Bear McCreary
Bear McCreary (born February 17, 1979) is an American musician and composer of film, television, and video games scores based in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his work on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D & the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series and for the TV series Outlander and The Walking Dead. He has also scored for the PlayStation 4 video game God of War.
Bear McCreary | |
|---|---|
 McCreary in 2020 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | February 17, 1979 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States |
| Genres | Film score, orchestral |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, conductor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | La La Land Records, Sparks and Shadows |
McCreary won an Emmy for his main title of Da Vinci's Demons.[1] His most recent Emmy nomination was in 2015 for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for season one of Outlander.[2]
Early life and education
McCreary was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and spent most of his formative years in Bellingham, Washington. He is the son of author Laura Kalpakian and professor Jay McCreary of University of Hawaii. His brother, Brendan McCreary, is also a musician. Bear has directed and produced several music videos for Brendan's band, Young Beautiful in a Hurry.[3] He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1997.[4]
He is a classically trained pianist and self-taught accordionist.[4][5] He studied under the renowned film score composer Elmer Bernstein during which time he reconstructed and reorchestrated Bernstein's 1963 score for Kings of the Sun. Their collaboration allowed for the complete score to be available as a soundtrack album for the first time in 40 years.[6]
Career
Television
Battlestar Galactica and Caprica
In 2003, McCreary worked under primary composer Richard Gibbs on the three-hour miniseries which served as a pilot for the reimagined series of Battlestar Galactica. When the show was picked up, Gibbs opted not to devote full-time to the regular series' production, and McCreary became the sole composer. He worked on the series until it reached its conclusion in 2009, scoring over 70 episodes. To date, six Battlestar Galactica soundtrack albums have been released, and have garnered a great deal of critical acclaim[7][8] and commercial success. The soundtracks for seasons two and three ranked amongst Amazon.com's Top 30 Music Sales on their first days of release.[6]
McCreary composed for the Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica and Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome.
Human Target
McCreary provided the score for the series Human Target (based on the comic book of the same name). The pilot episode and main theme score had been recorded with a full orchestra.[9] The series has the distinction of having one of the largest orchestras on television.
The score to the finale of season one, "Christopher Chance", used the largest orchestra ever assembled for episodic television, and he took the opportunity to rerecord the main title theme with a new orchestration with this larger ensemble.
In July 2010, he received his first Emmy nomination for the Human Target main title.[10]
In a post on his blog on July 25, 2010, McCreary announced the new creative leadership brought in for season two had not asked him to return for it, and he would be leaving the series.[11]
Black Sails
The opening title sequence for Black Sails was composed by McCreary with a backing sea shanty inspired theme. It accurately features an instrument of the period in the form of the hurdy-gurdy.
Outlander
McCreary has composed the soundtrack for each of the first five seasons of Outlander, with the main title being sung by long time collaborator and partner, Raya Yarbrough. McCreary was nominated for an Emmy for the episode "Sassenach" in 2015.
Other series
During Comic-Con 2010, Bear McCreary attended panels for AMC's The Walking Dead and NBC's The Cape to announce he would be composing the score for both television series.[12][13]
On July 15, 2013, McCreary announced that he would compose the score for ABC's series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[14] On September 4, 2015, McCreary released the official Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. soundtrack publicly.[15]
McCreary served as orchestral producer for the rock opera Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem airing on Adult Swim on October 27, 2013. This is a continuation of the Metalocalypse universe following the band Dethklok. The music features a 50-piece orchestra. The soundtrack was released on October 29, 2013.[16]
McCreary also composed the score for the television series Snowpiercer which premiered on TNT May 17, 2020. Snowpiercer was also distributed online via Netflix.[17]
Films
McCreary made his theatrical feature film scoring debut with Step Up 3D[18] and has scored several direct-to-video features, including Rest Stop, Rest Stop: Don't Look Back, and Wrong Turn 2: Dead End.
Bear has scored three films with director Joe Lynch (of Wrong Turn 2), the latest being Everly which includes "Silent Night", a duet with his spouse, Raya Yarbrough.[19] McCreary's latest feature film scores are for The Cloverfield Paradox, released February 4, 2018, Tau in 2018, and then 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Child's Play.
Video games
McCreary made an eight-bit rendition of the Dark Void theme, which was, originally, an April fools joke. However, the theme was used for the prequel, Dark Void Zero.[20] He composed all the songs in an eight-bit fashion by connecting the wires on an actual NES console and cartridge to create authenticity.
