FILM SCORING MECCA | Grammy winning arranger Nan Schwartz
Welcome to FILM SCORING MECCA – a series tailored and curated by composer Adriano Aponte for FST. Presenting amazing and insightful articles about professionals working at top level in the film music industry. Today we have Grammy winner and Emmy nominee composer and arranger Nan Schwartz, a pioneer of women in the music industry.
BEING A PIONEER
I never really considered becoming a film composer/arranger because I knew of no women doing this. However, a family friend/mentor encouraged me to go ahead and become the first.
MISSION AS AN ARRANGER
I try to reimagine the song or theme in a new, original way, using my skills to alter the harmonies, structure, and instrumentation.
Alter the harmonies, structure, and instrumentation
CRAFT & SKILLS
One must know the orchestra and have a well-developed sense of harmony. A jazz sensibility has helped me develop my style. Lastly, it is important to be aware of whom you are accompanying and what he/she is looking for in the arrangement.
A jazz sensibility has helped me develop my style
TECHNOLOGY & PAPER
All of my scores are turned in to a copyist in digital form, so I have had to learn Sibelius and Finale. Having the ability to try out ideas in a sequencer is always helpful; however, it is never a substitute for my sketching on paper, which is where I work out my ideas and decide on the architecture of the arrangement.
Sketching on paper is where I work out ideas
LYRICS AS INSPIRATION
Occasionally the lyrics lead me in a direction with instrumentation or ideas (i.e. my arrangement of “When You Wish Upon a Star” [found on my website] comes to mind)
VISUALS AS INSPIRATION
If I am working on a film score, the film itself always influences the direction the music takes. After all, a film composer is scoring a film and that is the music’s purpose.
WORKING FOR FILM, TV OR OTHER MEDIA
The turnaround time for a TV score is a few days, and involves demo-ing each cue, getting notes, and making revisions. Most TV scores are primarily electronic. The bigger budget films allow for some size of an orchestra, and there is more time allotted to write the score.
WINNING THE GRAMMY
I can identify in my bio and be introduced as “Grammy–winning arranger Nan Schwartz,” which obviously enhances my reputation. I am extremely proud of having won the Grammy for my work with singer Natalie Cole, for whom I have utmost respect.
BEST & WORST EXPERIENCE
Working with Natalie Cole, recording in Berlin for Till Brönner, scoring TV shows with a 5-day turnaround (no demos, no notes, just show up and conduct the orchestra. I’ m proud of the 7 Emmy nominations I’ve earned for composition as well as song-writing). As far as the worst experiences, I have the ability to forget them!
ANECDOTES
When I was ghost-writing for composer Pat Williams on a TV series, he asked if I was ready to write the next episode on my own. I did, showed up to the session (my dad was in the orchestra!), Pat conducted, and at the end of the session the producers turned to Pat and said “Great job!” He replied, “I didn’t write it—she did!” and pointed to me. At that point I took over the series and earned my first Emmy nomination.
ARRANGING A WELL-KNOWN SONG
I like to listen to the many versions of the song that have already been done, and then resolve to find a new way to do the arrangement.
Listen to the many versions of the song that have been done
START A SIMILAR CAREER
At this point in time it is important to know all of the technology: Pro Tools, DAWs, Sibelius, etc. But along with the technical expertise I think it is important to know the Great American Songbook, all of the material and styles that have come before. Listen to all kinds of music: classical, jazz, techno, as well as pop.
Know all of the technology and the Great American Songbook
KEY FOR SUCCESS
There are certainly many different paths to success, but among the necessary skills are talent, perseverance, ability to collaborate, and meeting as many people as you can who can help you advance.
Meet as many people as you can
Coming up next in the series: FILM SCORING MECCA | Legendary Hollywood orchestrator Conrad Pope
