award nomination (with Wilbur Jennings), best music, song, 1981, for the song "People Alone" from The Competition; Academy Award nomination, best music, original song score and its adaptation or best adaptation score, 1984, for The Sting II; Lifetime Achievement Award, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), 1988; received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Award, 1988; honorary Ph.D. from the Rhode Island School of Design, 1989; honored at the M.I.D. E.M. Classique Festival, France, 1990 MIDEM Distinguished Artist Award, Los Angeles Music Center, 1998; Lifetime Achievement Award, Imagen Foundation, 1999; Silver Condor Award nomination, best music, Argentinean Film Critics Association awards, 1999, for Tango, no me dejes nunca; Grammy Award nomination, best instrumental composition written for a motion picture or for television, 1999, BMI Film Music Award, 1999, both for Rush Hour; Latin Jazz Grammy Award nomination, c. 2000, for Latin Jazz Suite; Career Achievement Award, Film Music Society, 2001; BMI Film Music Award, 2001, for Mission: Impossible II; BMI Film Music Award, 2002, for Rush Hour 2; Maverick Tribute Award, Cinequest San Jose Film Festival, 2002; BMI Film Music Award, 2003, for Bringing down the House; honored by the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and the California legislature for musical work, 2003; Golden Score Award, American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers, 2004, for impact on the music industry; honored by the Societe des auters, compositeurs et editeurs de musique (SACEM) and the Cannes International Film Festival, 2004; honored by Recording Academy, Los Angeles chapter, for career's work, 2006; CableACE Award; named a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, government of France; award for contributions to world understanding through music, government of Israel; additional Grammy Award nominations; honorary degree from the University of La Plata, Argentina.
CREDITS
Film Work:
Music conductor, Once a Thief (also known as Les tueurs de San Francisco), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1965.
Music conductor, The Liquidator, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1966.
Music conductor, Way … Way Out, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966.
Conductor, The Fox (also known as D. H. Lawrence's "The Fox"), Warner Bros., 1968.
Music director, Kelly's Heroes (also known as Ratnici), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1970.
Music director, Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You, United Artists, 1970.
Music director, WUSA, Paramount, 1970.
Music director, Mrs. Pollifax—Spy, United Artists, 1971.
Music director and music effects (Sensurround), Roller-coaster, Universal, 1977.
Conductor, Escape to Athena, Associated Film, 1979.
Conductor, Loophole (also known as Break In), Almi Pictures, 1980.
Music director and conductor, The Competition, Columbia, 1980.
Orchestrations and music adaptor, The Sting II, Universal, 1982.
Conductor and music director, The Fourth Protocol, Rank, 1987.
Music conductor, music producer, and pianist, Something to Believe in, 1997.
Music conductor and orchestrator, Money Talks, New Line Cinema, 1997.
Music conductor, Rush Hour, New Line Cinema, 1998.
Music director and conductor, Tango, no me dejes nunca (also known as Tango), Sony Pictures Classics, 1998.
Film Appearances:
(Uncredited) Himself, The Background Beat (short promotional film), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1965.
Conductor, Red Dragon (also known Roter Drache), Universal, 2002.
Television Work; Movies:
Music conductor, Hunter, CBS, 1973.
Television Work; Specials:
Music arranger, Jose Carreras, Diana Ross, Placido Domingo: Christmas in Vienna (also known as Christmas in Vienna), PBS, 1992.
Special music arrangements, music arranger, orchestrator, and guest conductor, Tibor Rudas Presents Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti with Mehta: The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 (also known as The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994 and Tibor Rudas Presents: The Three Tenors in Concert 1994), PBS, 1994.
Christmas in Vienna, PBS, 1995.
Music arranger and orchestrator, Tibor Rudas Presents Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti with Levine—The Three Tenors Live in Concert—Paris 1998 (also known as Tibor Rudas Presents Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti with Levine—The Three Tenors), PBS, 1998.
Conducted a performance of his Piano Concerto no. 2, Eurovision Network, 1992.
Television Appearances; Specials:
(As Lalo Shifrin) Member of the Olympic Jazz All Stars, Olympic Gala, NHK (Japan), 1984.
Himself, Movie Music Man: A Portrait of Lalo Schifrin, 1993.
Himself, Der Klang der Bilder, Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR, Germany), 1995.
Himself, The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema, Cinemax, c. 2002.
Himself, The Score, Trio, 2003.
Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:
The 25th Annual Grammy Awards, 1983.
Wolf Trap Salutes Dizzy Gillespie: An All-Star Tribute to the Jazz Master, PBS, 1988.
Television Appearances; Episodic:
Himself, The Virginia Graham Show, syndicated, 1972.
Himself, "40 Greatest Theme Songs," Inside TV Land (also known as Inside TV Land: 40 Greatest Theme Songs), TV Land, 2002.
Stage Conductor:
100 ans de cinema (concert), 1995.
Letters from Argentina, U.S. cities, 2005.
Jazz Meets the Symphony, Australian cities, 2006.
Conductor of other productions.
Stage Appearances:
Gillespiana, Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood, CA, 2004.
Appeared in other productions.
RECORDINGS
Albums:
(With Astor Piazzolla) Piazzolla et son orchestre, Festival, 1955.
(With Piazzolla) Rendez-vous dansant a Copacabana, c. 1955, released as Two Argentinians in Paris, BMG (France), 2005.
Lalo Schifrin y su orquestra, Columbia, 1956.
Spectrum, Epic, 1957.
(With others) Jazz at the Philharmonic, Verve, 1960.
Various artists, In Europe Volume 1, Verve, 1960.
Various artists, In Europe Volume 3, Verve, 1960.
Various artists, In Europe Volume 4, Verve, 1960.
Piano Espanol, Tico, 1960.
(With Candido Camero) Conga Soul, Roulette, 1961–62.
Bossa Nova, New Brazilian Jazz (also known as Bossa Nova), Audio Fidelity, 1962.
Jazz Faust, 1962.
Lalo = Brilliance, Roulette, 1962.
Piano, Strings & Bossa Nova, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1962.
(With Eddie Harris) Bossa Nova, Vee Jay, 1962, later released as Lalo Schifrin: Bossa Nova Groove, Ubatuqui, 1999.
Between Broadway and Hollywood, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963.
The Ritual of Sound, 1963.
(With Bob Brookmeyer) Samba para Dos: Lalo Schifrin/Bob Brookmeyer (also known as Samba para dos), Verve, 1963.
Kenyon Hopkins, Yellow Canary, Verve, 1963.
Cal Tjader, Several Shades of Jade, Verve, 1963.
Gone with the Wave (included with the album Diamond Head as Diamond Head/Gone with the Wave), Colpix, c. 1963.
Etude on Rhythm, 1964.
Lalo's Meditation, 1964.
The Living Cell, 1964.
New Fantasy, Verve, 1964.
Schifrin and Louis Bellson, Explorations (also known as Explorations: Louie Bellson/Lalo Schifrin), Roulette, 1964.
Paul Horn and others, Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts, RCA, 1964, also released by Aleph Records, 1998.
Once a Thief and Other Themes, Verve, 1965.
The Sphinx, 1965.
The Cincinnati Kid, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c. 1965, Aleph Records, 2002.
Marquis De Sade (also known as Schifrin/Sade), Verve, 1966.
Three Pieces for Percussion and Strings, 1966.
Al Hirt, Latin in the Horn, RCA Victor, 1966.
The Liquidator, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c. 1966.
Concerto for Trumpet, 1967.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1967.
Cool Hand Luke, Dot Records, c. 1967, Aleph Records, 2001.
There's a Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin' On, Dot Records, 1968.
Bullitt, Warner Bros., c. 1968.
Sol Madrid (also known as The Heroin Gang), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c. 1968.
The Fox (also known as D. H. Lawrence's "The Fox"), Warner Bros., c. 1968, also released by Aleph Records, 2000.
Canons for String Quartet, 1969.
Dialogs for Jazz Quintet and Orchestra, 1969.
Improvisations for Jazz Soloists and Orchestra, 1969.
Variants on a Madrigal of Gesualdo, 1969.
Che!, Tetragrammation, 1969, new version released by Aleph Records, 1998.
Lalo Schifrin in Buenos Aires—Grabado in vivo! (also known as Grabado in vivo!), RCA Victor, 1970.
Cannonball Adderley, Experience/Tensity/Dialogues, Capitol, 1970.
Kelly's Heroes (also known as Ratnici), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c. 1970.
Pulsations for Electronic Keyboard, Jazz Band, and Orchestra, 1971.
Rock Requiem, Verve, 1971.
Madrigals for the Space Age, 1972.
Enter the Dragon (also known as The Deadly Three, Operation Dragon, and Long zheng hu dou), Warner Bros., c. 1973.
Black Widow, CTI, 1976.
(With others) Jaws, CTI, 1976.
Towering Toccata, CTI, 1976.
