Bruce Faulconer
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Bruce Laland Faulconer is an American composer, musician, and music producer. He is the President of Faulconer Productions Music Corporation and its CakeMix Recording Studio, based in
Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
,
Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
. Faulconer wrote the score for 243 episodes of the
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version of the Japanese animated series ''
Dragon Ball Z ''Dragon Ball Z'' (''DBZ'') is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. Part of the ''Dragon Ball'' media franchise, it is the sequel to the 1986 ''Dragon Ball'' television series and adapts the latter 325 chapters ...
'' which aired in America from 1999 to 2003 and composed the theme tune of the US version of the 1991 film '' Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug''. He has since released a remastered nine album volume series of his works, ''The Best of Dragonball Z''. He has written numerous works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, piano, choral music and instrumental groups since the 1960s. A number of his works have been performed by the
Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Dallas, Texas. Its principal performing venue is the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District, Dallas, Arts District of downtown Dallas. History The orchestra tr ...
and others and he has worked extensively with various universities and colleges, most notably the
University of Texas The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 students as of fall 2 ...
. Compositions include "Saxophone and Percussion" (1972), "Music for Chamber Orchestra" (1975), "Interface I" (1978), "Fantasia for Solo Viola (1980), "Sonata for flute and piano" (1986) and "Washington-on-the-Brazos, a Symphonic Poem" (1986), "Fantasia No. 2 for Solo Viola" (1990), and "Dragon Amnesty"—a Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (2020). Since 2020 he has collaborated with children's author Chris Parsons in composing songs for his children's audiobook series, ''A Little Spark'', which is to be adapted into an animated children's TV series. Faulconer has composed for numerous commercials, and in March 1995 he won a Golden ADDY Award at the American Advertising Awards for composing the music to a hunting commercial.


Early life and education

Faulconer was born in
Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
, Texas, to a naval aviator father. Due to his father's career, the family lived in various locations, including California, Florida, Hawaii and New Jersey. At ten years of age, he began piano lessons and began composing music after his teacher taught him the fundamentals of music notation. His high school band director noticed his talent and requested that he arrange one of his compositions for the band to play, which led to him conducting the piece when it was performed at a spring concert. In 1968, while in Point Mugu, California, he composed the entire music, with the exception of two hymns, for Scout Sunday in the Protestant services at the Point Mugu Missile Base. His compositions included an anthem called "They Shall Not Want " for the chapel choir, a choral introduction to the service, a benediction, a choral entitled "Amen", and a Prelude and Postlude for a brass trio in which he played lead trumpet. ''
Boys' Life ''Scout Life'' (formerly ''Boys' Life'') is the monthly magazine of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Its target readers are children between the ages of 6 and 18. The magazine‘s headquarters are in Irving, Texas. ''Scout Life'' is published ...
'' described his music as "somewhat unconventional in its fresh, bold style, and warm and rich in appeal". Faulconer enrolled at the
University of Texas The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 students as of fall 2 ...
to study
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. Unable to forget about music, he asked the director of composition at the music department for permission to take the final exam in music theory; after achieving a high grade, he changed his major to music, studying under resident composer Hunter Johnson. Faulconer earned a Bachelor of Music degree with high honors in theory and composition, a Master of Music in composition, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in composition. Faulconer was subsequently awarded two
Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...
presidential postdoctoral fellowships and an Ohio Arts Council grant. While living in Ohio, he taught music for a period at
Denison University Denison University is a Private university, private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, United States. One of the earliest colleges established in the former Northwest Territory, Denison University was founded in 1831. It was first called ...
in Granville. He then settled in Dallas, where he continued to teach for a few years and began composing for the
Dallas Symphony Orchestra The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Dallas, Texas. Its principal performing venue is the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District, Dallas, Arts District of downtown Dallas. History The orchestra tr ...
.


Career


Early composing career

In 1971, Faulconer registered the copyright for the composition "Suite No. 3". In 1972 he won second place for a composition named "Saxophone and Percussion" in the
World Saxophone Congress The World Saxophone Congress is a festival gathering approximately 1000 saxophone, saxophonists and other musicians from all over the world. It is held every three years at a different congress centre in a different country and focuses primaril ...
Composition competition. In 1973, Faulconer's "Septet" was performed by the New Music Ensemble at the University of Texas. In 1975, he received the first prize of $500 in the first annual Shenna Meeker Memorial Composer's Competition, which led to his piece "Music for Chamber Orchestra" being performed by the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra on May 2 of that year. At this time he was working as a teaching assistant in music theory at the University of Texas while working on a doctorate in music composition under Karl Korte. Faulconer's "Interface I" premiered in September 1978 at the International Gaudeamus Music Week in the Netherlands. Concerts of his work were put on in
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,
Rotterdam Rotterdam ( , ; ; ) is the second-largest List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city in the Netherlands after the national capital of Amsterdam. It is in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, part of the North S ...
,
Utrecht Utrecht ( ; ; ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city of the Netherlands, as well as the capital and the most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. The ...
, and
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, and they were also broadcast over
Radio Netherlands Radio Netherlands (RNW; ) was a public radio and television network based in Hilversum, producing and transmitting programmes for international audiences outside the Netherlands from 1947 to 2012. Its services in Dutch ended on 11 May 2012. Eng ...
. In 1979, Faulconer composed "Interface IV : Music for Clarinet, Tape, and Bass clarinet". On April 16 1980, the NT Chamber Orchestra of the
University of North Texas The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public university, public research university located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Its main campus is in Denton, Texas, Denton, with a satellite campus in Frisco, Texas, Frisco. It serves as the ...
in
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put on a performance of Faulconer's "Music for Chamber Orchestra" along with
Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
's " Overture to Don Giovanni". On April 25–26, Faulconer was one of the composers featured at the first New Music Festival at
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a Public university, public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The main academic and residential campus is south of Toledo, Ohio. The university has nationally recognized progr ...
. He was a recipient of a
National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the feder ...
for 1981–82 and composed a work for chorus which was commissioned by the Marygrove College of
Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
. As a composer he was invited to the
MacDowell Colony MacDowell is an artist's residency program in Peterborough, New Hampshire. The program was founded in 1907 by composer Edward MacDowell and his wife, pianist and philanthropist Marian MacDowell. Prior to July 2020, it was known as the MacDo ...
for a residency in 1982. His "Sonata for Flute and Piano", and "Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra" were released in 1986 along with his "Washington-on-the-Brazos, a Symphonic Poem". "Washington-on-the-Brazos" was premiered by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra on 10 July 1986. He composed "Fantasia for Solo Viola" in 1980 and "Fantasia No. 2 for Solo Viola" in 1990. Fantasia No. 2, subtitled "Fatter Fiddles Flowing Freely", was performed at Bethany College in
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, during a two-day residence by Faulconer on March 1 1991, where it was commissioned for Professor T. David Lowe. Faulconer has composed for numerous commercials, and in March 1995 he won a Golden ADDY Award at the American Advertising Awards for his musical contribution to a hunting commercial shot in the
Wasatch Mountains The Wasatch Range ( ) or Wasatch Mountains is a mountain range in the western United States that runs about from the Utah-Idaho border south to central Utah. It is the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the G ...
of northern Utah.


