Trevor Jones (composer)
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Trevor Jones | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Trevor Alfred Charles Jones |
| Born | 23 March 1949 Cape Town, South Africa |
| Genres | Film score |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, conductor |
| Instrument | Synthesizer |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Website | www |
Trevor Alfred Charles Jones (born 23 March 1949) is a South African orchestral film score composer. Although not especially well known outside the film world, he has composed for numerous films and his music has been critically acclaimed for both its depth and emotion.
Career
At the age of six, Jones already had decided to become a film composer. In 1967 he attended the Royal Academy of Music in London with a scholarship and afterwards worked for five years for the BBC on reviews of radio and television music. In 1974 Jones attended the University of York from which he graduated with a master's degree in Film and Media Music. At the National Film and Television School Jones studied for three years on general film-making and film and sound techniques. During this time he wrote the music for twenty-two student projects. In 1981 Jones wrote the score for the Academy Award-winning short movie The Dollar Bottom and for the short Black Angel.
Jones was soon after brought to the attention of John Boorman, who was in the midst of making his Arthurian epic, Excalibur (1981). Although mostly tracked with classical music by Richard Wagner and Carl Orff, Boorman also needed original dramatic cues (as well as period music) for certain scenes. Given Excalibur's modest budget, a "name" composer was out of the question, so Boorman commissioned the up-and-coming young Jones.
Excalibur brought Jones to the attention of Jim Henson, who was making The Dark Crystal (1982), and looking for a composer who was young and eager to work in the experimental, free-wheeling way which Henson preferred. The resultant score is an expansive, multi-faceted work, featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, augmented by inventive use of Fairlight and Synclavier synthesizers, as well as period instruments like crumhorn, recorder, and the unusual double-flageolet, which Jones came across by chance in a music store.
Jones followed Excalibur with scores for the horror films The Appointment (1981) and The Sender (1982), and the pirate adventure Nate and Hayes (1983). In 1985 Jones composed one of his best scores, for the acclaimed television production The Last Place on Earth.
Jones reunited with Henson for the 1986 fantasy musical Labyrinth. David Bowie wrote and performed the vocal tracks for this movie, including the hit "Underground", while Jones provided the dramatic score.
Reflecting that his complex, symphonic score for The Dark Crystal garnered little notice, Jones began to re-think his entire approach to dramatic scoring. Around the mid-80s, Jones' work became more electronic-based (much like fellow film composer Maurice Jarre), eschewing identifiable themes in favor of mood-enhancing synth chords and minimalist patterns. While he did write a somber, chamber orchestra score in 1988 for Dominick and Eugene (which featured classical guitarist John Williams), scores like Angel Heart (1987), Mississippi Burning (1988) and Sea of Love (1989) are more typical of Jones' output during this period.
Jones' return to large-orchestra scoring came with 1990s Arachnophobia, and he provided a light-hearted Georges Delerue-flavoured score for Blame it on the Bellboy in 1992.
Jones' most popular success came later in 1992 with his score for The Last of the Mohicans, and his soaring, passionate music belies the difficulties which afflicted its creation. Director Michael Mann initially asked Jones to provide an electronic score for the film, but late in the game, it was decided an orchestral score would be more appropriate for this historic epic. Jones hurried to re-fashion the score for orchestra in the limited time left, while the constant re-cutting of the film meant music cues sometimes had to be rewritten several times to keep-up with the new timings. Finally, with the release date looming, composer Randy Edelman was called-in to score some minor scenes which Jones did not have time to do. Jones and Edelman received co-credit on the film (thus making this very popular and acclaimed score ineligible for Oscar consideration). Although all were displeased with the circumstances, Jones was not fired from the film despite reports to the contrary.
Jones became active in television in the 90s, with orchestral scores for several Hallmark productions, including Gulliver's Travels, Merlin and Cleopatra. He also provided a fun, jazzy, 30s-style score for Richard III (1995), which features a swing-band setting of Christopher Marlowe's The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. In 1997 Jones worked for the first time with acclaimed director Ridley Scott, providing an electronic/orchestral/rock-flavoured soundtrack for G.I. Jane (1997).