Voyage of the Damned, Entr'acte, c. 1976.
Continuum Journeys Voyage, Label X, 1977.
Dizzy Gillespie, Free Ride, Pablo, 1977.
Rollercoaster, MCA, c. 1977, also released by Aleph Records, 2001.
Canons, Entr'acte, 1978.
Gypsies, Tabu, 1978.
Nunzio, MCA, c. 1978.
Paul Horn and others, Dream Machine, Mushroom, 1978.
No One Home, Tabu, 1979.
Boulevard Nights, Warner Bros., c. 1979.
The Amityville Horror, American International Pictures, c. 1979, Aleph Records, 2002.
Invocations, 1980.
Battle Creek Brawl (also known as Battle Creek, The Big Brawl, and Sha shou hao), Victor, c. 1980.
The Competition, MCA, c. 1980.
Capriccio for Clarinet and Strings, 1981.
La pelle (also known as The Skin and La peau), Cinevox, c. 1981.
Ins and Outs, Palo Alto, 1982.
The Sting II, MCA, c. 1982.
Don Quixote (also known as Don Quijote de la Mancha, El Quijote, and El Quijote de Miguel de Cervantes), Prometheus, 1983.
Sudden Impact, Warner Bros., c. 1983.
The Osterman Weekend, Varese Sarabande, c. 1983, also released by Aleph Records, 1999.
A.D. (also known as A.D.—Anno Domini), Prometheus, c. 1985.
Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra (also known as Double Bass Concerto), 1987.
Resonances, 1987.
(With Astor Piazzolla) Concierto para bandoneon/Tres tangos, Elektra Nonesuch, 1987.
The Fourth Protocol, Film Trax, c. 1987.
Dance Concertantes for Clarinet and Orchestra, 1988.
Cantos Aztecas for Vocal Soloists, Orchestra, and Chorus: Lalo Schifrin/Placido Domingo (also known as Cantos Aztecas), Pro Arte, 1988, released by Aleph Records, 1999.
Grand Finale, 1990.
(With the San Diego Symphony) Hitchcock: Master of Mayhem (also known as Masters of Mayhem), Pro Arte/Intersound, 1990.
Kol Nidrei, 1990.
Those Fabulous Hollywood Marches (also known as Hollywood Marches), Pro Arte/Intersound, 1990.
The Trial of Louis XVI, 1990.
Impresiones: Fantasy for Trumpet and Orchestra, 1991.
Cantares Argentinos, 1992.
Romancing the Film, Pro Arte, 1992.
Jazz Meets the Symphony, Atlantic, 1992, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
More Jazz Meets the Symphony, Atlantic, 1993, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
Bandido!, 1994.
(With others) Filmclassics (also known as Film Classics and 100 ans de Cinema), Aleph Records, 1995.
Homage a Ravel, 1995.
Lili'uokalani Symphony, Urtext, 1995.
Firebird: Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 3 East West, Four Winds, 1995, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
Concertos/Tropicos, Auvidis, 1996.
Mission Impossible … and More!: The Best of Lalo Schifrin, Motor, 1996.
Music from Mission: Impossible, Hip-O Records, 1996.
Psalms, 1996.
A Rhapsody for Bix, 1996.
(With Astor Piazzolla) Schifrin Meets Piazzolla-Jazz Meets Tango, 1996.
Schifrin, Marisa Canales, Juan Carlos Laguna, Concerto Caribeno, Tropicos, 1997.
Dirty Harry Anthology, Aleph Records, 1998.
(With the WDR Big Band) Gillespiana, Aleph Records, 1998.
Reel Lalo Schifrin, Hip-O Records, 1998.
Represion, 1998.
Rush Hour, Aleph Records, 1998.
Metamorphosis, Aleph Records, 1998, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
The Eagle Has Landed, Aleph Records, 1999.
Latin Jazz Suite, Aleph Records, 1999.
Something to Believe in, Aleph Records, 1999.
Talkin' Verve Lalo Schifrin, Verve, 1999.
Intersections, Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 5, Aleph Records, c. 1999.
Brazilian Jazz, Aleph Records, 2000.
Esperanto, Aleph Records, 2000.
Jazz Goes to Hollywood, Aleph Records, 2000.
Schifrin Conducts Stravinsky, Schifrin & Ravel, Aleph Records, 2001.
Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy in South America Volume 3, CAP, c. 2001.
The Return of the Marquis de Sade, Aleph Records, 2002.
Ins and Outs and Lalo Live at the Blue Note, Aleph Records, 2003.
(With the London Symphony Orchestra) Symphonic Impressions of Oman, Aleph Records, 2003.
Dirty Harry, Aleph Records, 2004.
The Hellstrom Chronicle, Aleph Records, 2004.
Caveman, Aleph Records, 2005.
(With others) Insensatez, Verve, 2005.
Kaleidoscope, Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 6, Aleph Records, 2005.
Les felins (also known as Joy House and The Love Cage), Aleph Records, 2005.
Magnum Force, Aleph Records, 2005.
The Other Side of Lalo Schifrin, Audio Fidelity, 2005.
Abominable, Aleph Records, 2006.
Letters from Argentina, Aleph Records, 2006.
David Shifrin, Shifrin Plays Schifrin, 2006.
Schifrin's compositions have appeared in other recordings, including Great Adventure Film Scores: Music Composed and Conducted by Lalo Schifrin (also known as Great Adventure Film Scores), Entr'acte; and Lalole-The Latin Sound of Lalo Schifrin & His Orchestra; as well as other recordings, including Marcella DeCray, Harp aujord'hui, Coronet; Johnny Hodges, Johnny Hodges, Verve; Alfredo Remus, Remus 3, Ten Records; and Alfredo Remus, Remus 5, Disco ES Culture. Performer in various recordings.
Albums; with the Dizzy Gillespie Band:
Gillespiana, Verve, 1960.
The Gillespiana Suite (also known as Live in Paris and Paris Jazz Concert), Malaco, 1960.
(And with Gerry Mulligan) Dizzy Gillespie/Gerry Mulligan, Europa Jazz, 1960–61.
Carnegie Hall Concert (also known as Dizzy Gillespie at Carnegie Hall), Verve, 1961.
Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in Europe, Unique, 1961.
An Electrifying Evening, Verve, 1961.
Jazz Casual (also known as Dizzy Gillespie Rarities 1944/1961), Rhino/Raretone, 1961.
A Musical Safari (also known as Live at the Monterey Pop Festival and Oo Pop a Da), Booman, 1961.
(And with others) A Night in Birdland Live, Vol. One, Yadeon, 1961.
The Big Band, LRC, 1962.
Dizzy Gillespie—Vintage Jazz Collection, Toshiba/EMI, 1962.
Dizzy on the French Riviera, Philips, 1962.
The New Continent, Limelight, 1962.
New Wave, Philips, 1962.
Dizzy Gillespie & the Double Six of Paris, Philips, 1963.
Some sources cite other recordings with Dizzy Gillespie.
Singles:
"Broken Date"/"The Good Life," Verve, 1963.
"Haunting"/"Theme from Dime with …," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963.
"7 Faces of Dr. Lao"/"The Wave," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963.
Al Hirt, "The Evil One," RCA, 1966.
"Latin Soul"/"Dirty Harry," Verve, 1972.
"Bolero"/"Dona Donna," Twentieth Century, 1975.
(With Hermanos) "Cantare/Cantaras (I Will Sing, You Will Sing)"/"African Flame," Columbia, 1985.
Album Work:
(Arranger) All Stars Argentinos, The Continental, 1951.
(Arranger) All Stars Argentinos, Enigma para Bobbers, Odeon, 1952.
(Arranger) All Stars Argentinos, Nunca supe (I Never Knew), Odeon, 1952.
(Conductor and arranger) Schifrin and Astor Piazzolla, Piazzolla et son orchestre, Festival, 1955.
(Arranger) Spectrum, Epic, 1957.
(Arranger) Candido Camero, Conga Soul, Roulette, 1961–62.
(Conductor and arranger) Bossa Nova, New Brazilian Jazz (also known as Bossa Nova), Audio Fidelity, 1962.
(Conductor and arranger) Count Basie, Back with Basie, Roulette, 1962.
(Arranger) Luis Bonfa, Luis Bonfa Plays and Sings Bossa Nova, Verve, 1962.
(Arranger) Quincy Jones, Big Band Bossa Nova, Mercury, 1962.
(Conductor and arranger) Pat Thomas, Desafinado, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1962.
(Arranger) Schifrin and Eddie Harris, Bossa Nova, Vee Jay, 1962, later released as Lalo Schifrin: Bossa Nova Groove, Ubatuqui, 1999.
(Arranger) Louis Bellson, Thunderbird, Impulse, 1963.
(Conductor and arranger) Stan Getz, Reflections, Verve, 1963.
(Arranger) Quincy Jones, Quincy Jones Plays Hip Hits, Mercury, 1963.
