David Tamkin
Encyclopedia
David Tamkin was an American
composer
of Jewish descent. He devoted much of his professional career as an arranger, composer [uncredited] and orchestrator of film score
s for Hollywood movie
s. He worked on more than 50 films between 1939 and 1970.
, Ukraine
(then part of the Russian Empire
). Before his first birthday his family emigrated to Portland, Oregon
. He studied the violin
from a very early age until he was a teenager. One of his teachers was Henry Bettman, a pupil of Eugène Ysaÿe
. Through Bettman, Tamkin met and befriended violinist Louis Kaufman
, who was also Bettman's pupil at that time. Kaufman and Tamkin enjoyed a lifelong friendship that lasted until Tamkin's death.
Tamkin initially studied composition with Francis Richter
. Later on, he moved to New York City
, where he studied with several teachers. Later, he was enrolled as a student at the University of Oregon
, where he earned a bachelors degree in music composition. He also studied with Ottorino Respighi
and, later, with Ernest Bloch
, before he settled in Los Angeles
. The first film for which he composed music was New Frontier
in 1939. Although Universal Pictures
rendered most of its music staff redundant in 1949, Tamkin was retained as an arranger and an orchestrator. Between 1947 and 1960 he worked on nearly forty films, including Swell Guy
with Ann Blyth
, The Fighting O’Flynn with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
, You Gotta Stay Happy
with Eddie Albert
, and Singapore
with Fred MacMurray
and Ava Gardner
. He also orchestrated many of Dimitri Tiomkin
's film scores, including The Fall of the Roman Empire. He orchestrated for composer Jerry Goldsmith
on several films, including Stagecoach
, The Sand Pebbles
, 100 Rifles
. He also was employed at other studios, including Universal Pictures.
In addition to his work in film, Tamkin's oeuvre includes several works for symphony orchestra as well as two operas, which include The Dybbuk
(based on S. Ansky
’s Yiddish play), premiered at the New York City Opera
on April 10, 1951 with tenor Robert Rounseville
as Channon and Patricia Neway
as Leah. and, The Blue Plum Tree, his second opera, which was based on the biblical story of Jacob and Esau
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of Jewish descent. He devoted much of his professional career as an arranger, composer [uncredited] and orchestrator of film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s for Hollywood movie
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
s. He worked on more than 50 films between 1939 and 1970.
Biography
Tamkin was born in ChernihivChernihiv
Chernihiv or Chernigov is a historic city in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast , as well as of the surrounding Chernihivskyi Raion within the oblast...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
(then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
). Before his first birthday his family emigrated to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. He studied the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
from a very early age until he was a teenager. One of his teachers was Henry Bettman, a pupil of Eugène Ysaÿe
Eugène Ysaÿe
Eugène Ysaÿe was a Belgian violinist, composer and conductor born in Liège. He was regarded as "The King of the Violin", or, as Nathan Milstein put it, the "tzar"...
. Through Bettman, Tamkin met and befriended violinist Louis Kaufman
Louis Kaufman
Louis Kaufman was an American violinist and possibly the most recorded musical artist of the 20th century. He played the soundtrack on as many as 500 movies and over 100 musical recordings...
, who was also Bettman's pupil at that time. Kaufman and Tamkin enjoyed a lifelong friendship that lasted until Tamkin's death.
Tamkin initially studied composition with Francis Richter
Francis Richter
Francis C. Richter was an American journalist who served as founder and editor of Sporting Life from its inception to its demise, and editor of the Reach Guide from its inception in 1901. Richter died the day after completing the 1926 edition of the Reach Guide...
. Later on, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he studied with several teachers. Later, he was enrolled as a student at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, where he earned a bachelors degree in music composition. He also studied with Ottorino Respighi
Ottorino Respighi
Ottorino Respighi was an Italian composer, musicologist and conductor. He is best known for his orchestral "Roman trilogy": Fountains of Rome ; Pines of Rome ; and Roman Festivals...
and, later, with Ernest Bloch
Ernest Bloch
Ernest Bloch was a Swiss-born American composer.-Life:Bloch was born in Geneva and began playing the violin at age 9. He began composing soon afterwards. He studied music at the conservatory in Brussels, where his teachers included the celebrated Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe...
