# John Kusiak

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American composer

John Kusiak Born (1948-07-20) July 20, 1948 (age 77) Occupation Composer

**John Kusiak** (born July 20, 1948) is an American composer best known for his work with documentary filmmaker [Errol Morris](/source/Errol_Morris). He won the 2012 [Cinema Eye Honors](/source/Cinema_Eye_Honors) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score for Morris' *[Tabloid](/source/Tabloid_(film))*.[1] Kusiak has composed music for live performance, commercials, and museum installations as well as film and television. He began scoring films for Boston-based [Northern Light Productions](/source/Northern_Light_Productions) in the 1980s while he was a touring rock and roll guitarist, and founded the studio Kusiak Music in 1992. He lives in Arlington, Massachusetts.[2]

## Work Process

Although his first instrument is guitar, he primarily composes film scores on piano.[2] In an essay about scoring [The Singing Revolution](/source/The_Singing_Revolution) (a documentary about Estonian resistance during World War II), Kusiak writes that his "empathetic response to the events depicted" provided the foundation for his work process.[3] Kusiak had minimal knowledge of Estonia's history before this project. Immersing himself in the footage and story, he developed a deep respect for the Estonian people's non-violent struggle for freedom from the Soviet Union. In order to convey chaos during the coup attempt, he utilized unconventional metrical units . The next theme, "The Hope theme" is supposed to mirror the emotional release of the Estonian people after the attempt.[4]

## Selected credits

- *[The American Experience](/source/American_Experience) (TV Series)* (16 episodes, 2003–2019)

- *[Team Foxcatcher](/source/Team_Foxcatcher)* (2016)

- *[The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst](/source/The_Jinx%3A_The_Life_and_Deaths_of_Robert_Durst)* (miniseries) (2 episodes, 2015)

- *After the Wall: A World United* (2011)

- *[Independent Lens](/source/Independent_Lens)* (2 episodes) (2009–2011)

- *[Tabloid](/source/Tabloid_(film))* (2010)

- *The Wall: A World Divided* (2010)

- *Yellowstone: Land to Life* (2009)

- *[Secrecy](/source/Secrecy_(film))* (2008)

- *[Have You Seen Andy?](/source/Have_You_Seen_Andy%3F)* (2007)

- *Aquarium* (2007)

- *[The Singing Revolution](/source/The_Singing_Revolution)* (2006)

- *[The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara](/source/The_Fog_of_War)* (2003) *Additional music (primary composer [Philip Glass](/source/Philip_Glass))*

- *[First Person](/source/First_Person_(2000_TV_series))* (12 episodes, 2000)

- *[WW III: World War III](/source/World_War_III_(1998_film))* (1998)

## Discography

- *Monhegan Suite and Other Musical Journeys* (2013)

- *Tabloid* (2011)

- *Errol Morris' First Person (Music from Season Two)* (2005)

- *Errol Morris' First Person (Music from Season One)* (2005)

- *Apokalypsis* (2003)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Shanahan, Mark and Goldstein, Meredith (Jan 18, 2012). "Arlington Musician Wins Cinema Eye Award For Best Score" The Boston Globe](https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2012/01/18/arlington-musician-wins-cinema-eye-award-for-best-score/7m7tyBEgkK6WMAJ8uX9JKI/story.html)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wickedlocal_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wickedlocal_2-1) [Laskowski, Nicole (Mar 04, 2010). *From Performing to Producing: The Music of John Kusiak* The Arlington Advocate](http://www.wickedlocal.com/arlington/features/x723444767/From-performing-to-producing-The-music-of-John-Kusiak)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Kusiak, John. Scoring *The Singing Revolution.* Retrieved 21 November 2013.](http://www.singingrevolution.com/cgi-local/content.cgi?pg=2&p=22)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Music - The Singing Revolution"](https://singingrevolution.com/about/music/). *Singing Revolution*. Retrieved May 14, 2024.

## External links

- [Official site](http://www.kusiakmusic.com)

- [John Kusiak](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0476322/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [John Kusiak](http://www.soundtrack.net/composers/database/?id=1019) at [soundtrack.net](/source/Soundtrack.net)

Authority control databases Artists MusicBrainz Other Yale LUX

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