Stan LePard

{{Infobox person

| name = Stan LePard

| birth_name = Stanley James LePard

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1956|8|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|2|11|1956|8|10|df=y}}

| death_place = Washington, U.S.

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Composer
orchestrator
sound designer

}}

| years_active = 1980–2021

| module = {{Infobox musical artist

| embed = yes

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| instrument = {{flatlist|

Piano
synthesizer

}}

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

Stanley James LePard (August 10, 1956 – February 11, 2021) was an American composer, orchestrator and sound designer. He is best known for his work on the Halo and Destiny game series, as well as Guild Wars 2. In addition to games, he has also composed for numerous Microsoft software products, including Encarta and Windows.

Early life

LePard was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Commposition at Eastern Washington University, as well as a master's degree in Music Education at University of North Texas.{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2021 |title=Stanley James LePard, 64 |url=https://cdapress.com/news/2021/feb/17/stanley-james-lepard-64/ |website=Couer d'Alene Press}}

Career

Starting from 1980, LePard composed for TV shows and films. During the late 1980s, LePard was part of the new wave band Secret Cinema. He was also part of industrial band Steel Porn Rhino along with Jerry Schroeder, a fellow composer and sound designer whom he continued to collaborate with on later projects.

Around 1993, LePard started doing work on various multimedia software products under the Microsoft Home line, including Encarta and 3D Movie Maker. This led to him composing the music for Hover!, a game included with Windows 95; it was the first game that he composed for.{{Cite web |date=2003 |title=Crimson Skies Composer Stan LePard and Audio Lead David Henry |url=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/c/crimsonskies/themakers2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116013349/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/c/crimsonskies/themakers2.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2008 |website=Xbox.com}} He also composed the shutdown sound for Windows 98, as well as the installation music for Internet Explorer Starter Kit 3.0, which gained recognition from its later inclusion in Windows XP's out-of-box experience.{{Cite web |last=Orr |first=Ed |date=June 3, 2021 |title=Guild Wars 2: Stan LePard – A Guiding Hand And A Musical Legacy |url=https://gamespace.com/all-articles/news/guild-wars-2-stan-lepard-a-guiding-hand-and-a-musical-legacy/ |website=GameSpace.com}}{{Cite web|last=Feldman|first=Brian|date=2017-07-11|title=Damn, This Semi-Hidden Windows XP Track That Only Plays Once Is a Total Banger|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/07/this-windows-xp-track-that-only-plays-once-is-a-total-banger.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=Intelligencer|language=en-us|archive-date=2020-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615155910/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/07/this-windows-xp-track-that-only-plays-once-is-a-total-banger.html|url-status=live}}

LePard's first game score to utilize a live orchestra was Crimson Skies, released in 2000. He aimed to write music inspired by 1930s film and concert music, without being derivative of particular composers or styles. Starting with MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, he also provided orchestrations for scores written by other composers, such as Duane Decker and Stephen Rippy.{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2007 |title=Interview with Stan LePard Music |url=http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=139 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520230555/http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=139 |archive-date=May 20, 2007 |website=Music 4 Games}}

Starting from 2012, he has contributed to the music of various events and expansions of Guild Wars 2. His first contribution was a track for the game's first Halloween event Shadow of the Mad King 2012, based on a short piano sketch by Maclaine Diemer that he transformed into a full composition. He also provided orchestration work, which Diemer has praised for relieving his anxiety over wasting the studio's budget, making sure his compositions were not "unplayable nonsense", as well as adding extra harmonic and melodic sophistication to his compositions.{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Steven |date=May 22, 2021 |title=The Guild Wars 2 Audio Team Remembers Stan LePard |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/interviews/the-guild-wars-2-audio-team-remembers-stan-lepard-2000122046 |website=MMORPG.com}} He also composed and orchestrated music for its expansions Heart of Thorns and Path of Fire.{{Cite web |last=Screenager |date=October 26, 2017 |title=Maclaine Diemer Brings Musical Magic to the Path of Fire Soundtrack |url=https://www.gaisciochmagazine.com/interview/path_of_fire_soundtrack__mclaine_diemer__interview.html |website=Gaiscioch Magazine}}