, before he settled in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The first film for which he composed music was New Frontier
New Frontier (film)
New Frontier is a 1939 film starring John Wayne, Ray "Crash" Corrigan, Raymond Hatton, and Jennifer Jones. This was the last of eight Three Mesquiteers B-movies with Wayne...
in 1939. Although Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
rendered most of its music staff redundant in 1949, Tamkin was retained as an arranger and an orchestrator. Between 1947 and 1960 he worked on nearly forty films, including Swell Guy
Swell Guy
Swell Guy is a 1946 American film that was directed by Frank Tuttle. The film's screenplay by Richard Brooks is based on the play of the same name by Gilbert Emery...
with Ann Blyth
Ann Blyth
Ann Marie Blyth is an American actress and singer, often cast in Hollywood musicals, but also successful in dramatic roles. Her performance as Veda Pierce in the 1945 film Mildred Pierce was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Life and career:Blyth was born in Mount Kisco,...
, The Fighting O’Flynn with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Douglas Elton Fairbanks, Jr. KBE was an American actor and a highly decorated naval officer of World War II.-Early life:...
, You Gotta Stay Happy
You Gotta Stay Happy
You Gotta Stay Happy is a 1948 Universal-International romantic-comedy starring James Stewart, Joan Fontaine and Eddie Albert.-Plot:Marvin Payne is a World War II army air force veteran trying to make it on a shoe-string with a startup air-freight business...
with Eddie Albert
Eddie Albert
Edward Albert Heimberger , known professionally as Eddie Albert, was an American actor and activist. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1954 for his performance in Roman Holiday, and in 1973 for The Heartbreak Kid.Other well-known screen roles of his include Bing...
, and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
with Fred MacMurray
Fred MacMurray
Frederick Martin "Fred" MacMurray was an American actor who appeared in more than 100 movies and a successful television series during a career that spanned nearly a half-century, from 1930 to the 1970s....
and Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner
Ava Lavinia Gardner was an American actress.She was signed to a contract by MGM Studios in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew attention with her performance in The Killers . She became one of Hollywood's leading actresses, considered one of the most beautiful women of her day...
. He also orchestrated many of Dimitri Tiomkin
Dimitri Tiomkin
Dimitri Zinovievich Tiomkin was a Russian-born Hollywood film score composer and conductor. He is considered "one of the giants of Hollywood movie music." Musically trained in Russia, he is best known for his westerns, "where his expansive, muscular style had its greatest impact." Tiomkin...
's film scores, including The Fall of the Roman Empire. He orchestrated for composer Jerry Goldsmith
Jerry Goldsmith
Jerrald King Goldsmith was an American composer and conductor most known for his work in film and television scoring....
on several films, including Stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
, The Sand Pebbles
The Sand Pebbles
The Sand Pebbles is a 1962 novel by American author Richard McKenna about a Yangtze River gunboat in 1926. It was serialized in the Saturday Evening Post for the three issues from November 17, 1962 through December 1, 1962. The author completed it in May, 1962, just in time to enter it in the 1963...
, 100 Rifles
100 Rifles
100 Rifles is a 1969 western directed by Tom Gries. The film stars Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch, and Fernando Lamas. The original music score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.-Plot:...
. He also was employed at other studios, including Universal Pictures.
In addition to his work in film, Tamkin's oeuvre includes several works for symphony orchestra as well as two operas, which include The Dybbuk
The Dybbuk (opera)
The Dybbuk is an opera in three acts by composer David Tamkin. The work uses an English libretto by Alex Tamkin, the composer's brother, which is based on S. Ansky’s Yiddish play of the same name. Composed in 1933, the work was not premiered until October 4, 1951 when it was mounted by the New York...
(based on S. Ansky
S. Ansky
Shloyme Zanvl Rappoport , known by his pseudonym S. Ansky , was a Russian Jewish author, playwright, and researcher of Jewish folklore....
’s Yiddish play), premiered at the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
on April 10, 1951 with tenor Robert Rounseville
Robert Rounseville
Robert Rounseville was an American tenor, who appeared in opera, operetta, and Broadway musicals.-Career:Rounseville was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts. He made his Broadway debut in a small role in the Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms, then appeared in other musicals in...
as Channon and Patricia Neway
Patricia Neway
Patricia Neway is an American operatic soprano and musical theatre actress who had an active international career during the mid-1940s through the 1970s. She is particularly remembered for creating roles in the world premieres of several contemporary American operas, most notably Magda Sorel in...
as Leah. and, The Blue Plum Tree, his second opera, which was based on the biblical story of Jacob and Esau
Jacob and Esau
The Book of Genesis contains the story of Jacob and Esau focusing on the sale of Esau's birthright to Jacob and the conflict that had spawned between their descendant nations because of this sale....
.