He arranged James Rolfe's The Angry Video Game Nerd "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" parody "You're a Mean One, Mr. Nerd" for the 2010 Christmas special, with orchestra and eight-bit audio elements.[21]
McCreary also performed with his orchestra band live at Sony's E3 2016 press conference throughout the show and composed the score of the 2018 God of War game.[22]
Personal life
McCreary married singer/songwriter Raya Yarbrough in 2010. They have collaborated on the music of Battlestar Galactica, Outlander, Defiance, Da Vinci's Demons, among other projects.[23][24] Their daughter Sonatine, named after the musical term sonatina, was born on June 2, 2014.[25]
Other influences
McCreary credits composers Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein, Danny Elfman, Ennio Morricone, John Williams, and Shirley Walker as being key to his growing up adoring film music. They were his heroes while he was growing up.[26] Contemporary composers including Hans Zimmer continue to inspire McCreary's growth.
Works
Film scores
Television
Video games
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dark Void Zero | |
| Dark Void | Nominated- IFMCA Award for Best Original Score for Interactive Media | |
| 2011 | SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs | |
| 2012 | Moon Breakers | |
| 2013 | Defiance | |
| 2015 | Assassin's Creed Syndicate | Jack the Ripper DLC Composed with Austin Wintory |
| 2018 | God of War | Nominated- The Game Award for Best Score Soundtrack Nominated- HMMA Award for Best Original Score in a Video Game |
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Music of Battlestar Galactica for Solo Piano | September 13, 2011[29][30] | BSX | CD, download |
Film soundtracks
| Title | Release date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest Stop: Dead Ahead | November 28, 2006 | Plan R | CD, download |
| Wrong Turn 2: Dead End | September 18, 2007 | La-La Land | CD |
| Rest Stop: Don't Look Back | October 21, 2008[31] | La-La Land | CD, download |
| Battlestar Galactica: The Plan | October 27, 2009[32] | La-La Land | CD, Download |
| Chillerama Presents Zom-B-Movie Soundtrack | November 23, 2011[33] | BSX | CD, download |
| Europa Report | August 2, 2013[34] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| Knights of Badassdom | February 11, 2014[35] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie | September 2, 2014[36] | Sparks and Shadows | Download, Blu-ray |
| Everly | January 20, 2015[37] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| The Forest | January 8, 2016[38] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| The Boy | January 22, 2016[39] | Lakeshore Records | CD, download |
| 10 Cloverfield Lane | March 11, 2016[40] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| 10 Cloverfield Lane | December 7, 2016[41] | Mondo/Sparks and Shadows | Vinyl |
| Colossal | April 7, 2017[42] | Lakeshore Records | CD, download |
| Rebel in the Rye | September 8, 2017[43] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| Unrest | September 22, 2017[44] | Sparks and Shadows | download |
| Happy Death Day | October 13, 2017[45] | Back Lot Music | CD, download |
| Revolt | October 13, 2017[46] | Lakeshore Records | download |
| The Cloverfield Paradox | February 5, 2018[47] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| Hell Fest | September 28, 2018[48] | Sparks and Shadows | download |
| I Still See You | October 12, 2018[49] | Sparks and Shadows | download |
| Welcome Home | November 16, 2018 | Sparks and Shadows | Download |
| Happy Death Day 2U | February 13, 2019 | Back Lot Music | Download |
| The Professor and the Madman | May 10, 2019 | Sparks and Shadows | CD, Download |
| Rim of the World | May 24, 2019 | BMG | Download |
| Godzilla: King of the Monsters | May 31, 2019 | WaterTower Music/Sparks and Shadows | CD, Download |
| Child's Play | June 21, 2019 | N/A | N/A |
Television soundtracks
| Title | Release date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battlestar Galactica | March 16, 2004 | La-La Land | CD (credited for 8 tracks) |
| Battlestar Galactica: Season One | June 21, 2005 | La-La Land | CD |
| Battlestar Galactica: Season 2 | June 20, 2006 | La-La Land | CD |
| Battlestar Galactica: Season 3 | October 23, 2007 | La-La Land | CD |
| Eureka | August 26, 2008[50] | La-La Land | CD |
| Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | December 23, 2008[51] | La-La Land | CD, download |
| Caprica (pilot episode) | June 16, 2009[52] | La-La Land | CD |
| Battlestar Galactica: Season 4 | July 28, 2009 | La-La Land | CD |
| Battlestar Galactica: The Plan and Razor | February 23, 2010[53] | La-La Land | CD, download |
| Human Target: Season 1 | October 8, 2010[54][55] | WaterTower, La-La Land | CD, download |
| The Cape | September 27, 2011[56] | La-La Land | CD |
| A Very Eureka Christmas: Original Holiday Soundtrack | November 20, 2012[57] | Back Lot | Download |
| Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome | March 12, 2013[58] | La-La Land | CD |
| Da Vinci's Demons | May 28, 2013[59] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| Defiance | June 17, 2013[60] | Sparks and Shadows | Download |
| Caprica | July 30, 2013[61] | La-La Land | CD |
| The World of Steam: The Clockwork Heart | November 20, 2013[62] | Sparks and Shadows | Download |
| Black Sails | January 28, 2014[63] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| Da Vinci's Demons – Season 2 | May 27, 2014[64] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, Download |
| Outlander, Vol. 1 | February 10, 2015[65] | Madison Gate Records / Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | September 4, 2015[66] | Hollywood Records | CD, download |