(Conductor and arranger) Johnny Smith, Any Number Can Win, Verve, 1963.
(Conductor and arranger) Pat Thomas, Moody's Mood, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963.
(Conductor and arranger) Cal Tjader, Several Shades of Jade, Verve, 1963.
(Conductor and arranger) Sarah Vaughan, Sweet 'n' Sassy, Roulette, 1963.
(Arranger) Louis Bellson, Explorations (also known as Explorations: Louie Bellson/Lalo Schifrin), Roulette, 1964.
(Arranger) Benny Carter, Tickle Toe, Vee Jay, 1964.
(Arranger) Peggy Lee, In the Name of Love, Capitol, 1964.
(Conductor and arranger) Johnny Smith, The Cat, Verve, 1964.
(Conductor and arranger) Paul Horn and others, Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts, RCA, 1964, also released by Aleph Records, 1998.
(Conductor and arranger) Marquis De Sade (also known as Schifrin/Sade), Verve, 1966.
(Conductor and arranger) Al Hirt, Latin in the Horn, RCA Victor, 1966.
(Conductor) There's a Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin' On, Dot Records, 1968.
(Arranger and conductor) Cannonball Adderley, Experience/Tensity/Dialogues, Capitol, 1970.
(Conductor and arranger) Jaws, CTI, 1976.
(Conductor and arranger) Towering Toccata, CTI, 1976.
(Arranger) Black Widow, CTI, c. 1976.
(Arranger) Dizzy Gillespie, Free Ride, Pablo, 1977.
(Producer) Gypsies, Tabu, 1978.
(Conductor and arranger) Paul Horn and others, Dream Machine, Mushroom, 1978.
(Arranger and producer) No One Home, Tabu, 1979.
(Producer) Fire and Ice, Fire and Ice, MCA/Butterfly, 1979.
(Conductor and arranger) Stan Getz, Children of the World, Columbia, 1979.
(Conductor and arranger) Barbra Streisand, Wet, Columbia, 1979.
(Producer) Turbulence, Night Flight, Avanz, c. 1979.
(Conductor and arranger) Johnny Smith, The Cat Strikes Again, LaserLight, 1980.
(Arranger) Ins and Outs, Palo Alto, 1982.
(Conductor and arranger) Mission: Impossible/Mannix/More Mission: Impossible, 1982.
(Conductor) Don Quixote (also known as Don Quijote de la Mancha, El Quijote, and El Quijote de Miguel de Cervantes), Prometheus, 1983.
(Conductor and arranger) Sarah Vaughan, The Planet Is Alive—Let It Live, Sarah Vaughan Sings Pope John Paul II (also known as The Mystery of Man), Jazzletter/Kokopelli, 1984.
(Conductor and arranger) Schifrin and Astor Piazzolla, Concierto para bandoneon/Tres tangos, Elektra Nonesuch, 1987.
(Conductor) Young Musicians Foundation, Young Musicians Foundation, Young Musicians Foundation, 1987.
(Conductor) Les solistes francais orchestre philharmonique de Paris, Cybelia, 1988.
(Arranger) Julia Migenes, Berlin Blues, Milan, 1988.
(Conductor) Schifrin and the San Diego Symphony, Hitchcock: Master of Mayhem (also known as Masters of Mayhem), Pro Arte/Intersound, 1990.
(Arranger and conductor) Maurice Andre, Swinging Baroque/Trompettissimo, Erato, 1992.
(Conductor, arranger, and producer) Jose Carreras and the London Symphony Orchestra, Friends for Life/Amigo para siempre, Atlantic, 1992.
(Arranger) Jose Carreras, Diana Ross, and Placido Domingo, Christmas in Vienna (also known as Jose Carreras, Diana Ross, Placido Domingo: Christmas in Vienna), Sony, 1992.
(Conductor) Mona and Renee Golabek, Carnival of the Animals, by Camille Saint-Saens, Dove Audio, 1992.
(Arranger and producer) Jazz Meets the Symphony, Atlantic, 1992, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
(Conductor) Julia Migenes, Julia Migenes in Vienna, Erato, 1993.
(Conductor, producer, and arranger) More Jazz Meets the Symphony, Atlantic, 1993, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
(Arranger) Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, and Placido Domingo, The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 (also known as Carreras, Domingo & Pavarotti in Concert), Atlantic, c. 1994.
(Conductor, arranger, and producer) Filmclassics (also known as Film Classics and 100 ans de Cinema), Aleph Records, 1995.
(Conductor) Lili'uokalani Symphony, Urtext, 1995.
(Arranger) Jose Carreras, Natalie Cole, and Placido Domingo, A Celebration of Christmas, Erato-Eleketra, 1995.
(Conductor, arranger, and producer) Firebird: Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 3 East West, Four Winds, 1995, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
(Conductor) Schifrin, Marisa Canales, and Juan Carlos Laguna, Concerto Caribeno, Tropicos, 1997.
(Conductor, arranger, and producer) Che!, Aleph Records, 1998.
(Conductor, arranger, and producer) Schifrin and the WDR Big Band, Gillespiana, Aleph Records, 1998.
(Conductor and arranger) Cesar Hernandez, Arias … Cesar Hernandez, Aleph Records, 1998.
(Conductor) Cantos Aztecas, Aleph Records, 1999.
(Conductor) The Eagle Has Landed, Aleph Records, 1999.
(Conductor) Latin Jazz Suite, Aleph Records, 1999.
(Conductor) Mannix, Aleph Records, 1999.
(Conductor) The Osterman Weekend, Aleph Records, 1999.
(Conductor) Something to Believe in, Aleph Records, 1999.
(Conductor) Intersections, Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 5, Aleph Records, c. 1999.
(Conductor) Esperanto, Aleph Records, 2000.
(Conductor) The Fox (also known as D. H. Lawrence's "The Fox"), Aleph Records, 2000.
(Conductor) Jazz Goes to Hollywood, Aleph Records, 2000.
(Conductor) Cool Hand Luke, Aleph Records, 2001.
(Conductor) Rollercoaster, Aleph Records, 2001.
(Conductor) Schifrin Conducts Stravinsky, Schifrin & Ravel, Aleph Records, 2001.
(Arranger) Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy in South America Volume 3, CAP, c. 2001.
(Conductor) The Amityville Horror, Aleph Records, 2002.
(Conductor) The Cincinnati Kid, Aleph Records, 2002.
(Conductor) The Return of the Marquis de Sade, Aleph Records, 2002.
(Conductor) Ins and Outs and Lalo Live at the Blue Note, Aleph Records, 2003.
(Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra) Symphonic Impressions of Oman, Aleph Records, 2003.
(Conductor) Dirty Harry, Aleph Records, 2004.
(Conductor) The Hellstrom Chronicle, Aleph Records, 2004.
(Conductor) Caveman, Aleph Records, 2005.
(Conductor) Insensatez, Verve, 2005.
(Conductor) Kaleidoscope, Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 6, Aleph Records, 2005.
(Conductor) Les felins (also known as Joy House and The Love Cage), Aleph Records, 2005.
(Conductor) Magnum Force, Aleph Records, 2005.
(Conductor) Abominable, Aleph Records, 2006.
(Conductor) Letters from Argentina, Aleph Records, 2006.
Worked on other albums, including work as a conductor in Great Adventure Film Scores: Music Composed and Conducted by Lalo Schifrin (also known as Great Adventure Film Scores), Entr'acte; and work as a conductor and arranger in Lalole—The Latin Sound of Lalo Schifrin & His Orchestra.
Album Conductor; with the Dizzy Gillespie Band:
Gillespiana, Verve, 1960.
The Gillespiana Suite (also known as Live in Paris and Paris Jazz Concert), Malaco, 1960.
(And with Gerry Mulligan) Dizzy Gillespie/Gerry Mulligan, Europa Jazz, 1960–61.
Carnegie Hall Concert (also known as Dizzy Gillespie at Carnegie Hall), Verve, 1961.
Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in Europe, Unique, 1961.
An Electrifying Evening, Verve, 1961.
Jazz Casual (also known as Dizzy Gillespie Rarities 1944/1961), Rhino/Raretone, 1961.
A Musical Safari (also known as Live at the Monterey Pop Festival and Oo Pop a Da), Booman, 1961.
(And with others) A Night in Birdland Live, Vol. One, Yadeon, 1961.
The Big Band, LRC, 1962.
Dizzy Gillespie—Vintage Jazz Collection, Toshiba/EMI, 1962.
Dizzy on the French Riviera, Philips, 1962.
The New Continent, Limelight, 1962.
New Wave, Philips, 1962.
Dizzy Gillespie & the Double Six of Paris, Philips, 1963.
Some sources cite other recordings with Dizzy Gillespie.
Single Work:
(Conductor and arranger) Al Hirt, "The Evil One," RCA, 1966.
Worked on other singles.
