'The Simpsons' Fires Composer Alf Clausen After 27 Seasons

The Simpsons is making a major change to its musical score, and the first step has been to fire show composer Alf Clausen, the man who handled the music of The Simpsons for 27 seasons.

Even more surprising than the change-up was how it was handled: Clausen tells Variety that he got a call from Simpsons producer Richard Sakai, telling him the show was seeking "a different kind of music," and that his services would no longer be needed.

Clausen began with The Simpsons in the 1990 to '91 season, and has scored a reported 560 episodes of the show. He earned two Emmys (and 21 nominations) during that run. His final episode is now the Season 28 finale, which aired back in May.

Variety speculates that the removal of the famous composer comes as part of The Simpsons's recent cost-cutting measures, as the full orchestra and recording sessions that came with Clausen can now be cut as well. The new composer and musical score will premiere with The Simpsons Season 29 this October; who that composer will be, and what the new musical approach will be, are questions that have yet to be answered.

The Simpsons Season 29 premieres on Fox on Sunday, October 1st.