Soundtracks
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Studio(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Brittania: The First of the Last | John Samson | — | Short film |
| 1980 | Black Angel | Roger Christian | 20th Century Fox (theatrical only) | Short film |
| Brothers and Sisters | Richard Woolley | British Film Institute (BFI) | Also conductor. | |
| The Beneficiary | Carlo Gébler | National Film and Television School (NFTS) | — | |
| 1981 | The Dollar Bottom | Roger Christian | Cinema International Corporation (theatrical only) | Short film |
| Excalibur | John Boorman | Orion Pictures Warner Bros. |
Also conductor. Bootleg soundtracks released by Old World Music and Excalibur Enterprises. | |
| Time Bandits | Terry Gilliam | HandMade Films Janus Films Avco Embassy Pictures |
Composed the Greek Dance Music cue only. Majority of score by Mike Moran. | |
| The Appointment | Lindsey C. Vickers | First Principle Film Productions Ltd. | Also conductor. | |
| 1982 | The Sender | Roger Christian | Paramount Pictures | Soundtrack released by La-La Land Records. |
| The Dark Crystal | Jim Henson | ITC Entertainment Henson Associates Universal Pictures (US/Canada) Columbia Pictures (International) |
First collaboration with Jim Henson. Score performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Soundtrack released by Warner Bros. Records, reissued in 2007 by La-La Land Records. | |
| 1983 | Nate and Hayes | Ferdinand Fairfax | Paramount Pictures | Soundtrack released by La-La Land Records. |
| 1985 | Runaway Train | Andrei Konchalovsky | Northbrook Films Golan-Globus Productions The Cannon Group Inc. |
Also conductor. Soundtrack released by Enigma Records, reissued by La-La Land Records. |
| 1986 | Labyrinth | Jim Henson | Henson Associates. Lucasfilm TriStar Pictures |
Second and last collaboration with Jim Henson. Soundtrack released by EMI with the songs by David Bowie and about 20 minutes of score. |
| 1987 | Angel Heart | Alan Parker | Carolco Pictures TriStar Pictures |
— |
| 1988 | Dominick and Eugene | Robert M. Young | Orion Pictures | Also conductor. Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande. |
| Just Ask for Diamond | Stephen Bayly | 20th Century Fox | — | |
| Mississippi Burning | Alan Parker | Orion Pictures | Soundtrack released by Island Records. Nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Original Film Score. | |
| Sweet Lies | Nathalie Delon | Island Pictures | — | |
| 1989 | Sea of Love | Harold Becker | Universal Pictures | Soundtrack released by Mercury Records. |
| 1990 | Bad Influence | Curtis Hanson | Triumph Releasing Corporation | — |
| Arachnophobia | Frank Marshall | Amblin Entertainment Hollywood Pictures |
First fully orchestral score since Labyrinth. Soundtrack released by Hollywood Records. | |
| 1991 | True Colors | Herbert Ross | Paramount Pictures | — |
| Chains of Gold | Rod Holcomb | M.C.E.G. Orion Pictures |
— | |
| 1992 | Freejack | Geoff Murphy | Morgan Creek Productions Warner Bros. |
— |
| Blame it on the Bellboy | Mark Herman | Hollywood Pictures | Also orchestrator. | |
| CrissCross | Chris Menges | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | Also conductor and orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Intrada Records. | |
| The Last of the Mohicans | Michael Mann | Morgan Creek Productions 20th Century Fox (US/Canada) Warner Bros. (International) |
Composed with Randy Edelman. Original soundtrack released by Morgan Creek Records. A re-recorded version, performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Joel McNeely, was released by Varèse Sarabande in 2000. Nominated for a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Score. | |
| 1993 | Cliffhanger | Renny Harlin | Carolco Pictures Le Studio Canal+ Pioneer Corporation RCS MediaGroup TriStar Pictures |
Also orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Scotti Bros. Records, reissued by Intrada Records in 2011. |
| In the Name of the Father | Jim Sheridan | Hell's Kitchen Films Universal Pictures |
Also orchestrator. | |
| 1994 | De Baby Huilt | Mijke de Jong | — | Short film. |
| 1995 | Hideaway | Brett Leonard | TriStar Pictures | Also conductor. |
| Kiss of Death | Barbet Schroeder | 20th Century Fox | Also conductor and orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Milan Records. | |
| Richard III | Richard Loncraine | United Artists Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Soundtrack released by London International. | |
| 1996 | Loch Ness | John Henderson | PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Working Title Films Gramercy Pictures (US/Canada) Universal Pictures (International) |
Also orchestrator. |
| 1997 | Brassed Off | Mark Herman | Prominent Features Miramax Films (US) Channel Four Films (UK) |
Also conductor and orchestrator. Soundtrack released by RCA Victor. Nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Original Film Score. |
| Roseanna's Grave | Paul Weiland | Spelling Films Fine Line Features PolyGram Filmed Entertainment |
Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. | |
