Composer Larry Groupé speaks in Bloomington

Rather than creating a stuffy atmosphere, Emmy Award-winning composer Larry Groupé played video and music clips last night during his lecture in Sweeney Hall.
Jacobs professor Jeff Hass introduced Groupé.

“There’s a lot to cover,” Hass said. “Our guest will get to the pertinent points of his life in this lecture.”

Groupé took the stage after the brief introduction, but his presentation focused more on his music than his life.

An accomplished composer, he writes for movies, TV and in the more traditional concert format.

Some of his Emmy Award-winning pieces include music from television documentaries “Residue” and “Jonas Salk: Personally Speaking.”

For movies and TV, Groupé said the storyline is the song’s skeleton. Based on the plot twists and dialogue, he will adjust the atmosphere the music provides. 

For concert music, he is free to go wherever his will takes him. Keeping in mind that his audience was full of aspiring music composers, he advised students to open their networks.

“Go to film festivals,” Groupé said.

Continuing, he said to find the producers that usually loiter around and build relationships.

Before his lecture, the IDS got the chance to ask Groupé more about his advice to students, while also hearing about his background and creative process.

IDS What goes into composing music? That is to say, what is your creative process?

Larry Groupé It depends on the project. If it is a movie or TV series, the storyline is the inspiration.

If it is a concert piece, I am coming up with whatever ideas interest me because I am not bound by a script.

IDS So in terms of the actual writing process, what goes through your mind when you are creating music?

Groupé Whenever I am writing anything, it starts with some small idea.

All composing starts with a germ of an idea.

IDS You already mentioned the differences between composing for movies, television and traditional concert music.

Do you have a preference?

Groupé As long as I am writing something new, I like what I am doing.
The satisfaction comes from there, and if I can make a living from it, then that’s better.
In terms of movies and TV, there’s a deadline.
It helps keep everything moving along.

IDS Does the script make it harder to compose, since there are plot requirements?

Groupé They’re like puzzles musically. I just have to find the best way to solve the puzzle.

IDS What would you advise to students trying to get into your industry?

Groupé My biggest recommendation would be to meet fellow film students and collaborate with them.

You know, try to make a musical score with them. You need to build up relationships with other filmmakers.

IDS You have won two Emmy’s. What did that feel like?

Groupé It’s always great to win awards. It’s fleeting, though. Awards are always great, but they don’t always represent the heavy lifting you have done in your career path.

IDS That sounds a lot like your advice to students as well.

Groupé When you are independent you are always taking projects big and small.
If you want to gain experience in the beginning, you need to take on all that you can.
You need the practice — just to start to refine writing music to picture. I really like what I do. It’s very invigorating.

Follow reporter Audrey Perkins on Twitter @AudreyNLP.