Dimitri Tiomkin

Accomplished, prolific composer, in the US from 1925, whose lush, often sentimental scores proved effective across a wide range of genres. Tiomkin first gained prominence in the 1930s for his accompaniments to films such as Frank Capra's "Lost Horizon" (1937) and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939). Highlights of his work including the poignant lone harmonica segment from "High Noon" (1951)--the film won him two Oscars, one for his score and one, in collaboration with lyricist Ned Washington, for the song "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'"--and his more fully orchestrated scores for "Red River" (1948), "Giant" (1956) and "The High and the Mighty" (1954).

In 1970 Tiomkin realized a long-cherished project, serving as executive producer on the US-USSR co-production, "Tchaikovsky".

• Also Credited As:
  Dmitri Tiomkin
• Born:
  May 10, 1899 in St Petersburg, Russia
• Died:
  November 11, 1979.
• Job Titles:
  Composer, Conductor, Songwriter, Author, Concert pianist, Director, Producer

Education

• University of St Mary s, law, JD
• St Petersburg Conservatory of Music, St Petersburg, Russia
• St Petersburg University, St Petersburg, Russia

Milestones

• 1925 Pursued a career as a concert pianist, conductor and composer in Europe before emigrating to US
• 1970 Returned to Russia to serve as executive producer on a biopic of Tchaikovsky (1971)