Videos:
Himself, Blood and Steel: Making "Enter the Dragon" (short documentary), Warner Home Video, 2003.
Himself, A Director's Journey: The Making of "Red Dragon" (short documentary), Universal Home Video, 2003.
Himself, Alpha to Omega: Exposing "The Osterman Weekend" (documentary), Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2004.
WRITINGS
Film Music:
Cachibache, [Argentina], 1957.
Venga a bailar el rock, 1957.
El jefe (also known as The Boss), 1958.
Gone with the Wave (documentary), c. 1963.
Les felins (also known as Joy House and The Love Cage), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1964.
Rhino!, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1964.
The Cincinnati Kid, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1965.
Dark Intruder (also known as Black Cloak), Universal, 1965.
Once a Thief (also known as Les tueurs de San Francisco), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1965.
Blindfold, Universal, 1966.
I Deal in Danger (also known as I Deal in Death), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966.
The Liquidator, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1966.
Murderers' Row, Columbia, 1966.
Way … Way Out, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966.
Cool Hand Luke, Warner Bros./Seven Arts, 1967.
The President's Analyst, Paramount, 1967.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (documentary), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1967.
Sullivan's Empire, Universal, 1967.
The Venetian Affair, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1967.
Who's Minding the Mint?, Columbia, 1967.
The Brotherhood, Paramount, 1968.
Bullitt, Warner Bros., 1968.
Coogan's Bluff, Universal, 1968.
The Fox (also known as D. H. Lawrence's "The Fox"), Warner Bros., 1968.
Hell in the Pacific (also known as The Enemy), Cinerama, 1968.
Mission Impossible versus the Mob (also known as Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob), Paramount, 1968.
Sol Madrid (also known as The Heroin Gang), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968.
Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows, Columbia, 1968.
Che!, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1969.
Eye of the Cat (also known as Wylie), Universal, 1969.
I Love My Wife, Universal, 1970.
Imago (also known as How Now, Sweet Jesus? and To Be Free), Magarac, 1970.
Kelly's Heroes (also known as Ratnici), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1970.
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You, United Artists, 1970.
THX 1138 (also known as THX-1138), Warner Bros., 1970.
WUSA, Paramount, 1970.
Bang, Bang, Total Filmes, 1971.
The Beguiled, Universal, 1971.
The Christian Licorice Store, National General Pictures, 1971.
The Hellstrom Chronicle, Cinema V, 1971.
Mrs. Pollifax—Spy, United Artists, 1971.
Pretty Maids All in a Row, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1971.
Dirty Harry (also known as Dead Right), Warner Bros., 1972.
Joe Kidd, Universal, 1972.
Prime Cut, National General Pictures, 1972.
Rage, Warner Bros., 1972.
The Wrath of God, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1972.
Charley Varrick (also known as Kill Charley Varrick), Universal, 1973.
Enter the Dragon (also known as The Deadly Three, Operation Dragon, and Long zheng hu dou), Warner Bros., 1973.
Harry in Your Pocket, United Artists, 1973.
Hit!, Paramount, 1973.
Magnum Force, Warner Bros., 1973.
Man on a Swing, Warner Bros., 1973.
The Neptune Factor (also known as The Neptune Disaster and An Underwater Odyssey), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973.
(Unused score) The Exorcist (also known as William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist"), Warner Bros., 1973, also released as The Exorcist: The Version You Haven't Seen Yet and The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen, Warner Bros., 2000, later included in recordings of the film.
Golden Needles (also known as The Chase for the Golden Needles), American International Pictures, 1974.
Up from the Ape (documentary; also known as The Man Within), 1974.
The Four Musketeers (also known as The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge, The Four Musketeers: The Revenge of Milady, The Return of the Three Musketeers, The Revenge of Milady, and Los cuatros mosqueteros), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1975.
The Master Gunfighter, Taylor-Laughlin, 1975.
Day of the Animals (also known as Something Is Out There), Film Ventures International, 1976.
St. Ives, Warner Bros., 1976.
Sky Riders, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1976.
Special Delivery (also known as Dangerous Break), American International Pictures, 1976.
Voyage of the Damned, Avco-Embassy, 1976.
The Eagle Has Landed, Columbia, 1977.
Rollercoaster, Universal, 1977.
Telefon, United Artists, 1977.
The Cat from Outer Space, Buena Vista, 1978.
The Manitou, Avco-Embassy, 1978.
Nunzio, Universal, 1978.
Return from Witch Mountain, Buena Vista, 1978.
The Amityville Horror, American International Pictures, 1979.
Boulevard Nights, Warner Bros., 1979.
The Concorde: Airport '79 (also known as Airport '79, Airport '80: The Concorde, The Concorde, The Concorde Affair, Concorde—Airport '79, and S.O.S. Concorde), Universal, 1979.
Escape to Athena, Associated Film, 1979.
Love and Bullets, Associated Film, 1979.
The Big Brawl (also known as Battle Creek, Battle Creek Brawl, and Sha shou hao), Warner Bros., 1980.
Brubaker, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980.
The Competition, Columbia, 1980.
Loophole (also known as Break In), Almi Pictures, 1980.
The Nude Bomb (also known as Maxwell Smart and the Nude Bomb and The Return of Maxwell Smart), Universal, 1980.
Serial, Paramount, 1980.
When Time Ran Out (also known as The Day the World Ended and Earth's Final Fury), Warner Bros., 1980.
Buddy Buddy, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1981.
Caveman, United Artists, 1981.
La pelle (also known as The Skin and La peau), 1981.
Los viernes de la eternidad (also known as The Fridays of Eternity), 1981.
Amityville II: The Possession, Orion, 1982.
Class of 1984, United Film, 1982.
Fast-Walking, Lorimar, 1982.
The Seduction, Avco-Embassy, 1982.
The Sting II, Universal, 1982.
A Stranger Is Watching, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1982.
Doctor Detroit, Universal, 1983.
The Osterman Weekend, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1983.
Sudden Impact, Warner Bros., 1983.
Tank, Universal, 1983.
Bad Medicine, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985.
The Mean Season, Orion, 1985.
The New Kids (also known as Striking Back), Columbia, 1985.
Black Moon Rising, New World Pictures, 1986.
The Ladies Club (also known as The Violated), New Line Cinema, 1986.
The Fourth Protocol, Rank, 1987.
Sparky's Magic Piano (animated), 1987.
The Dead Pool, Warner Bros., 1988.
Little Sweetheart, Nelson Entertainment, 1988.
Return to the River Kwai, TriStar, 1989.
F/X2 (also known as FX2 and F/X2—The Deadly Art of Illusion), Orion, 1991.
The Beverly Hillbillies, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1993.
Scorpion Spring, New Line Home Video, 1995.
Manhattan Merengue!, BMG Home Video, 1996.
Money Talks, New Line Cinema, 1997.
Something to Believe in, 1997.
Rush Hour, New Line Cinema, 1998.
Tango, no me dejes nunca (also known as Tango), Sony Pictures Classics, 1998.
Longshot (also known as Jack of All Trades and Long-shot: The Movie), MC-One, 2000.
Rush Hour 2, New Line Cinema, 2001.
Tom the Cat (animated short film), Sup Info Com, 2002.
Bringing down the House (also known as In the Houze and JailBabes.com), Buena Vista, 2003.
After the Sunset, New Line Cinema, 2004.
Biyik (short film), 2004.
The Bridge of San Luis Rey (also known as El puente de San Luis Rey and Le pont du roi Saint-Louis), Fine Line Features, 2004.
Abominable, Freestyle Releasing, 2006.
Josiah's Canon, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2007.
Rush Hour 3, New Line Cinema, 2007.
Film Songs and Themes:
Song "Pigeon-Toed Orange Peel," Coogan's Bluff, Universal, 1968.
Theme music, Mission Impossible versus the Mob (also known as Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob), Paramount, 1968.
Theme song, Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows, Columbia, 1968.
Songs "Burning Bridges" and "Si tu me dis/Living for You," Kelly's Heroes (also known as Ratnici), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1970.
Song "Street Tattoo," Boulevard Nights, Warner Bros., 1979.
Song "A Changing World," Serial, Paramount, 1980.
Song "People Alone," The Competition, Columbia, 1980.
Song "You're Always There," The Nude Bomb (also known as Maxwell Smart and the Nude Bomb and The Return of Maxwell Smart), Universal, 1980.
Songs "I Am the Future," "Suburbanite," and "You Better Not Step out of Line," Class of 1984, United Film, 1982.
Song "Saturday Girl," Tank, Universal, 1983.
Song "This Side of Forever," Sudden Impact, Warner Bros., 1983.
Theme, Two Billion Hearts (also known as Todos os coracoes do mundo), 1995.
Theme, Mission: Impossible (also known as Mission Impossible), Paramount, 1996.
Songs "Los inmigrantes," "Tango barbaro," "Tango para percusion," "Tango del atarceder," "Tango lunaire," and "La represion," Tango, no me dejes nunca (also known as Tango), Sony Pictures Classics, 1998.
