As one of the most-nominated composers in Emmy history – with a total of 30 nominations and two wins in 1997 & ’98 – Clausen’s 27-year run on The Simpsons has sadly come to a close. Clausen received a phone call from producer Richard Sakai recently, stating that the company was seeking ‘a different kind of music’ and that his services would no longer be required. Although unconfirmed, his dismissal is speculated to be for financial reasons.
Clausen has scored more than 560 episodes of the series. Using a 35-piece orchestra every week – something that series creator Matt Groening insisted upon from the beginning – Clausen began early in the 1990-91 season, with his last complete score for the recently-aired season finale of Season 28. He won five Annie Awards for his work on the show, with songs such as ‘We Do (The Stonecutters’ Song)’, ‘Springfield, Springfield’, ‘Kamp Krusty’, the Planet Of The Apes parody ‘Dr. Zaius’ and the ‘Canyonero’ theme forever ingraining themselves within the world’s cultural landscape. Noted for his diverse musical abilities, Clausen’s other televisual work includes shows The Critic, ALF and Moonlighting.
