Carter Benedict Burwell (born November 18, 1955) is an American composer of film scores. He is best known as a regular collaborator of the Coen brothers, having scored 17 of their films, among them Raising Arizona (1987), Barton Fink (1991), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), No Country for Old Men (2007), Burn After Reading (2008), and True Grit (2010). Other notable works include the Spike Jonze films Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation (2002) and Where the Wild Things Are (2009), David O. Russell's Three Kings (1999), the miniseries Olive Kitteridge (2014), Anomalisa (2015), and Todd Haynes' Velvet Goldmine (1998), Mildred Pierce miniseries, and Carol (2015).
Early life and education
Burwell was born in New York City, the son of Natalie (née Benedict), a math teacher, and Charles Burwell, who founded Thaibok Fabrics, Ltd. He graduated from King School in Stamford, Connecticut, and Harvard College, where he was a cartoonist for The Harvard Lampoon.
Career
As a film composer, Burwell has had a long-working relationship with the Coen brothers, providing music for every film they have made (except for O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Inside Llewyn Davis, which had folk music soundtracks produced by T-Bone Burnett). He enjoys working with left-field directors, such as Spike Jonze. Among his best known film scores are Miller's Crossing (1990), And the Band Played On (1993), Conspiracy Theory (1997), Hamlet (2000), The Spanish Prisoner (1997), Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), In Bruges (2008), Twilight (2008), Where The Wild Things Are (2009), The Blind Side (2009), and Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011). Burwell wrote and recorded the original score for the film The Bourne Identity, but his version was replaced by director Doug Liman for one by John Powell.
The Burwells (known as the Burls among Virginians ) were among the First Families of Virginia in the Colony of Virginia.John Quincy Adams once described the Burwells as typical Virginia aristocrats of their period: forthright, bland, somewhat imperious and politically simplistic by Adams' standards. In 1713, so many Burwells had intermarried with the Virginia political elite that Governor Spotswood complained that " the greater part of the present Council are related to the Family of Burwells...there will be no less than seven so near related that they will go off the Bench whenever a Cause of the Burwells come to be tried." The Family was closely associated with the Fairfield Plantation, Gloucester County, Virginia, but several Burwells also built other famous Virginia plantations. Lewis Burwell III built the Kingsmill Plantation's manor house beginning in the 1730s. A few years later, Carter Burwell built Carter's Grove immediately to the east in what became the modern day Grove Community. Several place names such as Burwell's Bay in Isle of Wight County, Virginia are named after the Burwells. Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller, (aka Chesty Puller) is a war hero (from West Point, Virginia) takes his name from three generations of Lewis Burwells who had a large influence on early Virginia. The Burwell family of Virginia originally came from England – Bedfordshire. Their early history is not completely known but by 1607, they were living in Harlington, Bedfordshire, at Harlington House – now known as Harlington Manor.
Podcasts:
Carter Burwell
ALBUMS
- The Fifth Estate released: 2013
- The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 released: 2012
- Seven Psychopaths released: 2012
- The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 released: 2011
- Mildred Pierce: Music from the HBO Miniseries released: 2011
- Howl released: 2010
- True Grit released: 2010
- The Blind Side released: 2010
- A Serious Man released: 2009
- Where the Wild Things Are released: 2009
- Twilight: The Score released: 2008
- Burn After Reading released: 2008
- Fur released: 2006
- Kinsey released: 2004
- The Alamo released: 2004
- Simone released: 2002
- Adaptation. released: 2002
- A Knight's Tale released: 2001
- Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 released: 2000
- Hamlet released: 2000
- The General's Daughter released: 1999
- The Corruptor released: 1999
- Being John Malkovich released: 1999
- Gods and Monsters released: 1998