Death

LePard died on February 11, 2021, aged 64, following a intracerebral hemorrhage. To commemorate him, an NPC named Van Leopard and a memorial statue for him was added to Guild Wars 2 on May 11, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=May 11, 2021 |title=Guild Wars 2 Honors Late Composer Stan LePard With In-Game Statue And More |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/guild-wars-2-honors-late-composer-stan-lepard-with-in-game-statue-and-more/1100-6491337/ |website=GameSpot}}

Notable works

= Games =

class="wikitable sortable" width="auto" ! Year !! Title !! Role(s) !! Ref.
rowspan="1" \| 1995 \| Hover! \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 1996 \| Microsoft Golf 3.0 \| Music \| {{Cite web \|last=LePard \|first=Stan \|title=Stan LePard Music - Credits \|url=http://stanlepardmusic.com/Stan_LePard_Music_-_Credits-Composer.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214043910/http://stanlepardmusic.com/Stan_LePard_Music_-_Credits-Composer.html \|archive-date=December 14, 2010 \|website=Stan LePard Music}}
rowspan="1" \| 1997 \| Fighter Ace \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 1998 \| Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 1999 \| King of Dragon Pass \| Music \|
rowspan="2" \| 2000 \| Crimson Skies \| Music \|
MechWarrior 4: Vengeance \| Orchestration \| {{Cite web \|last=LePard \|first=Stan \|title=Stan LePard Music - Credits-Orchestrator \|url=http://stanlepardmusic.com/Stan_LePard_Music_-_Credits-Orchestrator.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214043916/http://stanlepardmusic.com/Stan_LePard_Music_-_Credits-Orchestrator.html \|archive-date=December 14, 2010 \|website=Stan LePard Music}}
rowspan="1" \| 2001 \| Project Gotham Racing \| Menu music with Jerry Schroeder \|
rowspan="6" \| 2002 \| NBA Inside Drive 2002 \| Music with various others \|
Links 2003 \| Orchestration \|
Combat Flight Simulator 3 \| Music \|
Sneakers \| US version; music ("Mouse's in the House") \|
Age of Mythology \| Orchestration \|
MechAssault \| Orchestration \|
rowspan="3" \| 2003 \| Rise of Nations \| Orchestration \|
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge \| Music \|
Links 2004 \| Music with Mark Roos \|
rowspan="3" \| 2004 \| Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots \| Orchestration \|
Van Helsing \| Orchestration \|
Halo 2 \| Orchestration \|
rowspan="4" \| 2006 \| Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends \| Orchestration \|
Uno \| Music \|
Texas Hold 'em \| Music \|
Microsoft Flight Simulator X \| Music \|
rowspan="6" \| 2007 \| Aegis Wing \| Music \|
Shadowrun \| Orchestration \|
Hexic 2 \| Music with Jerry Schroeder \|
Halo 3 \| Orchestration \|
Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties \| Music with Stephen Rippy \|
Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Acceleration \| Music \|
rowspan="3" \| 2008 \| Fable II Pub Games \| Music \|
Peggle Nights \| Orchestration \|
Too Human \| Orchestration \|
rowspan="2" \| 2009 \| Halo Wars \| Orchestration \|
Halo 3: ODST \| Orchestration \|
rowspan="2" \| 2010 \| Toy Soldiers \| Music \|
Halo 3: ODST \| Music with various others; orchestration \|
rowspan="2" \| 2011 \| Full House Poker \| Music \|
CastleVille \| Orchestration \|
rowspan="3" \| 2012 \| Wreckateer \| Music with Thomas Miller \|
Guild Wars 2: Shadow of the Mad King 2012 \| Music ("The Lunatic Court") \|
CityVille 2 \| Orchestration \|
rowspan="2" \| 2013 \| World Series of Poker: Full House Pro \| Music \|
Peggle 2 \| Music with Guy Whitmore \|
rowspan="3" \| 2014 \| Guild Wars 2: Living World Season 2 \| Music with Maclaine Diemer and Lena Raine \|
Destiny \| Music with various others; orchestration with Mark McKenzie \|
Marvel Contest of Champions \| Orchestration \|
rowspan="2" \| 2015 \| Destiny: The Taken King \| Orchestration \|
Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns \| Music ("View from the Canopy"); orchestration \|
rowspan="2" \| 2016 \| Plants vs. Zombies Heroes \| Sound design with various others \|
Destiny: Rise of Iron \| Music with various others \|
rowspan="2" \| 2017 \| Destiny 2 \| Copying with various others \|
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire \| Music with Maclaine Diemer, Wilbert Roget II, and Brendon Williams \|
rowspan="2" \| 2018 \| BattleTech \| Orchestration \|
Six Ages: Ride Like the Wind \| Music \|
rowspan="2" \| 2019 \| Destiny 2: Shadowkeep \| Production assistance \|
Guild Wars 2: The Icebrood Saga \| Music with various others \|
rowspan="1" \| 2020 \| Microsoft Flight Simulator \| Music with various others \|
rowspan="1" \| 2021 \| Toy Soldiers HD \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 2024 \| Destiny 2: The Final Shape \| Copying with various others \|