| Outlander, Vol. 2 | September 25, 2015[67] | Madison Gate Records / Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| Da Vinci's Demons – Season 3 | November 3, 2015[68] | Sparks and Shadows | CD, Download |
| Outlander, Season 2 | October 28, 2016[69] | Madison Gate Records / Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| The Walking Dead | October 20, 2017[70] | Lakeshore Records | CD, download |
| Outlander, Season 3 | February 9, 2018[71] | Madison Gate Records / Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
| Outlander, Season 4 | May 31, 2019[72] | Madison Gate Records / Sparks and Shadows | CD, download |
Video game soundtracks
| Title | Release date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Void | February 9, 2010[73] | Sumthing Else | CD, download |
| SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs | April 12, 2011[74][75] | Sony, La-La Land | CD, download |
| Moon Breakers | June 19, 2012[76] | Conan the Furky | Download |
| Defiance | April 2, 2013[77] | Sparks and Shadows | Download |
| Assassin's Creed Syndicate: Jack the Ripper | December 15, 2015[78] | Ubisoft Music | Download (EP) |
| God of War | April 13, 2018[79] | Sony Classical | CD, download |
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Temporal Distortion"[80] | 2012 | |
| "You Are My Home"(featuring Brendan McCreary)[81] | 2012 | |
| "Da Vinci's Demons"(Main Title Theme)[82] | 2013 | Da Vinci's Demons: Original Television Soundtrack |
| "I Forever" (Young Beautiful in a Hurry & Bear McCreary)[83] | 2013 |
Other appearances
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Maverick Regeneration"[84] | 2011 | Various artists | Play For Japan: The Album | |
| "Main Title Theme Song" (Unkle Remix)[85] | 2013 | Various artists | The Walking Dead: Original Soundtrack – Vol. 1 | |
| N/A | 2013 | Dethklok | Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem – A Klok Opera Soundtrack | Orchestra |
Awards and nominations
References
- Weisman, Jon. "LIVE From the Creative Arts Emmys". Variety. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
- "67th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Television Academy. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- McCreary, Bear (October 13, 2011). "'I Don't Want to Die a Virgin' Music Video!". BearMcCreary.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- Relyea, Kie (January 12, 2005). "Score for the Stars: Bellingham High grad now composes for 'Battlestar Galatica'". The Bellingham Herald. Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017 – via BearMcCreary.com.
- McCreary, Bear (June 7, 2006). "ScoreKeeper interviews Battlestar Galactica's Bear McCreary!!!". Interviewed by ScoreKeeper. AintItCool.com. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- "Biography". BearMcCreary.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2009.
- Sepinwall, Alan (June 22, 2008). "Sepinwall on TV: Michael Giacchino and Bear McCreary, score keepers". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
- Ryan, Maureen (June 16, 2008). "'Battlestar Galactica' provides some Earth-shattering 'Revelations'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 29, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
- McCreary, Bear (July 25, 2009). "Human Target Screens Today". BearMcCreary.com. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- Burlingame, Jon (July 8, 2010). "Emmy Music Nominations Announced". FilmMusicSociety.org. Archived from the original on August 17, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
- McCreary, Bear (July 25, 2010). "I Am Leaving 'Human Target'". BearMcCreary.com.
- Fitzpatrick, Kevin (July 23, 2010). "Comic Con 2010: The Cape Casts a Mighty Shadow". Ugo.com. UGO Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010.
- Nguyen, Hanh (July 23, 2010). "'Walking Dead' reveals trailer, taps Bear McCreary as composer". Zap2it.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- Boucher, Geoff. "'Agents of SHIELD': Clark Gregg's 'commanding presence' calls the tune for composer Bear McCreary". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
- "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Original Soundtrack Album)". September 4, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- Hartmann, Graham (October 17, 2013). "Dethklok, 'Blazing Star' – Exclusive Song Premiere". Loudwire.com. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- "Bear McCreary Scoring TNT's 'Snowpiercer' TV Series". filmmusicreporter. Film Music Reporter. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- Yamato, Jen (July 2, 2010). "Exclusive: 'Step Up 3D' Billboard Art Premiere!". Cinematical.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- Barton, Steve (March 10, 2015). ""Silent Night" music video by Raya Yarbrough & Bear McCreary, directed by Joe Lynch". Dread Central. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- Diener, Matt (April 2011). "Interview with Bear McCreary (April 2011)". Squareenixmusic.com. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- Napolitano, Jayson (December 16, 2010). "Bear McCreary Vs. The Angry Video Game Nerd: A Christmas Special". Original Sound Version. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- Davis, Justin (June 13, 2016). "E3 2016: New God of War Announced". IGN.com. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- McCreary, Bear (February 24, 2009). "I'm Getting Married!!". BearMcCreary.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2009. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- "Malibu Wedding Photographer". Archived from the original on September 5, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
- McCreary, Bear. "Sonatine Yarbrough McCreary". BearMcCreary.com.