- Assassin(s) released: 1997
- Conspiracy Theory released: 1997
- The Chamber released: 1996
- Fargo / Barton Fink released: 1996
- A Goofy Movie released: 1995
- Rob Roy released: 1995
- The Hudsucker Proxy released: 1994
- And the Band Played On released: 1993
- Doc Hollywood released: 1991
- Miller's Crossing released: 1991
- Raising Arizona / Blood Simple released: 1987
- Psycho III released: 1986
- Storyville released:
- The Jackal released:
The Fifth Estate
Released 2013- A History of Media
- Live
- The Family
- The Submission Platform
- Always
- The Informer
- Face to Face
- The Veil of Secrecy
- The Next Time
- Never Mess With Sunday
- The Assassination of Oscar Kingara
- Collateral Murder
- Take the Fight to Them
- Come Alone
- Elephant
- The Return of Daniel
- We Promise to Publish in Full
- Extraction
- Come Catch Me
- The Destruction of the Platform
- History Will Judge
- No One Will Be Able to Submit
- A Fifth Estate
- Asylum
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2
Released 2012- Twilight Overture
- A World Bright and Buzzing
- The Lamb Hunts the Lion
- Meet Renesmee
- Here Goes Nothing
- Sparkles at Last
- Catching Snowflakes
- The Immortal Children
- Merchant of Venice
- Into the White
- Renesmee's Lullaby / Something Terrible
- A Way With the World
- The Amazon Arrives
- A Yankee Vampire
- Cloud Forest
- Witnesses
- We Will Fight
- Shield Training
- At Bedtime a Child Asks About Death
- Decoding Alice
- The Driving Question
- Present Time
- This Extraordinary Life
- Gathering in Snow
- She Is Not Immortal
- Reading Edward
- Magnifica
- Irina Loses Her Head
- Aro's Oration
- A Kick in the Head
- Exacueret Nostri Dentes in Filia
- Chasing Renesmee
- A Crack in the Earth
- Aro's End
- That's Your Future
- Such a Prize
Seven Psychopaths
Released 2012- Angel of Death
- The First Cut Is the Deepest
- The Quaker
- Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17: Premiers transports que nul n'oublie
- Zachariah
- Angela Surf City
- Billy's Diary
- Dirty Dishes
- My Lai
- Country Dumb
- Der Mond: Ach, da hängt ja der Mond! (Kleines Kind/Chor)
- All Gray and Shit
- This Movie Ends My Way
- Stranded
- Billy's Ending
- It Might
- Seven Psychopaths
- Different Drum
- Zach's Back
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1
Released 2011- The Kingdom Where Nobody Dies
- Cold Feet
- What You See In the Mirror
- Wedding Nightmare
- Wolves On the Beach
- Goodbyes
- A Nova Vida
- The Threshold
- Pregnant
- Morte
- Honeymoon In Eclipse
- A Wolf Stands Up
- Two Man Pack
- Don't Choose That
- O Negative
- Hearing the Baby
- Playing Wolves
- Let's Start With Forever
- It's Renesmee
- The Venom
- Hearts Failing
- Biting
- Jacob Imprints
- You Kill Her You Kill Me
- Bella Reborn
Mildred Pierce: Music from the HBO Miniseries
Released 2011- Mildred Pierce Opening Titles
- Milenberg Joys
- Hungry and Harried
- Position Filled
- I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
- Mounty Monty
- Self Assessment
- Chopin: Fantasie-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor
- Ray Dies
- Mildred Pierce End Titles
- One More Time
- Moving On
- Mildred's Escape
- Rachmaninoff: Prelude
- Away From You
- Delibes: The Bell Song From "Lakmé"
- Amongst Graves
- Easy to Love
- Veda's Widow
- The Big Night
- Bellini: Qui La Voce From "I Puritani"
- Blindsided
- I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
- My Reverie
- I Don't Need You Either
- To Hell With Her
- Brought Home
True Grit
Released 2010- The Wicked Flee
- La Boeuf Takes Leave
- Little Blackie
- River Crossing
- The Hanging Man
- Talk About Suffering
- Your Headstrong Ways
- A Great Adventure
- We Don't Need Him Do We?
- Father's Gun
- A Methodist and a Son of a Bitch
- Talking to Horses
- A Turkey Shoot
- Taken Hostage
- One Against Four
- The Snake Pit
- Ride to Death
- I Will Carry You
- A Quarter Century
- The Grave
The Blind Side
Released 2010- To Protect His Blind Side
- Cello Song (feat. José González)
- All Things Possible / Your Father
- Osmosis
- The Hang of It
- Unsquare Dance
- Eviction
- Summer Training
- Moms
- Thank Me Later
- Part of the Family
- The First Game
- Gridiron Machine
- Inspired Play
- Taming Lions
- The Art of Recruiting
- The Light Brigade
- Michael Graduates
- It's Your Life
- My Son Michael
- Goin' Up the Country
- Chances
Twilight: The Score
Released 2008- How I Would Die
- Who Are They?
