Herbert W. Spencer
Encyclopedia
Herbert Winfield Spencer (April 7, 1905 - September 18, 1992) was a film and television composer
and orchestrator
.
Spencer gained industry fame when he teamed up with fellow 20th Century Fox
orchestrator Earle Hagen
in 1953 to create the Spencer-Hagen Orchestra. They recorded albums for an offshoot of the RCA label "X", and Liberty, and also formed a film scoring service called Music Scoring, Inc. (MSI). Spencer and Earle scored many early sitcoms and other television shows, including Where's Raymond?
, renamed the The Ray Bolger Show
, It's Always Jan
starring Janis Paige
, My Sister Eileen
and The Danny Thomas Show
. Earle wrote the underscore, while Herb wrote the arrangements. Occasionally, these chores overlapped, when time permitted. MSI was dissolved about 1960, and Herb went on to score The Joey Bishop Show.
Spencer also helped orchestrate such noted film musicals as Carousel
(1956), Holiday Inn
(1942), Hello, Dolly! (1969), Funny Girl
(1968), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and Call Me Madam
(1953), and received the credit "musical associate" for his work on the film Man of La Mancha
(1972), also a musical. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817965/
Later on in life, Spencer was known mostly for his collaborations with composer John Williams
as orchestrator and arranger (from 1967 until his death) for many of his film scores, such as the original Star Wars
trilogy, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
and the Indiana Jones film series
.
He orchestrated the stage musicals Thomas And The King
(for John Williams) and Andre Previn's The Good Companions
. Neither show was a success.
Spencer was also principal orchestrator for the original version of Clash of the Titans
(1981).http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082186/
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...
and orchestrator
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
.
Spencer gained industry fame when he teamed up with fellow 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
orchestrator Earle Hagen
Earle Hagen
Earle Harry Hagen was an American composer who created music for movies and television. He is remembered for co-writing and whistling "The Fishin' Hole", the melody of the main theme to The Andy Griffith Show, the instrumental classic "Harlem Nocturne" used as the theme to television's Mickey...
in 1953 to create the Spencer-Hagen Orchestra. They recorded albums for an offshoot of the RCA label "X", and Liberty, and also formed a film scoring service called Music Scoring, Inc. (MSI). Spencer and Earle scored many early sitcoms and other television shows, including Where's Raymond?
Where's Raymond?
Where's Raymond? is a 1953-1954 ABC situation comedy television series starring Ray Bolger as Raymond Wallace, a song-and-dance man who is consistently barely on time for his performances...
, renamed the The Ray Bolger Show
Where's Raymond?
Where's Raymond? is a 1953-1954 ABC situation comedy television series starring Ray Bolger as Raymond Wallace, a song-and-dance man who is consistently barely on time for his performances...
, It's Always Jan
It's Always Jan
It's Always Jan is an American situation comedy starring Janis Paige, which aired on CBS in the 1955-1956 season. It was the lead-in program at 9:30 p.m...
starring Janis Paige
Janis Paige
Janis Paige is an American film, musical theatre and television actress. Born Donna Mae Tjaden in Tacoma, Washington, she began singing in public from the age of five in local amateur shows...
, My Sister Eileen
My Sister Eileen (TV series)
My Sister Eileen is an American situation comedy based on a series of autobiographical short stories by Ruth McKenney originally published in The New Yorker, as well as the 1940 play and 1942 and 1955 film adaptations they inspired....
and The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show is an American sitcom which ran from 1953-1957 on ABC and from 1957-1964 on CBS...
. Earle wrote the underscore, while Herb wrote the arrangements. Occasionally, these chores overlapped, when time permitted. MSI was dissolved about 1960, and Herb went on to score The Joey Bishop Show.
Spencer also helped orchestrate such noted film musicals as Carousel
Carousel (film)
Carousel is a 1956 film adaptation of the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name which, in turn, was based on Ferenc Molnár's non-musical play Liliom. The 1956 Carousel film stars Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, and was directed by Henry King...
(1956), Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn (film)
Holiday Inn is a 1942 American musical film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, with music by Irving Berlin. The film has twelve songs written expressly for the film, the most notable being "White Christmas"...
(1942), Hello, Dolly! (1969), Funny Girl
Funny Girl (film)
Funny Girl is a 1968 romantic musical film directed by William Wyler. The screenplay by Isobel Lennart was adapted from her book for the stage musical of the same title...
(1968), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and Call Me Madam
Call Me Madam (film)
Call Me Madam is a 1953 musical film directed by Walter Lang, with songs by Irving Berlin, based on the stage musical of the same name.The film, with a screenplay by Arthur Sheekman, starred Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Vera-Ellen, Billy DeWolfe, George Sanders, and Walter Slezak...
(1953), and received the credit "musical associate" for his work on the film Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha (film)
Man of La Mancha is a 1972 film adaptation of the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman, with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion...
(1972), also a musical. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817965/
Later on in life, Spencer was known mostly for his collaborations with composer John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
as orchestrator and arranger (from 1967 until his death) for many of his film scores, such as the original Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
trilogy, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote...
and the Indiana Jones film series
Indiana Jones franchise
The Indiana Jones franchise is an entertainment franchise, based on the historical fantasy adventures of Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones, a fictional archaeologist. It began in 1981 with the film Raiders of the Lost Ark. A prequel, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, followed in 1984 and the sequel...
.
He orchestrated the stage musicals Thomas And The King
Thomas and The King
Thomas and The King is a stage musical with music by John Williams, lyrics by James Harbert, and a book by Edward Anhalt.Based on the story of Thomas Becket and Henry II of England, and set in 12th century England....
(for John Williams) and Andre Previn's The Good Companions
The Good Companions (musical)
The Good Companions is a musical with a book by Ronald Harwood, music by André Previn, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It is based on the 1929 novel of the same title by J. B...
. Neither show was a success.
Spencer was also principal orchestrator for the original version of Clash of the Titans
Clash of the Titans (1981 film)
Clash of the Titans is an American 1981 fantasy–adventure film involving the Greek hero Perseus. It was released on June 12, 1981 and earned a gross profit of $41 million domestically, on a $15 million budget , by which it was the 11th highest grossing film of the year. A novelization of the film...
(1981).http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082186/