Composer Danny Elfman speaks with Paul Sommerfeld of the Music Division about his life and work as a composer. The discussion explores Elfman’s early introduction to music, his work as a film composer, his more recent pursuit of concert music and a return to rock during the pandemic. In this interview Elfman provides a substantial description of his creative process, including a segment about his Suite for Chamber Orchestra, which was premiered as part of the Concerts from the Library of Congress series on May 4th, 2023 by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Danny Elfman’s Suite for Chamber Orchestra was cocommissioned by the Library of Congress, the Andre Kostelanetz Royalty Pool, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

For transcript and more information, visit https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast10934