Theme and song "Take a Look Around," Mission: Impossible II (also known as M: I-2 and Mission: Impossible 2), Paramount, 2000.
Theme, Mission: Impossible III (also known as M:i:III), Paramount, 2006.
Schirfrin's music has appeared in numerous films, television programs, newscasts, stage productions, videos, and advertisements.
Television Music; Series:
The Big Valley, ABC, 1965–69.
Blue Light, ABC, 1966.
T.H.E. Cat, NBC, 1966–67.
Mission: Impossible, CBS, 1966–73, ABC, 1988–90.
Mannix, CBS, 1967–75.
Medical Center, CBS, 1969–76.
The Young Lawyers, ABC, 1970–71.
The Partners, NBC, 1971–72.
The Sixth Sense, ABC, 1972.
Petrocelli, NBC, 1974–76.
Bronk, CBS, 1975–76.
Starsky and Hutch (also known as Starsky & Hutch), ABC, 1975–79.
Most Wanted, ABC, 1976–77.
Ripley's "Believe It or Not," ABC, 1982–86.
Glitter, ABC, 1984–85.
Danger Theatre, Fox, 1993.
Alguna pregunta mes?, Televisao de Catalunya (TV3, Spain), beginning 2004.
Television Theme Music; Series:
Mission: Impossible, CBS, 1966–73, ABC, 1988–90.
Mannix, CBS, 1967–75.
Medical Center, CBS, 1969–76.
The Young Lawyers, ABC, 1970–71.
Planet of the Apes, CBS, 1974.
Petrocelli, NBC, 1974–76.
Starsky and Hutch (also known as Starsky & Hutch), ABC, 1975–79.
Glitter, ABC, 1984–85.
Danger Theatre, Fox, 1993.
Schifrin's music from Cool Hand Luke was used for news programs broadcast on ABC affiliates.
Television Music; Miniseries:
Princess Daisy, NBC, 1983.
A.D. (also known as A.D.—Anno Domini), NBC, 1985.
Hollywood Wives, ABC, 1985.
Out on a Limb, ABC, 1987.
Earth Star Voyager, ABC, 1988.
The Neon Empire, Showtime, 1989.
El Quijote de Miguel de Cervantes (also known as Don Quixote, Don Quijote de la Mancha, and El Quijote), Television Espanola (TVE, Spain), 1991.
A Woman Named Jackie, NBC, 1991.
Television Music; Movies:
See How They Run, NBC, 1964.
The Doomsday Flight, NBC, 1966.
How I Spent My Summer Vacation (also known as Deadly Roulette), NBC, 1967.
Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol, CBS, 1971.
Hunter, CBS, 1973.
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within, NBC, 1975.
Foster and Laurie, CBS, 1975.
Guilty or Innocent: The Sam Sheppard Murder Case, NBC, 1975.
Brenda Starr (also known as ABC Movie of the Week), ABC, 1976.
The Nativity, ABC, 1978.
The President's Mistress, CBS, 1978.
Institute for Revenge, NBC, 1979.
(And main title music) Back to the Planet of the Apes (also known as The New Planet of the Apes; consists of re-edited episodes of the television series Planet of the Apes), 1981.
Chicago Story, 1981.
(And main title music) The Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes (consists of re-edited episodes of the television series Planet of the Apes), 1981.
Falcon's Gold (also known as Robbers of Sacred Mountain), Showtime, 1982.
Victims, 1982.
Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess, 1983.
Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (also known as Airport 85 and Starflight One), ABC, 1983.
Command 5, ABC, 1984.
Spraggue (also known as Spraggue: Murder for Two), ABC, 1984.
Bridge across Time (also known as Arizona Ripper and Terror at London Bridge), ABC, 1985.
Beverly Hills Madam (also known as Ladies of the Night), NBC, 1986.
Kung Fu: The Movie, CBS, 1986.
Shakedown on the Sunset Strip, CBS, 1988.
"The Silence at Bethany," The American Experience, PBS, 1988.
Little White Lies (also known as First Impressions), NBC, 1989.
Original Sin, NBC, 1989.
Face to Face, CBS, 1990.
Television Music; Specials:
"The Hidden World of Insects," National Geographic Specials, CBS, 1966.
"The World of Jacques-Yves Cousteau," National Geographic Specials, CBS, 1966.
Wait until Dark, HBO, 1982.
Television Music; Awards Presentations:
Song "People Alone" (from the film The Composition), The 53rd Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1981.
Musical score, Wolf Trap Salutes Dizzy Gillespie: An All-Star Tribute to the Jazz Master, PBS, 1988.
Television Music; Episodic:
"The Watchman," Kraft Suspense Theatre, NBC, 1964.
"The Ultimate Computer Affair," The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (also known as Mr. Solo and Solo), NBC, 1965.
"The Cliff Dwellers," Preview Tonight, ABC, 1966.
"Shipwrecked," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater (also known as The Chrysler Theater and Universal Star Time), NBC, 1966.
Songs "Buy My Glass of Wine" and "The Lady 'bove the Bar," appeared in the episode of "The Illusion," Mission: Impossible, CBS, 1969.
"The Ghost of Sorworth Place," Night Gallery (also known as Rod Serling's "Night Gallery"), NBC, 1972.
Television Music; Pilots:
U.M.C. (also known as Operation Heartbeat), CBS, 1969, pilot for the series Medical Center, CBS.
The Young Lawyers, ABC, 1969.
The Aquarians (also known as Deep Lab), NBC, 1970.
The Mask of Sheba (also known as Quest: Mask of Sheba), NBC, 1970.
Earth II, ABC, 1971.
Escape, ABC, 1971.
Egan, ABC, 1973.
Night Games, NBC, 1974.
Starsky and Hutch (also known as Starsky & Hutch), ABC, 1975.
Good against Evil, ABC, 1977.
Private Sessions, NBC, 1985.
Triplecross, ABC, 1985.
Jake's M.O., NBC, 1987.
Television Theme Music; Pilots:
"Upbeat and Underground," Jericho, CBS, 1966.
Planet of the Apes, CBS, 1974.
Music for the Stage:
Jazz Faust (ballet), 1963.
And Still I Rise (musical; lyrics by Maya Angelou), AMAS Repertory Theatre, New York City, c. 1979.
The Trial of Louis XVI (opera), 1988.
Bandido! (drama), Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1994.
(With others) Fosse (revue), Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1999–2001.
Gillespiana, Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood, CA, 2004, also produced at other venues, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, both New York City.
Music for Videos:
Culture Clash: West Meets East (short documentary), New Line Home Video, 2001.
Jackie Chan's Hong Kong Tour (short documentary), New Line Home Video, 2001.
Theme Music for Video Games:
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (also known as Tom Clancy's "Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow"), Ubi Soft Entertainment, 2004.
Musical Compositions:
Paul Horn and others, Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts, 1964, also released by Aleph Records, 1998.
The Jazz Mass, 1966, reissued by Aleph Records, 1998.
Canons for String Quartet, 1969.
Dialogs for Jazz Quintet and Orchestra, 1969.
Improvisations for Jazz Soloists and Orchestra, 1969.
Variants on a Madrigal of Gesualdo, 1969.
Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, 1986.
Piano Concerto no. 1, 1986.
Salute to the Statue of Liberty, 1986.
Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra (also known as Double Bass Concerto), 1987.
Three Tangos for Flute, Harp, and Strings, 1987.
Pan American Games Overture, c. 1987.
Grand Finale (for World Cup finale), 1990.
Impressions for Trumpet and Orchestra, 1990.
La Nouvelle Orleans for Woodwind and Flute, 1991.
Piano Concerto no. 2, 1992.
Symphony no. 1 for Orchestra, 1993.
Central Park Variations, c. 1994, also appeared on the recording Shifrin Plays Schifrin, 2006.
Pan American Games finale, 1995.
The Rhapsody for Bix, 1996.
Latin Jazz Suite, 1999.
Fantasy for Screenplay and Orchestra, c. 2002.
Symphonic Impressions of Oman, 2003.
Letters from Argentina, 2005.
Double Concerto for Piano, Trumpet, and Orchestra, 2007.
Also wrote other pieces.
Albums:
Lolo Martinez and His Brazilian Orchestra, Dinner in Rio, London, c. 1950.
(With Astor Piazzolla) Piazzolla et son orchestre, Festival, 1955.
(With Piazzolla) Rendez-vous dansant a Copacabana, c. 1955, released as Two Argentinians in Paris, BMG (France), 2005.
Lalo Schifrin y su orquestra, Columbia, 1956.
Spectrum, Epic, 1957.
Piano Espanol, Tico, 1960.
(With Candido Camero) Conga Soul, Roulette, 1961–62.
Bossa Nova, New Brazilian Jazz (also known as Bossa Nova), Audio Fidelity, 1962.