- Treaty
- Phascination Phase
- Humans Are Predators Too
- I Dreamt of Edward
- I Know What You Are
- The Most Dangerous Predator
- The Skin of a Killer
- The Lion Fell in Love With the Lamb
- Complications
- Dinner With His Family
- I Would Be the Meal
- Bella's Lullaby
- Nomads
- Stuck Here Like Mom
- Bella Is Part of the Family
- Tracking
- In Place of Someone You Love
- Showdown in the Ballet Studio
- Edward at Her Bed
Burn After Reading
Released 2008- Earth Zoom (In)
- A Higher Patriotism
- Linda Looks for Love, Part 1
- Night Running
- Building the Chair
- Rendezvous
- Opportunity
- Plan B
- Seating
- Homeless
- Harry Looks for Love
- Breaking and Entering
- I Killed a Spook
- Honey Nut Cheerios
- Tuchman Marsh
- Carrots / Shot
- Linda Looks for Love, Part 2
- Who Are You?
- How Is This Possible?
- Negativity
- The Struggle for Ebullience
- Intruder!
- Earth Zoom (Out)
Fur
Released 2006- The Fur
- Tango de la Bête
- Scary Times
- Arbus Family Photo Studio
- My Arms Around Myself
- Exposure
- Seductlon
- Pipes
- Ad Ultima Thule
- Call of the Wild
- The Tea Party
- Following
- The Run Back Home
- Water Dream
- Stepping Out
- A Dead Person
- Trap Door Party
- Drowning
- End It
- Transmission
- The Shave
- Into the Sea
- I Want to Meet Your Husband
The Alamo
Released 2004- Flesh and Honor
- 300 Miles of Snow
- What We're Defending
- El Bexareno
- La Zandunga
- Who Took Their Loved Ones
- Listen to the Mockingbird Sing
- The Evacuation of Bexar
- The Calm After the Storm
- The Visitation of Saint Ursula
- Quiet Mountain
- They Ain't Bear
- Bonham's Ride
- Sell Our Lives Dearly
- Night Falls on the Alamo
- Deguello de Crockett
- The Last Night
- The Battle of the Alamo (Part 1)
- The Battle of the Alamo (Part 2)
- The Battle of the Alamo (Part 3)
- The Battle of the Alamo (Part 4)
- The Battle of the Alamo (Part 5)
- The Battle of the Alamo (Part 6)
- The Death of Crockett
- Runaway Scrape
- Blood, or Texas
Adaptation.
Released 2002- Adaptation (Fatboy Slim remix)
- The Evolution of the Screenwriter
- The Writer and the Crazy White Man
- An Unashamed Passion
- The Evolution of Evolution
- On Judgement, Human and Otherwise
- Whittle the World Down
- On the Similarity of Human and Orchid Forms
- The Screenwriter's Nightmare
- Approaching the Object of Desire
- Shinier Than Any Ant
- The Slough Pit of Creation
- Adaptation Versus Immutability
- Effects of Sibilng Pressure
- Evasion and Escape
- The Unexpressed Expressed
- The Screenwriter's Nightmare (Zeno remix)
- Happy Together
The General's Daughter
Released 1999- She Began to Lie
- Mighty Good Road
- Rachel Rocket
- Gonna Rise and Fly
- Exercise in Darkness
- Epiphytic Shuffle
- The Body
- West Point
- The General's Story
- Congratulations
- Footprints
- The Tape?
- The Conspiracy
- Kent's Story
- The Hurt Locker
- Out of Her Misery
- The General's End
- O Fortuna (CSR Symphony Orchestra and Slovak Philharmonic Chorus feat. conductor: Stephen Gunzenhauser)
- All Through the Night
- She Began to Lie (remix)
Being John Malkovich
Released 1999- Amphibian (Mark Bell mix)
- Malkovich (Masterpiece remix)
- Puppet Love
- Momentary Introspection
- You Should Know
- Craig Plots
- Malkovich Shrine
- Embarcation
- Subcon Chase
- The Truth
- Love on the Phone
- To Lester's
- Maxine Kidnapped
- To Be John M
- Craig's Overture
- Allegro (from Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste, SZ106)
- Carter Explains Scene 71 to the Orchestra
- Lotte Makes Love
- Monkey Memories
- Future Vessel
- Amphibian (Film mix)
Assassin(s)
Released 1997- Le Vie de Max
- Max Suivant Wagner
- Saignement de Nez
- La Cage
- Extrait de Dialogues "On voudrait tous savoir!..."
