Through the outdated concept, it is considered that composers write songs for orchestras and classical performances. But composer activity reached a new level. Well-chosen music can uniquely emphasize a film or series and glorify the composer. For instance, Ramin Djawadi became famous by having written several great themes to the series “Game of Thrones”. Angelo Badalamenti was born in Brooklyn. His musical talent helped him write his name in the history of cinema. Find out more at the website brooklyn-trend.
ITALIAN BROOKLYN
Angelo Badalamenti was born in Brooklyn in 1937. His mother is from Sicily and his father comes from mainland Italy. His love for music and opera was passed on to him with the blood of his parents and the Italian people. It was in Italy that opera developed.
At the age of eight, Angelo began to learn to play the piano. In his teenage years, he played so skillfully that he could accompany adult musicians. He had a part-time job at the Catskill resorts. This is a mountain range in the southeastern part of New York state.
Parents supported their son’s wishes and successes. They sent him to study at the Eastman School of Music and then to the Manhattan School of Music. In addition to playing the piano, Badalamenti was well-versed in the basics of music. This is what led him to the most significant event in his life – acquaintance with David Lynch. A well-known filmmaker hired him to work with Isabella Rossellini. Badalamenti had to practice singing with her and prepare the actress for filming in the movie “Blue Velvet”.
Rossellini had to sing “Song to the Siren” written by Tim Buckley. At least that was Lynch’s idea. He began training the actress without having the rights to the song. Later, he failed to agree with the author. Then Lynch and Badalamenti decided to write a new song. “Mysteries of Love” was the result of their fruitful work. Badalamenti composed the music and Lynch wrote the verse. Later, Lynch persuaded him to play a small role in the film. He played a nameless pianist in a club.
This was the beginning of not only their friendship, but also the career of a composer for Badalamenti.
When David Lynch started working on one of his most famous works, “Twin Peaks”, the question of choosing a composer did not arise. Of course, the author of the great theme of the series was Angelo Badalamenti.
Throughout his career, he composed music for more than 20 films. He worked on the music for “Twin Peaks” three times: in 1990, 1992 and 2017. In addition to that, he worked on such films as: “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3”, “The City of Lost Children”, “The Beach”, “Dangerous Liaisons”, “The Wicker Man” and others.
ACTING AND AWARDS
Badalamenti tried several times to act in movies. But there were not enough roles. Angelo’s only significant acting job was the role of Luigi Castellani in the film “Mulholland Drive”. After that, there were small episodic roles. But Badalamenti felt better at the piano than in front of the camera. Although he was able to appear in a small role in “Twin Peaks: The Return”.
The soundtrack to the two parts of “Twin Peaks” became formative for many musicians working in the direction of funeral jazz and doom jazz. His works have become a kind of a “gold standard” for musicians of this genre. Many famous music groups have recognized the success of Badalamenti’s works.
Throughout his career, Angelo Badalamenti has been honored with major awards several times, including “Grammy”, “Independent Spirit”. For “Mulholland Drive” he received an award from the Online Film Critics Society.
In 2011, he received the Henry Mancini Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Angelo Badalamenti died on December 11, 2022. In recent years, he had lived in New Jersey, where he died.
