Samuel Hoffman

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Samuel J. Hoffman (born July 23, 1903 in Manhattan , † December 6, 1967 ) was an American podiatric doctor and musician. He became known for his Theremin game for various soundtracks . His album Music Out of the Moon was one of two albums that Neil Armstrong took on the flight of the Apollo 11 to the moon.

Hoffman worked as a doctor in Los Angeles .

Hoffman had learned the violin from Ovide Musik in his youth , and played in a dance band for evening events. While he was still living in New York City , an acquaintance had given him a theremin to trigger a debt. Hoffman formed an electronic instrument band under the pseudonym Hal Hope in 1936, which gained some prominence in New York's nightlife. Hoffman played alternately violin and theremin in the 9-man band, but the new theremin in particular made Hal Hope the talk of the town and ensured presence in reports on New York nightlife. Sometimes he also appeared in an electric trio with William Schuman on the Theremin and Charles Paul on the Hammond organ . In 1938, CBS radio broadcast live performances by the Hal Hope Band at the Queen Mary restaurant in New York.

After moving to Hollywood in 1941, Hoffman entered the Hollywood Musicians' Union directory, listing the theremin as one of several instruments on a whim.

The composer Miklós Rózsa contacted Hoffman for the soundtrack for the film I fight for you . Rozsa's favorite, the famous theremin player Clara Rockmore , had refused to use the instrument for spooky effects. Hoffman was the only theremin player on the union list who was fluent in sheet music. The film soundtrack, whose then novel theremin sound was a defining element, won an Oscar . With his play, Hoffman contributed to making the theremin an integral part of science fiction soundtracks of the 1950s and 1960s, and he also had numerous appearances and commissions for television.

Filmography

Remarks

  1. ↑ a b Jason Ankerry: Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman , in: Vladimir Bogdanov (Ed.): All music guide to electronica: the definitive guide to electronic music , Backbeat Books, 2001, ISBN 0879306289 , p. 246.
  2. ^ David Michael Harland: The first men on the moon: the story of Apollo 11 Springer, 2007 ISBN 0387341765
  3. ^ Albert Glinsky: Theremin: ether music and espionage University of Illinois Press, 2000 ISBN 0252025822 p. 198
  4. ^ Albert Glinsky: Theremin: ether music and espionage University of Illinois Press, 2000 ISBN 0252025822 p. 199
  5. ↑ a b Thom Holmes, Thomas B. Holmes: Electronic and experimental music: pioneers in technology and composition Routledge, 2002 ISBN 0415936446 p. 60
personal data
SURNAME Hoffman, Samuel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hoffman, Samuel J.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American musician and medic
DATE OF BIRTH July 23, 1903
PLACE OF BIRTH Manhattan
DATE OF DEATH December 6, 1967