10 Extraordinary Partnerships Between Composers and Directors

[h2]10. Carter Burwell and The Coen Brothers[/h2]

Unlike many of the other entries on this list, music is not among the first things one thinks of when discussing The Coen Brothers. The writing, performance, and cinematography in all their films are probably more significant – Roger Deakins is arguably their most important collaborator overall – but I would be remiss if I neglected what great work Carter Burwell has done with the directing duo over the years. He has scored nearly every one of the Coen’s movies, and while few of those scores stand among the very best the medium has to offer, all of them are a crucial, impressive component of each film’s production.

There is an admirable subtlety to Burwell’s music, a total lack of ego that allows his work to blend seamlessly into the fabric of the film. This is true with most of his scores, no matter the director, but he is at his best with the Coens, where his music often works to ground the zanier or more heightened aspects of their films. This is not always the case, of course; True Grit is an excellent example of Burwell writing directly to the genre, and succeeding in spades, while his music for A Serious Man is a direct extension of the film’s somber, contemplative elements. Whatever the case, Burwell always fulfills whatever need the Coen Brothers have for him. He is incredibly versatile, and it is hard to picture the Coen’s filmography without him.

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