class="wikitable sortable" width="auto"

! Year !! Title !! Role(s) !! Ref.

rowspan="1" | 1995

| Hover!

| Music

rowspan="1" | 1996

| Microsoft Golf 3.0

| Music

| {{Cite web |last=LePard |first=Stan |title=Stan LePard Music - Credits |url=http://stanlepardmusic.com/Stan_LePard_Music_-_Credits-Composer.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214043910/http://stanlepardmusic.com/Stan_LePard_Music_-_Credits-Composer.html |archive-date=December 14, 2010 |website=Stan LePard Music}}

rowspan="1" | 1997

| Fighter Ace

| Music

rowspan="1" | 1998

| Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition

| Music

rowspan="1" | 1999

| King of Dragon Pass

| Music

rowspan="2" | 2000

| Crimson Skies

| Music

MechWarrior 4: Vengeance

| Orchestration

| {{Cite web |last=LePard |first=Stan |title=Stan LePard Music - Credits-Orchestrator |url=http://stanlepardmusic.com/Stan_LePard_Music_-_Credits-Orchestrator.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214043916/http://stanlepardmusic.com/Stan_LePard_Music_-_Credits-Orchestrator.html |archive-date=December 14, 2010 |website=Stan LePard Music}}

rowspan="1" | 2001

| Project Gotham Racing

| Menu music with Jerry Schroeder

rowspan="6" | 2002

| NBA Inside Drive 2002

| Music with various others

Links 2003

| Orchestration

Combat Flight Simulator 3

| Music

Sneakers

| US version; music ("Mouse's in the House")

Age of Mythology

| Orchestration

MechAssault

| Orchestration

rowspan="3" | 2003

| Rise of Nations

| Orchestration

Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge

| Music

Links 2004

| Music with Mark Roos

rowspan="3" | 2004

| Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots

| Orchestration

Van Helsing

| Orchestration

Halo 2

| Orchestration

rowspan="4" | 2006

| Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends

| Orchestration

Uno

| Music

Texas Hold 'em

| Music

Microsoft Flight Simulator X

| Music

rowspan="6" | 2007

| Aegis Wing

| Music

Shadowrun

| Orchestration

Hexic 2

| Music with Jerry Schroeder

Halo 3

| Orchestration

Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties

| Music with Stephen Rippy

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Acceleration

| Music

rowspan="3" | 2008

| Fable II Pub Games

| Music

Peggle Nights

| Orchestration

Too Human

| Orchestration

rowspan="2" | 2009

| Halo Wars

| Orchestration

Halo 3: ODST

| Orchestration

rowspan="2" | 2010

| Toy Soldiers

| Music

Halo 3: ODST

| Music with various others; orchestration

rowspan="2" | 2011

| Full House Poker

| Music

CastleVille

| Orchestration

rowspan="3" | 2012

| Wreckateer

| Music with Thomas Miller

Guild Wars 2: Shadow of the Mad King 2012

| Music ("The Lunatic Court")