Jazz Faust, 1962.
Lalo = Brilliance, Roulette, 1962.
Piano, Strings & Bossa Nova, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1962.
Leo Wright, Suddenly the Blues, Atlantic, 1962.
(With Eddie Harris) Bossa Nova, Vee Jay, 1962, later released as Lalo Schifrin: Bossa Nova Groove, Ubatuqui, 1999.
Between Broadway and Hollywood, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963.
The Ritual of Sound, 1963.
(With Bob Brookmeyer) Samba para Dos: Lalo Schifrin/Bob Brookmeyer (also known as Samba para dos), Verve, 1963.
(With others) Stan Getz, Reflections, Verve, 1963.
Johnny Hodges, Previously Unreleased Recordings, Verve, 1963.
Johnny Smith, Any Number Can Win, Verve, 1963.
Cal Tjader, Several Shades of Jade, Verve, 1963.
Gone with the Wave (included with the album Diamond Head as Diamond Head/Gone with the Wave), Colpix, c. 1963.
Etude on Rhythm, 1964.
Lalo's Meditation, 1964.
The Living Cell, 1964.
New Fantasy, Verve, 1964.
Schifrin and Louis Bellson, Explorations (also known as Explorations: Louie Bellson/Lalo Schifrin), Roulette, 1964.
(With others) Peggy Lee, In the Name of Love, Capitol, 1964.
Johnny Smith, The Cat, Verve, 1964.
Paul Horn and others, Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts, RCA, 1964, also released by Aleph Records, 1998.
Once a Thief and Other Themes, Verve, 1965.
The Sphinx, 1965.
(With others) Hugh Montenegro, Good Vibrations, RCA, 1965.
(With others) Hugh Montenegro, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. RCA, 1965.
The Cincinnati Kid, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c. 1965, Aleph Records, 2002.
Marquis De Sade (also known as Schifrin/Sade), Verve, 1966.
Mission: Impossible, Dot Records, 1966.
Three Pieces for Percussion and Strings, 1966.
Al Hirt, Latin in the Horn, RCA Victor, 1966.
The Liquidator, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c. 1966.
Concerto for Trumpet, 1967.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1967.
(With others) Gogi Grant, Down Here on the Ground, Rebound, 1967.
(With Kenyon Hopkins and Richard Markowitz) Mannix, Paramount, 1967, Aleph Records, 1999.
Cool Hand Luke, Dot Records, c. 1967, Aleph Records, 2001.
There's a Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin' On, Dot Records, 1968.
Bullitt, Warner Bros., c. 1968.
Sol Madrid (also known as The Heroin Gang), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c. 1968.
The Fox (also known as D. H. Lawrence's "The Fox"), Warner Bros., c. 1968, also released by Aleph Records, 2000.
Canons for String Quartet, 1969.
Dialogs for Jazz Quintet and Orchestra, 1969.
Improvisations for Jazz Soloists and Orchestra, 1969.
Variants on a Madrigal of Gesualdo, 1969.
Che!, Tetragrammation, 1969, new version released by Aleph Records, 1998.
Lalo Schifrin in Buenos Aires—Grabado in vivo! (also known as Grabado in vivo!), RCA Victor, 1970.
Medical Center and Other Great Themes, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1970.
Cannonball Adderley, Experience/Tensity/Dialogues, Capitol, 1970.
Oscar Peterson Trio, Tristeza on Piano, BASF, 1970.
Kelly's Heroes (also known as Ratnici), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, c. 1970.
Pulsations for Electronic Keyboard, Jazz Band, and Orchestra, 1971.
Rock Requiem, Verve, 1971.
Madrigals for the Space Age, 1972.
La Clave, La Clave, Verve, 1972.
Enter the Dragon (also known as The Deadly Three, Operation Dragon, and Long zheng hu dou), Warner Bros., c. 1973.
Black Widow, CTI, 1976.
Towering Toccata, CTI, 1976.
Voyage of the Damned, Entr'acte, c. 1976.
Continuum Journeys Voyage, Label X, 1977.
Dizzy Gillespie, Free Ride, Pablo, 1977.
Rollercoaster, MCA, c. 1977, also released by Aleph Records, 2001.
Canons, Entr'acte, 1978.
Gypsies, Tabu, 1978.
Nunzio, MCA, c. 1978.
Anthony Ortega, Rain Dance, Discovery Records, 1978.
Paul Horn and others, Dream Machine, Mushroom, 1978.
No One Home, Tabu, 1979.
Fire and Ice, Fire and Ice, MCA/Butterfly, 1979.
Boulevard Nights, Warner Bros., c. 1979.
The Amityville Horror, American International Pictures, c. 1979, Aleph Records, 2002.
Invocations, 1980.
Johnny Smith, The Cat Strikes Again, LaserLight, 1980.
Battle Creek Brawl (also known as Battle Creek, The Big Brawl, and Sha shou hao), Victor, c. 1980.
The Competition, MCA, c. 1980.
Capriccio for Clarinet and Strings, 1981.
La pelle (also known as The Skin and La peau), Cinevox, c. 1981.
Ins and Outs, Palo Alto, 1982.
Mission: Impossible/Mannix/More Mission: Impossible, 1982.
The Sting II, MCA, c. 1982.
Don Quixote (also known as Don Quijote de la Mancha, El Quijote, and El Quijote de Miguel de Cervantes), Prometheus, 1983.
Sudden Impact, Warner Bros., c. 1983.
The Osterman Weekend, Varese Sarabande, c. 1983, also released by Aleph Records, 1999.
(With Heitor Villas-Lobos) Angel Romero, Lalo Schifrin & Villa-Lobos: Guitar Concertos, Angel, 1984.
A.D. (also known as A.D.—Anno Domini), Prometheus, c. 1985.
(With others) Telly Hits 2, BBC Stylus, 1986.
Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra (also known as Double Bass Concerto), 1987.
Resonances, 1987.
(With Astor Piazzolla) Concierto para bandoneon/Tres tangos, Elektra Nonesuch, 1987.
The Fourth Protocol, Film Trax, c. 1987.
Dance Concertantes for Clarinet and Orchestra, 1988.
Julia Migenes, Berlin Blues, Milan, 1988.
Cantos Aztecas for Vocal Soloists, Orchestra, and Chorus: Lalo Schifrin/Placido Domingo (also known as Cantos Aztecas), Pro Arte, 1988, released by Aleph Records, 1999.
Grand Finale, 1990.
(With the San Diego Symphony) Hitchcock: Master of Mayhem (also known as Masters of Mayhem), Pro Arte/Intersound, 1990.
Kol Nidrei, 1990.
Those Fabulous Hollywood Marches (also known as Hollywood Marches), Pro Arte/Intersound, 1990.
The Trial of Louis XVI, 1990.
Dorian Wind Quartet, American Premieres, Summit, 1990.
Impresiones: Fantasy for Trumpet and Orchestra, 1991.
Cantares Argentinos, 1992.
Romancing the Film, Pro Arte, 1992.
Jazz Meets the Symphony, Atlantic, 1992, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
The Best of Mission: Impossible Then and Now, GNP Crescendo, 1993.
Tepuy, Tepuy, Tepuy/Enbor, 1993.
More Jazz Meets the Symphony, Atlantic, 1993, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
Bandido!, 1994.
Mission: Anthology, One Way, 1994.
(With others) Filmclassics (also known as Film Classics and 100 ans de Cinema), Aleph Records, 1995.
Homage a Ravel, 1995.
Lili'uokalani Symphony, Urtext, 1995.
Marisa Canales, Musica de las Americas, Vol. 1, Urtext, 1995.
Gary Stockdale and others, The Music Games: World Cup USA 94, 1995.
(With others) Ann Mason Stockton, Nostalgique, Crystal Records, 1995.
Firebird: Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 3 East West, Four Winds, 1995, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
Concertos/Tropicos, Auvidis, 1996.
Mission Impossible … and More!: The Best of Lalo Schifrin, Motor, 1996.
Music from Mission: Impossible, Hip-O Records, 1996.
Psalms, 1996.
A Rhapsody for Bix, 1996.
(With Astor Piazzolla) Schifrin Meets Piazzolla—Jazz Meets Tango, 1996.
Schifrin, Marisa Canales, Juan Carlos Laguna, Concerto Caribeno, Tropicos, 1997.
Dirty Harry Anthology, Aleph Records, 1998.
(With the WDR Big Band) Gillespiana, Aleph Records, 1998.
Reel Lalo Schifrin, Hip-O Records, 1998.
Represion, 1998.
Rush Hour, Aleph Records, 1998.
Metamorphosis, Aleph Records, 1998, included in the box set The Jazz Meets the Symphony Collection.
The Eagle Has Landed, Aleph Records, 1999.
Latin Jazz Suite, Aleph Records, 1999.
Something to Believe in, Aleph Records, 1999.
Talkin' Verve Lalo Schifrin, Verve, 1999.
