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{{Short description|American composer}}
{{About|the composer|the social work educator|Herman D. Stein}}
{{About|the composer|the social work educator|Herman D. Stein}}
'''Herman Stein''' (August 19, 1915 &ndash; March 15, 2007) was an [[United States|American]] [[composer]] who wrote music for many of the [[1950s#Hollywood|1950s]] [[Science fiction film|science-fiction]] and [[horror film]]s from [[Universal Studios]]. "Herman Stein was one of the architects of the sound of 1950s science-fiction movies."<ref name="Burlingame">Jon Burlingame, film-music historian at the [[University of Southern California]], quoted in Fox, Margalit (24 March 2007) "Herman Stein, 91, Composer of Moody Horror and Science-Fiction Scores" ''New York Times'' Section C;, Column 1, The Arts/Cultural Desk, p. 10</ref> Stein retired in the 1970s and died of congestive heart failure in his home in Los Angeles at the age of 91.
'''Herman Stein''' (August 19, 1915 &ndash; March 15, 2007) was an American [[composer]] who wrote music for many of the [[1950s#Hollywood|1950s]] [[Science fiction film|science-fiction]] and [[horror film]]s from [[Universal Studios]]. "Herman Stein was one of the architects of the sound of 1950s science-fiction movies."<ref name="Burlingame">Jon Burlingame, film-music historian at the [[University of Southern California]], quoted in Fox, Margalit (24 March 2007) "Herman Stein, 91, Composer of Moody Horror and Science-Fiction Scores" ''New York Times'' Section C;, Column 1, The Arts/Cultural Desk, p. 10</ref> Stein retired in the 1970s and died of congestive heart failure in his home in Los Angeles at the age of 91.


==Life==
==Life==
Born in [[Philadelphia, PA]], Stein was a child prodigy, playing the piano by the age of three<ref name="Courier">Staff (9 April 2007) "Child prodigy began performing at three" ''The Courier Mail'' (Australia) p. 60</ref> and making his professional concert debut at the age of six.<ref name="Fox">Fox, Margalit (24 March 2007) "Herman Stein, 91, Composer of Moody Horror and Science-Fiction Scores" ''New York Times'' Section C;, Column 1, The Arts/Cultural Desk, p. 10</ref> He worked as a jazz composer and arranger for radio programs and big bands in the 1930s and early 1940s. He served in the army in [[World War II]] and moved to [[Hollywood]] in 1948, studying with the [[Italy|Italian]] [[composer]] [[Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco]].<ref name="Ritter">Ritter, Steven E. (2002) "Woodwind Treasures" ''American Record Guide'' 65(3): pp. 203-204</ref> Subsequently in 1951, he was hired by Universal Studios, where he scored the music for about 200 films.<ref name="Ritter"/> His name was seldom in the movie credits because of the studio's tendency to give solo credit to the music supervisor.<ref name="Courier"/> Nonetheless, ''he either wrote the main themes, from which he and his colleagues worked, or, equally important, wrote the opening music, which often sets the tone for the film itself.''<ref name="Burlingame"/> In 1950, Stein married Anita Shervin who played a [[viola]] with the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]]. Later he left Universal and composed music for television.
Born in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], Stein was a child prodigy, playing the piano by the age of three<ref name="Courier">Staff (9 April 2007) "Child prodigy began performing at three" ''The Courier Mail'' (Australia) p. 60</ref> and making his professional concert debut at the age of six.<ref name="Fox">Fox, Margalit (24 March 2007) "Herman Stein, 91, Composer of Moody Horror and Science-Fiction Scores" ''New York Times'' Section C;, Column 1, The Arts/Cultural Desk, p. 10</ref> He worked as a jazz composer and arranger for radio programs and big bands in the 1930s and early 1940s. He served in the army in [[World War II]] and moved to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] in 1948, studying with the [[Italy|Italian]] [[composer]] [[Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco]].<ref name="Ritter">Ritter, Steven E. (2002) "Woodwind Treasures" ''American Record Guide'' 65(3): pp. 203-204</ref> Subsequently, in 1951, he was hired by Universal Studios, where he scored the music for about 200 films.<ref name="Ritter"/> His name was seldom in the movie credits because of the studio's tendency to give solo credit to the music supervisor.<ref name="Courier"/> Nonetheless, ''he either wrote the main themes, from which he and his colleagues worked, or, equally important, wrote the opening music, which often sets the tone for the film itself.''<ref name="Burlingame"/> In 1950, Stein married Anita Shervin who played a [[viola]] with the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]]. Later he left Universal and composed music for television.