- Les Crocodiles
- Surveillance
- Les Jeunes Dorment
- Toxic Caterpillar - Total Eclipse
- Jackie Chan
- Extrait de Dialogues "Tous des pourris!"
- Sitcom
- Soudure
- Le Bois
- Explosion
- Les Jeunes Dorment Toujours
- Extrait de Dialogues "Repérage"
- Drogue
- La Mort de Max
- Cauchemar
- Seul
- Cauchemars sans Fin - Solo
Fargo / Barton Fink
Released 1996- Fargo, North Dakota
- Moose Lake
- A Lot of Woe
- Forced Entry
- The Ozone
- The Trooper's End
- Chewing on It
- Rubbernecking
- Dance of the Sierra
- The Mallard
- Delivery
- Bismark, North Dakota
- Paul Bunyon
- The Eager Beaver
- Brainerd, Minnesota
- Safe Keeping
- Fade In
- Big Shoes
- Love Theme From Barton Fink
- Barton in Shock
- Typing Montage
- The Box
- Barton in Flames
- Fade Out: The End
Rob Roy
Released 1995- Overture: Rob Roy / The Rieving Party
- Home From the Hills
- Hard Earth
- Procession for the Ill-Used
- Blood Sport
- The Gaelic Reels
- Ailein duinn
- The Last Peaceful Night
- Troops in the Mist
- Honor Inflamed
- The Dispossessed: The Cave / Hard Home on the Moor
- The Blunt Reels
- Highland Justice: A Call of the Claymore / Assize of thr Gregorach
- A Standing Stone, A Silk Purse
- Théid mi dhachaigh (I'll Go Home)
- Rannoch Moor Suite: Scorched Earth / Rannoch Moor Retreat / The Mists / Rob Come to Hand
- Morag's Lament
- Born by Rapids
- Love and Death Suite: My Beloved / A Matter of Honor / Cunningham's End
- Robert and Mary
And the Band Played On
Released 1993- Africa
- Burning Bodies
- Dead Doctors
- The Party's Over
- Lymph
- Three Sixes
- They're Scared
- The French Fail
- His Other Life
- One of Your Donors
- The French Succeed
- How Long to Sink In
- Tell That to Gallo
- Gallo Press Conference
- Rain
- Krause Collapses
- Blood Meeting
- He's Gone Too Far
- Tongues
- Sexual Transmission
- Paris Meeting
- And the Band Played On
Doc Hollywood
Released 1991- The Lady in the Lake
- Speedster
- Stone's Rounds
- Kije's Wedding
- Meat is Murder
- Down Ten Dollars
- Jasmine Strut
- Chant
- Slow Squash Love
- Pee Zydeco
- Voices Across a Lake
- The Millwood Stomp
- Crazy
- Polegnala e Todora
- Fireflies and Night Shade
- Stone Walks Alone
- Escape from Grady
- Breech Birth
- Remembrance of Things Past
- A Shooting Star
- Back to the Interstate, Ben Stone
- Life Sentence
The Jackal
- Moscow
- Nightclub Ruckus
- Helsinki
- Jackal in London
- Weapon of Choice
- Jackal Arrives in Montreal
- Daclan Mulqueen
- Jackal's Theme
- An Old Family Face
- Declan & Isabella
- Assassination Theme
- Jackal Returns to Montreal
- Tailing the Jackal / Parking Garage
- Speed Test
- Sailing / Operation's Still a Go
- Face to Face With the Jackal
- Jackal Chase
- En Route to the Target Site
- The Mole Revealed
- Valentina's Death
- End Credits
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by Carter Burwell
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by Carter Burwell
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by Carter Burwell
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by Carter Burwell
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by Carter Burwell
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by Carter Burwell
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by Carter Burwell
Twilight
by: Carter BurwellAnd so the lion fell in love with the lamb.
What a stupid lamb.
What a sick masochistic lion.
About three things I was absolutely positive.
First, Edward was a vampire.
Second, there was a part of him -
and I didn't know how dominant that part might be -
that thirsted for my blood.
And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love
with him.