Intersections, Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 5, Aleph Records, c. 1999.
Brazilian Jazz, Aleph Records, 2000.
Esperanto, Aleph Records, 2000.
Jazz Goes to Hollywood, Aleph Records, 2000.
Schifrin Conducts Stravinsky, Schifrin & Ravel, Aleph Records, 2001.
(With others) Eaken Piano Trio, Schifrin/Schuller/Shapiro: Piano Trios, Naxos, 2001.
Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy in South America Volume 3, CAP, c. 2001.
The Return of the Marquis de Sade, Aleph Records, 2002.
Ins and Outs and Lalo Live at the Blue Note, Aleph Records, 2003.
(With the London Symphony Orchestra) Symphonic Impressions of Oman, Aleph Records, 2003.
Dirty Harry, Aleph Records, 2004.
The Hellstrom Chronicle, Aleph Records, 2004.
Caveman, Aleph Records, 2005.
(With others) Insensatez, Verve, 2005.
Kaleidoscope, Jazz Meets the Symphony No. 6, Aleph Records, 2005.
Les felins (also known as Joy House and The Love Cage), Aleph Records, 2005.
Magnum Force, Aleph Records, 2005.
The Other Side of Lalo Schifrin, Audio Fidelity, 2005.
Abominable, Aleph Records, 2006.
Letters from Argentina, Aleph Records, 2006.
David Shifrin, Shifrin Plays Schifrin, 2006.
Schifrin's compositions have appeared in other recordings, including Great Adventure Film Scores: Music Composed and Conducted by Lalo Schifrin (also known as Great Adventure Film Scores), Entr'acte; and Lalole—The Latin Sound of Lalo Schifrin & His Orchestra; as well as other recordings, including Marcella DeCray, Harp aujord'hui, Coronet; Johnny Hodges, Johnny Hodges, Verve; Alfredo Remus, Remus 3, Ten Records; and Alfredo Remus, Remus 5, Disco ES Culture. Performer in various recordings.
Albums; with the Dizzy Gillespie Band:
Gillespiana, Verve, 1960.
The Gillespiana Suite (also known as Live in Paris and Paris Jazz Concert), Malaco, 1960.
(And with Gerry Mulligan) Dizzy Gillespie/Gerry Mulligan, Europa Jazz, 1960–61.
Carnegie Hall Concert (also known as Dizzy Gillespie at Carnegie Hall), Verve, 1961.
Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in Europe, Unique, 1961.
An Electrifying Evening, Verve, 1961.
Jazz Casual (also known as Dizzy Gillespie Rarities 1944/1961), Rhino/Raretone, 1961.
A Musical Safari (also known as Live at the Monterey Pop Festival and Oo Pop a Da), Booman, 1961.
(And with others) A Night in Birdland Live, Vol. One, Yadeon, 1961.
The Big Band, LRC, 1962.
Dizzy Gillespie—Vintage Jazz Collection, Toshiba/EMI, 1962.
Dizzy on the French Riviera, Philips, 1962.
The New Continent, Limelight, 1962.
New Wave, Philips, 1962.
Dizzy Gillespie & the Double Six of Paris, Philips, 1963.
Some sources cite other recordings with Dizzy Gillespie.
Singles:
"Broken Date"/"The Good Life," Verve, 1963.
"Haunting"/"Theme from Dime with …," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963.
"7 Faces of Dr. Lao"/"The Wave," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963.
Al Hirt, "The Evil One," RCA, 1966.
"Latin Soul"/"Dirty Harry," Verve, 1972.
"Bolero"/"Dona Donna," Twentieth Century, 1975.
OTHER SOURCES
Books:
Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Schirmer, 2001.
Contemporary Musicians, Volume 29, Gale Group, 2000.
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 4: Writers and Artists, St. James Press, 1996.
Periodicals:
Billboard, February 28, 1998, p. 80; September 25, 1999.
Down Beat, February, 2000, p. 48.
Entertainment Weekly, June 7, 1996, p. 38.
Film Comment, January, 2003, p. 16.
Time, June 3, 1996, p. 21.
Electronic:
The Official Website of Lalo Schifrin, http://www.schifrin.com, June 2, 2006.
Schifrin, Lalo
SCHIFRIN, Lalo
Composer. Nationality: Argentinian. Born: Buenos Aires, 21 June 1932. Education: Attended Paris Conservatoire; studied the violin; also studied with Juan Carlos Paz and Messiaen. Career: Organized his own jazz group; arranger for Zavier Cugat; worked with Dizzy Gillespie in the United States; composer for films from 1964, and for TV series The Partners, 1971–72, Planet of the Apes, 1974, Petrocelli, 1974, Bronk, 1975–76, Starsky and Hutch, 1975–79, and Most Wanted, 1976–77, the theme-songs for many series (including Mission Impossible), and the mini-series Princess Daisy, 1983, Hollywood Wives, 1985, and A.D., 1985; also composer for orchestra and jazz groups; has taught composition, University of California, Los Angeles. Awards: Grammy Award for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show, for Mission: Impossible, 1966; Imagen Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, 1999.
Address: 710 North Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California 90210, U.S.A.
Films as Composer:
- 1964
Rhino! (Tors); See How They Run (Rich); Les Félins (The Love Cage; Joy House) (Clement)
- 1965
Once a Thief (Nelson); The Cincinnati Kid (Jewison); The Liquidator (Cardiff); Dark Intruder (Hart)
- 1966
I Deal in Danger (Grauman); Blindfold (Dunne); Way . . . Way Out (Douglas); Murderers' Row (Levin); The Doomsday Flight (Graham)
- 1967
The Venetian Affair (Thorpe); Sullivan's Empire (Hart and Carr); Who's Minding the Mint? (Morris); Cool Hand Luke (Rosenberg); The President's Analyst (Flicker); How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Hale)
- 1968
The Fox (Rydell); Sol Madrid (Hutton); Where Angels Go . . . Trouble Follows! (Neilson); The Brotherhood (Ritt); Bullitt (Yates); Coogan's Bluff (Siegel); Hell in the Pacific (Boorman); Deadly Roulette (Hale); The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (Kauffman); Mission Impossible versus the Mob (Stanley)
- 1969
Che! (Fleischer); Eye of the Cat (Rich); The Young Lawyers (Hart)
- 1970
Kelly's Heroes (Hutton); Imago (Bosnick); Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You (Amateau); WUSA (Rosenberg); I Love My Wife (Stuart); The Mask of Sheba (Rich); The Aquarians (MacDougall)
- 1971
THX 1138 (Lucas); Pretty Maids All in a Row (Vadim); The Beguiled (Siegel); Escape (Moxey); Earth II (Gries)
- 1972
The Neptune Factor (The Neptune Disaster) (Petrie); Dirty Harry (Siegel); The Wrath of God (Nelson); Prime Cut (Ritchie); Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol (McGowan); Joe Kidd (J. Sturges)
- 1973
Rage (Scott); Magnum Force (Post); Enter the Dragon (Clouse); Charley Varrick (Siegel); St. Ives (Lee Thompson); Hunter (Horn); Hit (Furie); Harry in Your Pocket (Geller)
- 1974
Night Games (Taylor); Golden Needles (Clouse)
- 1975
Delancey Street: The Crisis Within (Frawley); Starsky and Hutch (Shear); The Four Musketeers (Lester); Foster and Laurie (Moxey); Guilty or Innocent: The Sam Sheppard Murder Case (Lewis); The Master Gunfighter (Laughlin)
- 1976
Man on a Swing (Perry); The Eagle Has Landed (J. Sturges); Sky Riders (Hickox); Special Delivery (Wendkos); Voyage of the Damned (Rosenberg); Brenda Starr (Stuart); Day of the Animals (Girdler)
- 1977
Rollercoaster (Goldstone); Good Against Evil (Wendkos)
- 1978
Love and Bullets (Rosenberg); Telefon (Siegel); The Manitou (Girdler); The Return from Witch Mountain (Hough); The President's Mistress (Moxey); The Nativity (Kowalski); The Cat from Outer Space (Tokar); Nunzio (Williams)
- 1979
Escape to Athena (Cosmatos); The Amityville Horror (Rosenberg); Institute for Revenge (Annakin); Boulevard Nights (Pressman); The Concorde—Airport '79 (Airport '80— The Concorde) (Rich)
- 1980
Loophole (Quested); Brubaker (Rosenberg); Serial (Persky); The Big Brawl (Clouse); The Nude Bomb (Donner); The Competition (Oliansky)
- 1981
Buddy Buddy (Wilder); Caveman (Gottlieb); When Time Ran Out (Earth's Final Fury) (Goldstone); La pelle (The Skin) (Cavani); Las viernes de la eternidad (The Fridays of Eternity) (Olivera); Chicago Story (London)
- 1982
The Seduction (Schmoeller); A Stranger Is Watching (Cunningham); Class of 1984 (Lester); Amityville II: The Possession (Damiani); Victims (Freedman); Fast-Walking (Harris); Falcon's Gold (Robbers of the Sacred Mountain) (Schulz)
- 1983
Starflight One: The Plane That Couldn't Land (Jameson); The Sting II (Kagan); Doctor Detroit (Pressman); The Osterman Weekend (Peckinpah); Rita Hayworth, the Love Goddess (Goldstone); Sudden Impact (Eastwood)
- 1984
Tank (Chomsky); The Mean Season (Borsos); Spraggue (Elikann)
- 1985
Bad Medicine (Miller); The New Kids (Cunningham)
- 1986
Black Moon Rising (Cokliss); Beverly Hills Madam (Hart—for TV); The Ladies Club (A. Allen)
- 1987
The Fourth Protocol (Mackenzie); The Silence at Bethany (Oliansky)
- 1988
Berlin Blues (Franco); The Dead Pool (Van Horn); Little Sweetheart (Simmons—for TV); Return From the River Kwai (McLaglen)
- 1989
Return to the River Kwai (McLaglen)
- 1990
Naked Tango (Schrader); Face to Face (Antonio)
- 1991
FX2: The Deadly Art of Illusion (Franklin)
- 1993
The Beverly Hillbillies (Spheeris)
- 1996
Mission: Impossible (Bay) (theme); Manhattan Merengue! (Vasquez-video)
- 1997
Money Talks (Ratner)
- 1998
Something to Believe In (Hough); Tango (Saura); Rush Hour (Ratner)
- 2000
Mission: Impossible II (Woo) (theme); Jack of All Trades
Publications
By SCHIFRIN: articles—
In Knowing the Score by Irwin Bazelon, New York, 1975.