| G.I. Jane | Ridley Scott | Hollywood Pictures Caravan Pictures Largo Entertainment |
Also orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Hollywood Records. | |
| Lawn Dogs | John Duigan | Strand Releasing (US) The Rank Organisation (UK) |
Also orchestrator. | |
| 1998 | Desperate Measures | Barbet Schroeder | Mandalay Entertainment TriStar Pictures |
Also conductor and orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Velvel Records. |
| Dark City | Alex Proyas | Mystery Clock Cinema New Line Cinema |
Also orchestrator. Soundtrack released by TVT Records. | |
| The Mighty | Peter Chelsom | Scholastic Miramax Films |
Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra Soundtrack released by Pangaea Records. The song « The Mighty » was nominated for a Golden Globe. | |
| Titanic Town | Roger Michell | Shooting Gallery | — | |
| Talk of Angels | Nick Hamm | Miramax Films | — | |
| 1999 | Notting Hill | Roger Michell | PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Working Title Films Universal Pictures |
Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra Soundtrack released by Island Records. |
| Molly | John Duigan | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | — | |
| 2000 | Thirteen Days | Roger Donaldson | Beacon Pictures New Line Cinema |
Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Soundtrack released by New Line Records. |
| The Long Run | Jean Stewart | Universal Focus | Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. | |
| 2001 | From Hell | Albert Hughes Allen Hughes |
20th Century Fox | Also orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande. |
| 2002 | Crossroads | Tamra Davis | MTV Films Zomba Films Paramount Pictures |
Also orchestrator. |
| 2003 | The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen | Stephen Norrington | Angry Films International Production Company JD Productions 20th Century Fox |
Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande |
| I'll Be There | Craig Ferguson | Morgan Creek Productions Warner Bros. |
Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. | |
| 2004 | Around the World in 80 Days | Frank Coraci | Walden Media Walt Disney Pictures |
Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Soundtrack released by Walt Disney Records. |
| I, Robot | Alex Proyas | Davis Entertainment Overbrook Entertainment 20th Century Fox |
Rejected score. Replaced by Marco Beltrami. | |
| The Unsteady Cough | Sam Leifer Jonathan van Tulleken |
Rise Films | Short film. | |
| 2005 | Bôkoku no îjisu | Junji Sakamoto | Cross Media | — |
| Chaos | Tony Giglio | Capitol Films Lionsgate |
Also orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Contemporary Media Recordings as a digital-only release. Direct-to-DVD in the United States. | |
| 2006 | Fields of Freedom | David de Vries | Greystone Communications | Soundtrack released by Contemporary Media Recordings. |
| We Fight to Be Free | Kees van Ostrum | Greystone Communications | Short film. | |
| 2008 | Three and Out | Jonathan Gershfield | Worldwide Bonus Entertainment | Soundtrack released by Contemporary Media Recordings. |
| 2011 | War Paint | Marcus Carlos Liberski | — | Short film. |
| 2012 | How to Steal 2 Million | Charlie Vundla | Indigenous Film | — |
| 2015 | To Tokyo | Caspar Seale Jones | Mannequin Films | In post-production. |
Television
- Ripping Yarns (1979) (1 episode)
- Joni Jones (1982) (TV mini-series)
- The World of The Dark Crystal (1983) (TV documentary) (uncredited) (material from The Dark Crystal)
- Those Glory Glory Days (1983) (TV Movie)
- One of Ourselves (1983) (TV Movie)
- The Last Days of Pompeii (1984) (TV mini-series) (3 episodes)
- This Office Life (1984) (TV Movie)
- Aderyn Papur... and Pigs Might Fly (1984) (TV Movie)
- The Last Place on Earth (1985) (TV mini-series) (7 episodes)
- Arena (1985) (TV documentary) (1 episode)
- Dr. Fischer of Geneva (1985) (TV Movie)
- Jim Henson Presents the World of International Puppeteering (1985) (TV Series)
- Inside the Labyrinth (1986) (TV documentary)
- Coppers (1988) (TV Movie)
- Murder by Moonlight (1989) (TV Movie)
- Screen Two (1989) (TV series) (1 episode)
- By Dawn's Early Light (1990) (TV Movie)
- Guns: A Day in the Death of America (1990) (TV documentary)
- Death Train (1993) (TV Movie)
- Generations (1994–present) (Drama series)
- Gulliver's Travels (1996) (TV Movie)
- Merlin (1998) (TV mini-series) (Emmy Award Nomination)
- Cleopatra (1999) (TV mini-series)
- Dinotopia (2002) (TV mini-series)
- Witness from Dinotopia (2002) (TV documentary)
- Jozi-H (2006-2007) (TV series)
- Blood and Oil (2009) (TV Movie)
- Labyrinth (2012) (TV mini-series)
Video games
Influences
Selected bibliography
- Cooper, David, Christopher Fox & Ian Sapiro (eds.), CineMusic? Constructing the Film Score, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008. Book page on publisher's website
- Sapiro, Ian & David Cooper, "Spotting, Scoring, Soundtrack: The Evolution of Trevor Jones's Score for Sea of Love", 17-32 in CineMusic? Constructing the Film Score, edited by David Cooper, Christopher Fox & Ian Sapiro. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008.
