Introduction to Mark Snow
Mark Snow, a renowned television composer, passed away on Friday at his home in Connecticut at the age of 78. He is best known for converting the theme of "The X-Files" into an unlikely chart hit in the 1990s.
Career Highlights
As a 15-time Emmy nominee, Snow composed music for over 200 episodes of Chris Carter’s creepy Fox series, including both big-screen incarnations featuring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Six of his Emmy nominations were for "The X-Files," while five others were for highly rated television films and miniseries such as "Something About Amelia," "An American Story," and "Helter Skelter."
Innovative Composition Style
Snow, a Juilliard-trained composer, began his career composing music for full orchestras in the 1970s. However, he was one of the first to transition to an all-electronic milieu in the late 1980s, working alone in his home studio. All the music for "The X-Files" was created using synthesizers, samplers, and other music machines, with some episodes featuring up to 40 minutes of original music.
Tributes and Legacy
Composer Sean Callery, who viewed Snow as a mentor and friend, praised his "limitless talent and creativity" and his generosity in providing guidance to other composers. Callery believes that Snow’s music for "The X-Files" brought a "completely new language of musical storytelling" to television. Snow’s theme for the show, which featured an echo-rhythmic figure and an eerie melody, became a huge hit in 1993.
Other Notable Works
Snow also composed music for other notable series, including "Millennium," "Harsh Realm," and "The Lone Gunmen." He received another Emmy nomination for his theme for "Nowhere Man" in 1996. Additionally, Snow wrote music for several films, including the last four movies by French filmmaker Alain Resnais, and received a César nomination for "Private Fears in Public Places" in 2007.
Early Life and Education
Born Martin Fulterman on August 26, 1946, in Brooklyn, Snow began studying piano at the age of 10 and later added drums and oboe to his repertoire. He attended the New York High School of Music and Art and later studied at the Juilliard School of Music from 1964 to 1968. During his time at Juilliard, Snow became friends with fellow composer Michael Kamen.
Transition to Television Composition
Snow’s transition to television composition began in the 1970s, when he started working on episodic television shows such as "Starsky & Hutch" and "Family." He also studied with veteran TV composers Earle Hagen and George Tremblay to improve his scoring techniques. Snow’s first big hit was the romantic drama "Hart to Hart," for which he composed the theme and over 90 episodes.
Later Career and Awards
After his success with "The X-Files" in the 1990s, Snow composed music for several other notable series, including "Smallville," "Ghost Whisperer," and "Blue Bloods." He received numerous awards and nominations, including a Golden Note Award in 2005 and a Career Achievement Award from the TV Academy in 2014. Snow is survived by his wife, Glynnis, three daughters, and grandchildren.