Photoplay (London), February 1977.
On SCHIFRIN: articles—
Films and Filming (London), August 1968.
Thomas, Tony, in Music for the Movies, South Brunswick, New Jersey, 1973.
Ecran (Paris), September 1975.
Cook, Page, "The Sound Track," in Films in Review (US), October 1977.
Ciné Revue (Paris), 6 April 1978.
Score (Lelystad, Netherlands), September 1979.
New Zealand Film Music Bulletin (Invercargill), February 1983.
Soundtrack! (Hollywood), June 1983.
Soundtrack! (Hollywood), September 1983.
* * *
Because he has bridged so successfully the worlds of traditional and film music, Lalo Schifrin is undoubtedly the most important film composer of the post-Mancini and post-Psycho era. During the height of the Hollywood studio period, film underscoring was heavily indebted to Romantic, basically symphonic sources, with a pronounced emphasis on melodramatic principles, that is, the music was meant to key the emotionality of the scene (and was thus more prominent in genres, like the woman's picture, where emotionality was more at issue). Though these were "unheard melodies," to borrow Claudia Gorbman's phrase, there was no doubt that the underscoring composed and orchestrated by the Franz Waxmans and Max Steiners of the period (with often a substantial debt to Tchaichovsky or Chopin) was in fact music in the obvious, accepted sense of that term. In the fifties and sixties, however, the nature of underscoring changed as its "musical" elements became increasingly assimilated to other aspects of sound design. Henry Mancini's jazz scorings are an early example of the trend, while Bernard Herrmann's shrieking violins for the shower sequence in Psycho problematize the separation of music—organized sound—from other types of expressive sound effects. What is interesting, of course, is that art music of the same period was moving in more or less an identical direction, away from traditional harmonic forms of organization toward aleatory and serial approaches to the design of music.
Schifrin, the son of a concertmaster, rebelled at an early age from his father's rigid tastes (no Wagner or even Debussy allowed) and went to France to study (having won a scholarship to the prestigious Paris Conservatoire), but really in order to learn more about jazz. There Schifrin played with prominent jazz musicians such as Chet Baker, but developed eclectic tastes in modern, especially popular music. Returning to Argentina, he put together a "big band" a la Count Basie and became hugely successful. At the same time, he indulged his interests for more traditional music, writing chamber music, compositions for ballet, and even symphonies. Schifrin represented Argentina in the Third International Jazz Festival, and soon after, in 1958, moved to New York at the invitation of Dizzy Gillespie, who had heard his band during a South American tour. Schifrin played with Gillespie for three years before accepting the offer of MGM Records to begin a Hollywood career. Within a short while, he had become the most prominent and productive member of a new generation of film composers.
One of the factors contributing to his success, which is witnessed in his huge number of film credits, is that Schifrin has always accepted the subsidiary role of music within the mixed, multi-track construction of the medium. This is not to say that his musical effects, almost always an eclectic mix of techniques, genres, and modes, have not been noteworthy in themselves. In The Hellstrom Chronicles, for example, a pseudo-scentific jeremiad that predicts how insects will take over the earth, Schifrin used a very avant-garde mix of aleatory, electronic, and serial techniques to create music that was expressive both of the film's main characters—the unstoppable hordes of ravening insects—and the film's strident, uncomfortable message. No one who has seen and listened to the film could forget the terrifying effect created by Schifrin's loud electronic sounds, synchronized piano effects, and unpredictable moments of loud percussion. But is this music or sound effects? Schifrin and sound designers such as Walter Murch, in any event, share much in common. For Hell in the Pacific, an arty, "psychological" war film, Schifrin designed a sequence where the Japanese soldier marooned on a Pacific Island hears loud cicadas, which then blend into "music" (two high-pitched, very loud piccolos) that segues into more traditional scoring. Similarly, for Bullitt Schifrin scored the famous car chase sequence by using music—a hard-driving jazz theme—which subtly fades into more traditional sound effects—screeching tires, squealing breaks. Compare the similar uses of expressive noise employed by Murch in the sequence in The Conversation where the snooping detective finds the bloody traces of a murder in a hotel bathroom. The two masters of modern sound design, Murch and Schifrin, even had a chance to collaborate, on George Lucas's science fiction film THX 1138, which has perhaps the most complex and expressive sound of any film during the seventies.
Of course, Schifrin is also expert at less subtle kinds of scoring, particularly at composing what are now known as "action themes." His action theme scoring for the TV show Mission: Impossible is probably one of the most recognizable on the contemporary music scene (recently recycled for the feature film remake of the series) and it is built on a very simple theme with a prominent rhythmic structure and unusual instrumentation (very prominent bongo drums, a kind of tribute to Mancini-esque fifties jazz scorings). Though more traditional symphonic underscorers still find work in Hollywood—John Williams is by far the most successful—the kind of expressive underscoring perfected by Schifrin has defined what film music has largely become in the post-studio era. If his career has declined somewhat in the nineties, his pervasive influence on the presence of sound and music in the commercial film has not.
—R. Barton Palmer
Schifrin, Lalo
SCHIFRIN, LALO
SCHIFRIN, LALO (Boris ; 1932– ), composer, pianist, and conductor of Argentinian birth. He studied music, piano, and harmony in Buenos Aires and later in the Paris Conservatoire (1950), guided by Koechlin and Messiaen. Returning home, he established himself as a composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist who was equally at ease in popular, jazz, and art-music circles. He founded Argentina's first big band and later moved to New York (1958). There he played the piano in Dizzy Gillespie's jazz quintet (1960–62) and recorded with other known jazz artists. From 1962 to the early 1980s Schifrin concentrated on composition. He went to Hollywood (1964) and wrote numerous scores for both television and the cinema, including the memorable themes to Mission Impossible and Dirty Harry.
His works often involve jazz, funk, and disco elements, as well as a synthesis of contemporary art-music elements. Schifrin wrote many vocal and instrumental works in other fields, including concertos, suites, an oratorio (The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, 1967), ballets and symphonic pieces. Among his later commissions was Fantasy for Screenplay and Orchestra (2002–3). Schifrin taught composition at ucla (1968–71) but, from the 1980s onwards, concentrated on conducting, performing with leading orchestras such as the London Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras, the Vienna so, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Israel Philharmonic. He conducted several concerts of the "Three Tenors" and was appointed music director of the Glendale so (1989–1995). During his illustrious career, Schifrin received four Grammy Awards and six Oscar nominations. Among his other honors were bmi Lifetime Achievement Award (1988), Distinguished Artist Award (1998), and honorary doctorates. He was honored by the Israeli government for his "Contributions to World Understanding through Music" and by the sacem and Cannes Film Festival in recognition of his significant contribution to music, film and culture.
bibliography:
"Schifrin Wows Them in Israel with Music and Media Appearances (Tel Aviv Spring Festival)," in: Variety, 303 (May 20, 1981), 97; V. Sheff, "Lalo Schifrin – Profile," in: bmi – Music World (Winter 1989), 52–5; J. Burlingame, "Lalo Schifrin: An Appreciation," in The Cue Sheet, Jan. 2001, 17:1 (Jan. 2001), 3–20; Grove Online.
[Naama Ramot (2nd ed.)]