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from: June 30, 1998, Vol. 11, No.1, p. 28 Resident Life - by Crystal D. Arroyo Copyright (©) 1998, Resident Magazine
David Nichtern Has Made a Career out of Composing Music that Blends into the Background
Ever wonder where the music in movies comes from? No, not that top 10 stuff, but the instrumentals that set the mood. These scores seep into a scene to tell the viewer as much as the actor's lines, and sometimes even more. David Nichtern composes those often dramatic yet barely noticeable songs, both for film and television.
While the music may be barely noticeable, it's noticeable enough to stir emotions - and help to build Nichtern's career, which started with a band in college, continuing with his work on the daily serial One Life to Live, and, most recently, on his latest CD From Here to Nichternity.
It's not very surprising that Nichtern chose the entertainment business - it runs in his family. His mother, Claire Nichtern, was one of the first women theatrical producers, and won a Tony for her work on the 1963 production of Luv. One of Nichtern's first jobs was working with his mother on the Dustin Hoffman play Jimmy Shine. Before that, the musician had performed in a band with Spinal Tap star, Christopher Guest, called Voltaire's Nose. The two have continued to callaborate on many projects, and Nichtern is even working with Guest's wife, Jamie Lee Curtis, on the soon-to-be-released audio-recording her children's book Tell Me Again About The Night I Was Born.
After Jimmy Shine, Nichtern went on to perform with a multitude of artists, the most prominent being Maria Muldaur for whom he wrote the hit song "Midnight at the Oasis." That song and two resulting Grammy nominations led Nichtern all over the country where he performed in bands, and with the likes of Jerry Garcia and Stevie Wonder. It was also around this time - in the late '70's - that Nichtern began running a Tibetan Buddhist Center in Vermont called Karme-Choling. Buddhism is still something David practices, and even teaches at his girlfriend Cyndi Lee's studio. Meditation he says brings a "balanced state of mind, which helps with the music."
Today, the self-described perfectionist and "nudger," hence his nickname Nudgie, splits his time between composing, recording and performing. Wearing T-shirts and jeans, the lanky artst seems as comfortable in his studio as he would at home. Nichtern should, after all the late nights he has to spend in his studio composing.
As part of his work for One Life To Live, Nichtern does something many soap fans would love to do, get the scripts a month before the episode is taped and aired. This allows him time to compose a piece suitable to the scene he been assigned. He then gives them to the show's two musical directors, who edit the piece into the appropriate scene in what ever manner they see fit.
Nichtern's experience with soaps is quite different that his experience with movies. While writing music for a soap is not easy, the music more flexible, fitting into a scene any number of ways. Also, when creating for the big screen, Nichtern actually gets to watch and get the feel of the finished product before he has to start sketching out a theme and idea for a scene. He will either get a copy of the film on tape or sit down with the director who will be very explicit about what he wants to hear. Nichtern then sets to composing a piece, which may take anywhere from one to two months.
When composing, Nichtern says you want to "try to get an energy, enhance the quality of the feel," but you "don't want to notice the music too much." A few of the films Nichtern has composed for are The big Picture with Kevin Bacon, White Line Fever and Spirit of '76.
Nichternity is entirely instrumetnal, many of the songs coming from One Life to Live. The CD is Nichtern's fantasy come to life, a project he has ben working on for years. Comprised of his "dream band," people he has worked with before and always felt to be among the most talented in the business, Nichternity shows off the musical talents of everyone from Shawn Pelton of Saturday Night Live to Will Lee, a bass player on The Late Show with David Letterman.
While this is Nichtern's CD, the songs all allow each member to showcase their talents. Nichtern feels no need to steal the limelight (though it is only his smiling face you will see on the box).
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