Alan Howarth is an American composer and sound designer who has worked on soundtracks for Hollywood films including the Star Trek and Halloween series, and is known for his collaborations with film director and composer John Carpenter.
Childhood and early career Alan Howarth grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Playing music in local rock bands, he opened for national touring acts including The Who and Cream. He then began to create original music in bands Braino and Pi Corp, using synthesizers. From 1976 he provided synthesizer support for fusion jazz band Weather Report, which relocated him to Los Angeles. Howarth caught his big break in 1980 when his music was used for a Star Trek movie trailer, after which he worked on the next five Star Trek films.
Films
Howarth's collaborations with John Carpenter include: Escape from New York, Halloween II, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Christine, Big Trouble in Little China, Prince of Darkness and They Live.
His music has been featured in films like The Osterman Weekend, The Lost Empire, Retribution, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, The Dentist and The Dentist 2, Boo, Evilution, Basement Jack, Hansel and Gretel, Zombie Night, and Brutal.
His award-winning sound designs have appeared in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Poltergeist, Back to the Future Part II, Back to the Future Part III, The Little Mermaid and Total Recall. His team received Academy Award awards for Best Sound Effects for The Hunt for Red October and Bram Stoker's Dracula directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He has also created some sound effects for Sound Ideas's award-winning "Series 6000: The General" royalty-free sound effects library.
Live performance Howarth performs his film scores in live concert to excerpts from the films, and has performed in Geneva, Kraków, St. Petersburg, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London and Paris.
Sound technology Howarth pioneered immersive multi-channel surround sound systems with Steven Taylor's "Dimension Audio" that included the early prototype theatrical 48.4 systems that are now known as Dolby Atmos and DTS sound immersion. His current research has resulted in founding of RA Music, which holds several worldwide patents for the conversion of standard musical recordings into tunings of the natural frequency spectrum as defined by nature, science and ancient architecture. Natural Frequencies Feature Film Composer and Sound Design Credits
Filmography YearTitleRole(s)Notes1979Star Trek: The Motion PictureSound effects creator1980The Final CountdownSpecial sound effects, composerGalaxinaSpecial sound effectsBattle Beyond the Stars1981Student BodiesElectronic music producer, electronic music recordingEscape from New YorkSound effects, music composerWith John CarpenterHalloween IIMusic composerRaiders of the Lost ArkSpecial sound effectsUncredited1982Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanPoltergeistNational Lampoon's Class ReunionFlying High II: The SequelThe ThingSpecial sound effects, additional musicWith John CarpenterHalloween III: Season of the WitchMusic composer1983ChristineThe Osterman WeekendElectronic sound designerTwilight Zone: The MovieSpecial sound effects1984Star Trek III: The Search for SpockGremlinsUncreditedBuckaroo BanzaiSpecial synthesized sound effectsExterminator 2Sound effects creatorHyperspaceSynthesized sound effectsThe Lost EmpireMusic composer1985Head OfficeWith James Newton HowardRunaway TrainElectronic sound effectsMy Science ProjectSpecial sound effects1986Wired to KillStar Trek IV: The Voyage HomeDuet for OneElectronic sound effectsBig Trouble in Little ChinaMusic composerWith John Carpenter1987Prince of DarknessRetributionThe Running ManSound processing1988Halloween 4: The Return of Michael MyersMusic composerBrothers in ArmsThey LiveMusic composer, synthesized sound effectsWith John CarpenterBeetlejuiceSpecial sound effectsUncreditedNorman's Awesome ExperienceSoundPhantasm IISound designer1989Star Trek V: The Final FrontierSpecial sound effectsThe Little MermaidProcessed sound effectsHalloween 5: The Revenge of Michael MyersMusic composer1990The Hunt for Red OctoberAdditional sound effectsClass of 1999Electronic sound effects, sound effects editorBack to the Future Part IIISpecial sound effectsUncreditedTotal RecallRoboCop 2DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost LampProcessed sound effectsThe Rescuers Down UnderProject AlienSpecial effects sound editor1991Final ApproachAdditional sound effectsCool as IceAdditional sound designSalmonberriesSound designStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered CountrySpecial sound effectsGrand CanyonSpecial sound effects editorThe Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the UniverseMusic composer1992Ramayana: The Legend of Prince RamaHoney, I Blew Up the KidSpecial sound effectsArmy of DarknessSound designer, sound supervisorBram Stoker's DraculaAdditional sound effectsThe WaterdanceSound effects editorFortress1994The MaskStargateProcessed sound effects1995Halloween: The Curse of Michael MyersMusic composerTank GirlSpecial sound effects1996The DentistMusic composer, special sound effectsMørkelegMusic composer1998The Dentist 21999Her Married LoverThe Omega CodeMusic composer, special sound effectsShe's All ThatAdditional sound designer2000The Prince of LightMusic composer, soundAlone with a StrangerMusic composer2002Britney, Baby, One More TimeSound designerStar Trek: Incident at Beta 9Sound effects2003The Sleep of ReasonSupervising sound editor2005BooMusic composer2007Headless HorsemanMusic composer, sound designer2008The Spiderwick ChroniclesSpecial sound designerEvilutionMusic composer2012BrutalDead ShadowsSound designer, sound mixer2019HoaxSound designer
References
External links Official website
RA Music Website