''Dragon Ball Z''

In 1991, Faulconer composed the American version of the theme tune to the Japanese animated film '' Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug''. In 1997, Faulconer composed the score to the David Stephens sci-fi film ''Lebensborn'', which also used some of the music of
Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...
. From 1999 to 2003, he composed music for the successful series, ''
Dragon Ball Z ''Dragon Ball Z'' (''DBZ'') is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. Part of the ''Dragon Ball'' media franchise, it is the sequel to the 1986 ''Dragon Ball'' television series and adapts the latter 325 chapters ...
'', scoring 243 episodes which aired on
Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (CN) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the Cartoon Network, Inc., a sub-division of the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched on ...
until 2008. Commissioned by FUNimation, his first episodes were Episode 67/68 of season 3 in 1999 and ended with Episode 291 in 2003. In finding inspiration for composing for the series, Faulconer has stated: The ''
Dallas Observer ''Dallas Observer'' is a free digital and print publication based in Dallas, Texas. The ''Observer'' publishes daily online coverage of local news, restaurants, music, and arts, as well as longform narrative journalism. A weekly print issue circ ...
'' wrote that the ''Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug'' score: Faulconer has since recorded and remastered a nine album volume soundtrack series "The Best of Dragonball Z" at his CakeMix Recording Studio, consisting of almost nine hours of his ''Dragon Ball Z'' musical score.


Post-''Dragon Ball Z'' work

In 2004, Faulconer worked on the sound design and surround sound mix for the animated feature film '' Lady Death: The Motion Picture''. He has scored music for three seasons of '' Your New House'' on the
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, ''Your House and Home'', ''To Life'' on
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, and ''Reality of Speed'' on the Spike and
Speed Channel Speed was an American sports-oriented cable and satellite television network that was owned by the Fox Sports Media Group division of 21st Century Fox. The network was dedicated to motorsports programming, including auto racing, as well as a ...
. He has also composed for ''Bass Champs'' on
HDNet AXS TV () is an American specialty television, cable television channel majority-owned by Canadian broadcaster Anthem Sports & Entertainment. It is devoted primarily to Music television, music-related programming (such as concert films, Document ...
and the
Outdoor Channel Outdoor Channel is an American pay television, pay television channel focused on the outdoors, offering programming that includes hunting, fishing, western lifestyle, off-road motorsports and adventure. It was launched on April Fool's Day (April ...
. In 2013, Faulconer composed the music for the Tony Zavaleta feature film,'' The Bystander Theory''. Since 2020 he has collaborated with children's author Chris Parsons for his children's audiobook series, ''A Little Spark'', a fantasy series featuring a "brave young mouse, a fireless fire-breathing dragon, a freezing world, and an enemy to conquer". By mid-2021 he had composed 12 songs for the series, which was released on Amazon and iTunes. In September 2020 he released the track "Grandma's House". In February 2022 it was announced that BLKBX Creative Group had secured a rights deal with Parsons's Zuroam Media to adapt the book series into an animated children's TV series. Faulconer has composed a Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, known as "Dragon Amnesty", in which he draws upon fantasy and sci-fi influences. He is the President of Faulconer Productions Music Corporation and its CakeMix Recording Studio, and is based in Dallas, Texas.


Personal life

Faulconer married Carolyn Cail in
Port Isabel, Texas Port Isabel is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville combined statistical area, Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville Metropolitan Area, Matamoros ...
on December 28, 1972. He remarried to Lisa Sholtus on May 11, 1996, in Dallas; they have two sons.


See also

* Dragonball Z American Soundtrack series


References


External links


Faulconer ProductionsCakeMix RecordingBMI
- 296 works listed * {{DEFAULTSORT:Faulconer, Bruce 1951 births Living people American film score composers Place of birth missing (living people) American record producers American television composers University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts alumni American male film score composers Musicians from Dallas