==Music==
==Music==


In 1932, aged just sixteen, Stein sold a jazz arrangement of ''[[The Song of the Volga Boatmen]]'' to bandleader [[Alex Bartha]], who recorded it under the name "Red Blues." He also was co-composer/arranger of 'Line-a-Jive," recorded in 1935 by the [[Blanche Calloway]] band.
In 1932, aged just sixteen, Stein sold a jazz arrangement of ''[[The Song of the Volga Boatmen]]'' to bandleader [[Alex Bartha]], who recorded it under the name "Red Blues." He also was co-composer/arranger of 'Line-a-Jive," recorded in 1935 by the [[Blanche Calloway]] band.


Stein composed the eerie music for, among others, the sci-fi and horror movies ''[[It Came From Outer Space]]'', ''[[Revenge of the Creature]]'' and ''[[This Island Earth]]''. Despite longstanding claims, he did not write music for the American version of Toho's ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''. The suspect music heard in that film was composed by fellow Universal-International writer Hans Salter for Creature From the Black Lagoon, and those original music tracks were re-used in the U. S. release of the Japanese picture. In addition to horror films, Stein wrote for westerns, dramas and comedies, including the [[Audie Murphy]] [[Western (genre)|western]] ''[[Drums Across the River]]'' and [[Roger Corman]]'s civil rights drama ''[[The Intruder (1962 film)|The Intruder]]''.<ref name="Fox"/> His television work included such shows as ''[[The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp]]'', ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', ''[[Lost in Space]]'' and ''[[Daniel Boone (TV series)|Daniel Boone]]''.<ref name="Courier"/>
Stein composed the eerie music for, among others, the sci-fi and horror movies ''[[It Came From Outer Space]]'', ''[[Revenge of the Creature]]'' and ''[[This Island Earth]]''. Despite longstanding claims, he did not write music for the American version of Toho's ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''. The suspect music heard in that film was composed by fellow Universal-International writer [[Hans J. Salter]] for ''[[Creature from the Black Lagoon]]'', and those original music tracks were re-used in the U. S. release of the Japanese picture. Some of his music, however, was used in the film's theatrical trailer. In addition to horror films, Stein wrote for westerns, dramas and comedies, including the [[Audie Murphy]] [[Western (genre)|western]] ''[[Drums Across the River]]'' and [[Roger Corman]]'s civil rights drama ''[[The Intruder (1962 film)|The Intruder]]''.<ref name="Fox"/> His television work included such shows as ''[[The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp]]'', ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', ''[[Lost in Space]]'' and ''[[Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)|Daniel Boone]]''.<ref name="Courier"/>


Among Stein's compositions are a number that he wrote just for fun, such as ''The Sour Suite'' a tonal, cheery, and quite tongue-in-cheek piece for woodwind quintet.<ref name="Ritter"/><ref name="Fox"/>
Among Stein's compositions are a number that he wrote just for fun, such as ''The Sour Suite'' a tonal, cheery, and quite tongue-in-cheek piece for woodwind quintet.<ref name="Fox"/><ref name="Ritter"/>


In 2008, a classical piano piece he wrote in 1949 ("Suite for Mario") for his composition teacher, the esteemed Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, received its world-premiere recording.
In 2008, a classical piano piece he wrote in 1949 ("Suite for Mario") for his composition teacher, the esteemed Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, received its world-premiere recording.
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==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
*''[[It Happens Every Thursday]]'' (1953)
*''[[It Happens Every Thursday]]'' (1953)
*''[[It Came From Outer Space]]'' (1953)
*''[[It Came from Outer Space]]'' (1953)
*''[[Drums Across the River]]'' (1954)
*''[[Drums Across the River]]'' (1954)
* the far country (1954)
*''[[Revenge of the Creature]]'' (1955)
*''[[Revenge of the Creature]]'' (1955)
*''[[This Island Earth]]'' (1955)
*''[[This Island Earth]]'' (1955)
*''[[Female on the Beach]]'' (1955)
*''[[Backlash (1956 film)|Backlash]]'' (1956)
*''[[I've Lived Before]]'' (1956)
*''[[The Great Man]]'' (1956)
*''[[The Great Man]]'' (1956)
*''[[The Unguarded Moment (film)|The Unguarded Moment]]'' (1956)
*''[[Quantez]]'' (1957)
*''[[Quantez]]'' (1957)
*''[[The Land Unknown]]'' (1957)
*''[[The Land Unknown]]'' (1957)
*''[[The Monolith Monsters]]'' (1957)
*''[[The Monolith Monsters]]'' (1957)
*''[[No Name on the Bullet]]'' (1959)
*''[[The Intruder (1962 film)|The Intruder]]'' (1962)
*''[[The Intruder (1962 film)|The Intruder]]'' (1962)
*''[[Taggart (film)|Taggart]]'' (1964)
*''[[Let's Kill Uncle]]'' (1966)
*''[[Let's Kill Uncle]]'' (1966)


