David Arnold

David Arnold

David Arnold is an English film and television composer from Luton, England, born in 1962. His work is described as cinematic classical, and he is best known for action and science-fiction scores, alongside music for television, comedy, drama and period productions.

Film scores

Arnold scores five James Bond films, and also writes the music for Stargate (1994), Independence Day (1996) and Godzilla (1998). He also composes for a range of other films, including The Young Americans, which marks his major film debut alongside director Danny Cannon, with whom he first works after they become friends while he is at sixth form college in Luton. The song “Play Dead”, from that film and performed with Björk, charts in the UK.

After Stargate, Arnold goes on to score Last of the Dogmen, and then works again with Roland Emmerich on Independence Day and Godzilla. Excerpts from Stargate become widely used in film trailers. He also composes for four films directed by John Singleton.

Television and stage work

Arnold provides music for British television series including the 2000 remake of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Little Britain, Come Fly With Me and Sherlock. For Sherlock, he and co-composer Michael Price win a Creative Arts Emmy for the score of “His Last Vow”, the final episode of the third series. He also scores the BBC/Amazon Prime series Good Omens, adapted by Neil Gaiman from the novel he writes with Terry Pratchett.

In theatre, Arnold teams up with Richard Thomas to write the music and lyrics for the West End musical Made in Dagenham. He also appears in The Life of Rock with Brian Pern.

Collaborations and other projects

Arnold works with a wide range of artists, including Cast, Kaiser Chiefs, Massive Attack and Pulp, as well as solo performers Natasha Bedingfield, Melanie C, Björk, Chris Cornell, Shirley Manson, Mark Morriss, Nina Persson and Shirley Bassey. In 2009 he produces Bassey’s album The Performance. He also collaborates with Lethal Bizzle and Sinead Harnett on “Come This Far”, a track combining orchestral, grime and soul elements.

He writes a new arrangement of Ron Grainer’s Doctor Who theme for Big Finish Productions’ Eighth Doctor audio dramas, and his version is used from Storm Warning until it is later replaced and then restored for the Dark Eyes box set. During film production, his scores are conducted by Nicholas Dodd.

Recognition and public roles

Arnold wins a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television for Independence Day. He is also a fellow and member of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. In 2012 he receives an honorary degree from the University of West London. He is appointed Musical Director for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and he serves on the United Kingdom’s jury for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.

Arnold performs at a tribute to John Barry at the Royal Albert Hall, where he sings a song composed by Barry and plays the guitar part of the James Bond theme. He later appears at an orchestral performance of Independence Day at the Royal Albert Hall, giving a pre-show talk.

Personal connections

Arnold becomes friends with Danny Cannon while studying at sixth form college in Luton, and the two later make their respective major film debuts with The Young Americans. He is the second cousin of Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice and serves as an ambassador for CARE International in the UK.