New Universal Logo, New Jerry Goldsmith Arrangement

Two of Hollywood's major film studios are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, Paramount and Universal.  Along with a studio's storied film history comes decades of musical cues, including the famous fanfares that accompany the logos on-screen before a movie begins.  Franz Waxman wrote for Warner Bros., and Alfred Newman's 20th Century Fox Fanfare is perhaps the most widely recognized of all of these brief musical moments.

Today, Universal Pictures introduces a new version of its classic "globe" logo, along with a new arrangement of Jerry Goldsmith's classic score.

From Universal's press release trumpeting the new logo:

Award-winning film composer Brian Tyler (Fast and Furious franchise) provided a new arrangement of Jerry Goldsmith’s classic score, which has accompanied the logo since 1997.  The iconic theme of Goldsmith’s original composition remains, but the orchestration has been bolstered with a choir, new string parts and drum cadence utilizing world percussion instruments.

“We wanted to utilize the classic melody that we all know and bring it into the 21^st century, while still being very respectful of what Jerry Goldsmith did originally,” said Tyler.  “I wanted it to be a celebration of all the great movies Universal has done over the years—connecting the past to the present.”  

You can see the logo "in action" at screenings of DR. SUESS' THE LORAX, beginning today, and at subsequent Universal Pictures releases throughout this 100th anniversary year.

--Nathan Cone