CityVille 2

| Orchestration

rowspan="2" | 2013

| World Series of Poker: Full House Pro

| Music

Peggle 2

| Music with Guy Whitmore

rowspan="3" | 2014

| Guild Wars 2: Living World Season 2

| Music with Maclaine Diemer and Lena Raine

Destiny

| Music with various others; orchestration with Mark McKenzie

Marvel Contest of Champions

| Orchestration

rowspan="2" | 2015

| Destiny: The Taken King

| Orchestration

Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns

| Music ("View from the Canopy"); orchestration

rowspan="2" | 2016

| Plants vs. Zombies Heroes

| Sound design with various others

Destiny: Rise of Iron

| Music with various others

rowspan="2" | 2017

| Destiny 2

| Copying with various others

Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire

| Music with Maclaine Diemer, Wilbert Roget II, and Brendon Williams

rowspan="2" | 2018

| BattleTech

| Orchestration

Six Ages: Ride Like the Wind

| Music

rowspan="2" | 2019

| Destiny 2: Shadowkeep

| Production assistance

Guild Wars 2: The Icebrood Saga

| Music with various others

rowspan="1" | 2020

| Microsoft Flight Simulator

| Music with various others

rowspan="1" | 2021

| Toy Soldiers HD

| Music

rowspan="1" | 2024

| Destiny 2: The Final Shape

| Copying with various others

= Software =

class="wikitable sortable" width="auto" ! Year !! Title !! Role(s) !! Ref.
rowspan="1" \| 1993 \| Microsoft Dinosaurs \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 1994 \| Microsoft Ancient Lands \| Music \|
rowspan="4" \| 1995 \| 3D Movie Maker \| Music with Ted Allen, Jerry Schroeder, and Randy Budnikas \|
Encarta 96 \| Music \|
Microsoft Music Central 96 \| Music \|
Microsoft Cinemania 96 \| Music \|
rowspan="4" \| 1996 \| Internet Explorer Starter Kit 3.0 \| Music \|
Encarta 97 \| Music \|
Microsoft Cinemania 97 \| Music \|
Microsoft Bookshelf 1996-97 Edition \| Music \|
rowspan="2" \| 1997 \| Encarta 98 \| Music \|
Microsoft Bookshelf 98 \| Music \|
rowspan="3" \| 1998 \| Windows 98 \| Shutdown sound \|
Encarta 99 \| Music \|
Microsoft Bookshelf 99 \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 1999 \| Encarta 2000 \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 2000 \| Encarta 2001 \| Music \|
rowspan="2" \| 2001 \| Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP \| Sound design \|
Encarta 2002 \| Music \|
rowspan="2" \| 2002 \| Encarta 2003 \| Music \|
Microsoft Money 2003 \| Music \|
rowspan="2" \| 2003 \| Encarta 2004 \| Music \|
Microsoft Money 2004 \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 2004 \| Encarta 2005 \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 2005 \| Encarta 2006 \| Music \|
rowspan="1" \| 2006 \| Encarta 2007 \| Music \|

class="wikitable sortable" width="auto"

! Year !! Title !! Role(s) !! Ref.

rowspan="1" | 1993

| Microsoft Dinosaurs

| Music

rowspan="1" | 1994

| Microsoft Ancient Lands

| Music

rowspan="4" | 1995

| 3D Movie Maker

| Music with Ted Allen, Jerry Schroeder, and Randy Budnikas

Encarta 96