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== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{imdb name|0006299|Herman Stein}}
*{{IMDb name|0006299|Herman Stein}}
* [http://mmmrecordings.com CD recording of Stein's score for "The Intruder," along with other of the composer's compositions, was released by Monstrous Movie Music in 2008]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Stein, Herman
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American composer
| DATE OF BIRTH = August 19, 1915
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = March 15, 2007
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stein, Herman}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stein, Herman}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Jewish American composers]]
[[Category:20th-century American composers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:American film score composers]]
[[Category:American film score composers]]
[[Category:Male film score composers]]
[[Category:Jewish American film score composers]]
[[Category:American male film score composers]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]

Latest revision as of 23:10, 29 November 2023

This article is about the composer. For the social work educator, see Herman D. Stein.

Herman Stein (August 19, 1915 – March 15, 2007) was an American composer who wrote music for many of the 1950s science-fiction and horror films from Universal Studios. "Herman Stein was one of the architects of the sound of 1950s science-fiction movies."[1] Stein retired in the 1970s and died of congestive heart failure in his home in Los Angeles at the age of 91.

Life[edit]

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Stein was a child prodigy, playing the piano by the age of three[2] and making his professional concert debut at the age of six.[3] He worked as a jazz composer and arranger for radio programs and big bands in the 1930s and early 1940s. He served in the army in World War II and moved to Hollywood in 1948, studying with the Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco.[4] Subsequently, in 1951, he was hired by Universal Studios, where he scored the music for about 200 films.[4] His name was seldom in the movie credits because of the studio's tendency to give solo credit to the music supervisor.[2] Nonetheless, he either wrote the main themes, from which he and his colleagues worked, or, equally important, wrote the opening music, which often sets the tone for the film itself.[1] In 1950, Stein married Anita Shervin who played a viola with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Later he left Universal and composed music for television.

Music[edit]

In 1932, aged just sixteen, Stein sold a jazz arrangement of The Song of the Volga Boatmen to bandleader Alex Bartha, who recorded it under the name "Red Blues." He also was co-composer/arranger of 'Line-a-Jive," recorded in 1935 by the Blanche Calloway band.

Stein composed the eerie music for, among others, the sci-fi and horror movies It Came From Outer Space, Revenge of the Creature and This Island Earth. Despite longstanding claims, he did not write music for the American version of Toho's King Kong vs. Godzilla. The suspect music heard in that film was composed by fellow Universal-International writer Hans J. Salter for Creature from the Black Lagoon, and those original music tracks were re-used in the U. S. release of the Japanese picture. Some of his music, however, was used in the film's theatrical trailer. In addition to horror films, Stein wrote for westerns, dramas and comedies, including the Audie Murphy western Drums Across the River and Roger Corman's civil rights drama The Intruder.[3] His television work included such shows as The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Gunsmoke, Lost in Space and Daniel Boone.[2]

Among Stein's compositions are a number that he wrote just for fun, such as The Sour Suite a tonal, cheery, and quite tongue-in-cheek piece for woodwind quintet.[3][4]

In 2008, a classical piano piece he wrote in 1949 ("Suite for Mario") for his composition teacher, the esteemed Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, received its world-premiere recording.

Selected filmography[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Jon Burlingame, film-music historian at the University of Southern California, quoted in Fox, Margalit (24 March 2007) "Herman Stein, 91, Composer of Moody Horror and Science-Fiction Scores" New York Times Section C;, Column 1, The Arts/Cultural Desk, p. 10
  2. ^ a b c Staff (9 April 2007) "Child prodigy began performing at three" The Courier Mail (Australia) p. 60
  3. ^ a b c Fox, Margalit (24 March 2007) "Herman Stein, 91, Composer of Moody Horror and Science-Fiction Scores" New York Times Section C;, Column 1, The Arts/Cultural Desk, p. 10
  4. ^ a b c Ritter, Steven E. (2002) "Woodwind Treasures" American Record Guide 65(3): pp. 203-204

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Herman_Stein&oldid=1187546725"