Alf Clausen, 1941-2025
A secret society gathers in a shadowy hall beneath Springfield, chanting a rollicking anthem. “Who controls the British crown? Who keeps the metric system down? We do! We do!” The Stonecutters’ song from The Simpsons episode “Homer the Great” is a brassy, absurd ode to conspiracy-laden brotherhood, its melody as sharp as the show’s satire. This unforgettable tune, like so much of what made The Simpsons a cultural juggernaut, sprang from the genius of Alf Clausen, the composer who scored nearly every episode for 27 seasons. When Clausen died on May 29 at 84, he left behind a legacy that ensured Springfield’s music would echo forever in the hearts of fans.
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Longtime lovers of the show, myself included, have long been aware that The Simpsons would not have been The Simpsons without Clausen. From 1990 to 2017, he was the show’s musical soul, crafting nearly 600 episode scores and conducting a 35-piece orchestra with the precision of a symphonic maestro and the mischief of a stand-up comic. His compositions — spanning jazz riffs, rock anthems, bluesy interludes, and Broadway-style showstoppers — gave the show its emotional depth and comedic bite. Matt Groening, the show’s creator, dubbed him “our secret weapon,” a testament to Clausen’s ability to make every gag land and every tender moment linger.