Bernard Herrmann

Bernard Herrmann, born Max Herman in New York City in 1911, was a pioneering American composer and conductor whose innovative work in film scoring revolutionized the industry. Known for his distinctive harmonic and rhythmic style, Herrmann abandoned the conventional illustrative techniques of his time, instead imposing his unique musical vocabulary on the silver screen. His collaborations with legendary director Alfred Hitchcock, including the iconic score for "Psycho," cemented his status as one of Hollywood's finest. Herrmann's prolific career spanned over four decades, during which he composed for numerous films and television episodes, championing the music of lesser-known composers as a conductor. His contributions to cinema, from "Citizen Kane" to "The Day the Earth Stood Still," have left an indelible mark on the world of film music, making him a true pioneer of modern music and 20th-century film composition.