- Barnett, Barbara (July 29, 2016). "A Conversation with Outlander Composer Bear McCreary". Original Sound Version. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- FITZ (April 26, 2011). "Music Review: Bear McCreary – Human Target Soundtrack". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- Weisman, Jon (September 15, 2013). "LIVE From the Creative Arts Emmys: Tracking the winners at Sunday's Creative Arts ceremony". Variety. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- McCreary, Bear (September 14, 2011). "Battlestar Galactica Solo Piano CD". BearMcCreary.com. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "The Music of Battlestar Galactica for Solo Piano". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Rest Stop – Don't Look Back: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Battlestar Galactica: The Season 1 soundtrack". Amazon. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- "Zom-B-Movie Soundtrack". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Europa Report". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Knights of Badassdom". iTunes Store. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- "Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie". iTunes Store. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
- "Everly". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- "The Forest". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- "The Boy". Amazon. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- "10 Cloverfield Lane (Music from the Motion Picture)". Amazon. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
- "10 Cloverfield Lane – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 2XLP". MondoTees.com. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
- "Colossal". Amazon. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- "Rebel in the Rye". Amazon. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- "Unrest". Amazon. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- "Happy Death Day". Amazon. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- "Revolt". Amazon. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- Bear McCreary, The Cloverfield Paradox, ASIN B079LV52GR
- "Hell Fest". Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- "I Still See You". Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- "Eureka". La-La Land Records. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Terminator – The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Original Television Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- Maureen Ryan (January 23, 2009). "'Battlestar Galactica' veterans move on to 'Caprica'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
- "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan and Razor (Original Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Human Target (Original Television Soundtrack – Season 1)". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Human Target: Limited Edition (3CD-Set)". La-La Land Records. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- McCreary, Bear (September 20, 2011). "The Cape Soundtrack CD". BearMcCreary.com. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "A Very Eureka Christmas (Original Holiday Soundtrack From the Television Series)". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "La-La Land Records Re-Engages in the Cylon Wars With Two New Soundtracks Composed by Bear McCreary". CineMedia Promotions. February 5, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Da Vinci's Demons (Original Television Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Defiance (Original Television Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Music of Bear McCreary Featured on CAPRICA Original Soundtrack, Out 7/30". Broadway World. July 25, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "The World of Steam: The Clockwork Heart – EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Black Sails (A Starz Original Series Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- "Da Vinci's Demons – Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- "Outlander (Original Television Soundtrack), Vol. 1". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
- "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Original Soundtrack Album)". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- "Outlander, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- "Da Vinci's Demons (Original Television Soundtrack from Season 3)". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- "Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) by Bear McCreary on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
- "The Walking Dead(Original Television Soundtrack)". Amazon. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- "Outlander: Season 3 (Original Television Soundtrack)". Amazon. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- "Outlander: Season 4 (Original Television Soundtrack)". Amazon. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
- "Dark Void (Original Video Game Score)". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "SOCOM 4 (Original Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "SOCOM 4: Limited Edition (2-CD Set)". La-La Land Records. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Moon Breakers – EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Defiance (Original Video Game Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Assassin's Creed Syndicate: Jack the Ripper (Original Game Soundtrack) – EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- "God of War (PlayStation Soundtrack)". Amazon. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- "Temporal Distortion – Single". Apple Inc. iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "You Are My Home (feat. Brendan McCreary) – Single". Apple Inc. iTunes Store. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
- "Da Vinci's Demons (Main Title Theme) – Single". Apple Inc. iTunes Store. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "I Forever – Single". Apple Inc. iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "Play For Japan: The Album". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- "The Walking Dead: AMC Original Soundtrack, Vol. 1". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
External links
- Bear McCreary on IMDb
- Official website
- MAFgest 2016 interview
- Audio Interview on GeeksOn!
- "Of Duduks and Dylan: Negotiating Music and the Aural Space in Battlestar Galactica'', by Eftychia Papanikolaou; chapter in Cylons in America: Critical Studies of Battlestar Galactica, edited by Tiffany Potter and C. W. Marshall, 224–236. New York and London: Continuum, 2007.
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