# Trevor Jones (composer)

Trevor Alfred Charles Jones (born 23 March 1949) is a South African composer of film and television scores, who has worked primarily in the United Kingdom.
He is best known for his scoring work during the 1980s and 1990s, where he worked on many acclaimed films including Excalibur, Runaway Train, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Mississippi Burning, The Last of the Mohicans and In the Name of the Father. Jones has collaborated with filmmakers like John Boorman, Andrei Konchalovsky, Jim Henson, Alan Parker, Jim Sheridan, Barbet Schroeder and Michael Mann.
Jones has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards for Best Film Music - for Mississippi Burning, The Last of the Mohicans, and Brassed Off. He has also been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards - Best Original Score and Best Original Song, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special for the miniseries Merlin.
Jones has been a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in Britain since 2006. In 1999, he became the first chair of the music department of the National Film and Television School.

## Early life and education

Jones was born in Cape Town in 1949, one of three siblings born to a Cape Coloured family. His family were relocated to District Six following the passing of the Group Areas Act. Jones' family suffered from chronic poverty and substance abuse, and his mother was the sole breadwinner for their family.
At the age of six, Jones already had decided to become a film composer. At 10, he was accepted to the South African College of Music on a municipal bursary. 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. One of these films was the 1981's The Dollar Bottom, which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

## Career

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 Savage Islands (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 wrote 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 1990s, with orchestral scores for several Hallmark productions, including Gulliver's Travels, Merlin and Cleopatra. He also provided a fun, jazzy, 1930s-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 Ridley Scott, providing an electronic/orchestral/rock-flavoured soundtrack for G.I. Jane (1997).

## Personal life

He is married to Victoria Seale and has four children. His South-African born uncle, the actor Norman Florence, together with his aunt Rhoda Florence and his cousin Peter Florence, founded the Hay Festival in 1988, which Jones has attended almost every year since its inception.

## Filmography
### Film
#### Feature films

| Year | Title | Director | Studio(s) | Notes |
| 1980 | Brothers and Sisters | Richard Woolley | British Film Institute | Also conductor. |
| 1981 | The Appointment | Lindsey C. Vickers | First Principle Film Productions Ltd. | Also conductor. |
| 1981 | Excalibur | John Boorman | Orion Pictures Warner Bros. | Also conductor. Bootleg soundtracks released by Old World Music and Excalibur Enterprises. |
| 1981 | Time Bandits | Terry Gilliam | HandMade Films Janus Films Avco Embassy Pictures | Additional music only. Main score by Mike Moran and George Harrison |
| 1982 | The Sender | Roger Christian | Paramount Pictures | Soundtrack released by La-La Land Records. |
| 1982 | The Dark Crystal | Jim Henson Frank Oz | ITC Entertainment Henson Associates Universal Pictures | 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 | Savage Islands | 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 final 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. |
| 1988 | Just Ask for Diamond | Stephen Bayly | 20th Century Fox | — |
| 1988 | Mississippi Burning | Alan Parker | Orion Pictures | Soundtrack released by Island Records. Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film Music |
| 1988 | 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 | — |
| 1990 | 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 | — |
| 1991 | Chains of Gold | Rod Holcomb | M.C.E.G. Orion Pictures | — |
| 1992 | Freejack | Geoff Murphy | Morgan Creek Productions Warner Bros. | — |
| 1992 | Blame It on the Bellboy | Mark Herman | Hollywood Pictures | Also orchestrator. |
| 1992 | CrissCross | Chris Menges | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | Also conductor and orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Intrada Records. |
| 1992 | 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 – BAFTA Award for Best Film Music Nominated – Golden Globe Award 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. |
| 1993 | In the Name of the Father | Jim Sheridan | Hell's Kitchen Films Universal Pictures | Also orchestrator. |
| 1995 | Hideaway | Brett Leonard | TriStar Pictures | Also conductor. |
| 1995 | Kiss of Death | Barbet Schroeder | 20th Century Fox | Also conductor and orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Milan Records. |
| 1995 | 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. |
| 1996 | Brassed Off | Mark Herman | Prominent Features Miramax Films (US) Channel Four Films (UK) | Also conductor and orchestrator. Soundtrack released by RCA Victor. Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film Music |
| 1997 | Roseanna's Grave | Paul Weiland | Spelling Films Fine Line Features PolyGram Filmed Entertainment | Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. |
| 1997 | G.I. Jane | Ridley Scott | Hollywood Pictures Caravan Pictures Largo Entertainment | Also orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Hollywood Records. |
| 1997 | 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. |
| 1998 | Dark City | Alex Proyas | Mystery Clock Cinema New Line Cinema | Also orchestrator. Soundtrack released by TVT Records. |
| 1998 | The Mighty | Peter Chelsom | Scholastic Miramax Films | Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra Soundtrack released by Pangaea Records. Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song |
| 1998 | Titanic Town | Roger Michell | Shooting Gallery | — |
| 1998 | 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. |
| 1999 | 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. |
| 2000 | 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 |
| 2003 | I'll Be There | Craig Ferguson | Morgan Creek Productions Warner Bros. | Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. |
| 2004 | I, Robot | Alex Proyas | Davis Entertainment Overbrook Entertainment 20th Century Fox | Rejected score. Replaced by Marco Beltrami. |
| 2004 | Around the World in 80 Days | Frank Coraci | Walden Media Walt Disney Pictures | Composed with David A. Stewart Also orchestrator. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Soundtrack released by Walt Disney Records. |
| 2005 | Aegis | Junji Sakamoto | Cross Media Kadokawa Daiei Studio Shochiku Company | — |
| 2005 | Chaos | Tony Giglio | Capitol Films Lionsgate | Also orchestrator. Soundtrack released by Contemporary Media Recordings as a digital-only release. |
| 2008 | Three and Out | Jonathan Gershfield | Worldwide Bonus Entertainment | Soundtrack released by Contemporary Media Recordings. |
| 2010 | My Hunter's Heart | Craig Foster Damon Foster | Foster Brothers Productions Videovision Entertainment | Documentary film |
| 2011 | How to Steal 2 Million | Charlie Vundla | Indigenous Film | — |
| 2018 | To Tokyo | Caspar Seale Jones | Mannequin Films | |

#### Short films

| Year | Title | Director | Studio(s) | Notes |
| 1979 | Brittania: The First of the Last | John Samson | — | |
| 1980 | Black Angel | Roger Christian | 20th Century Fox (theatrical only) | |
| 1980 | The Beneficiary | Carlo Gébler | National Film and Television School (NFTS) | |
| 1981 | The Dollar Bottom | Roger Christian | Cinema International Corporation (theatrical only) | |
| 1994 | De Baby Huilt | Mijke de Jong | — | |
| 2004 | The Unsteady Cough | Sam Leifer Jonathan van Tulleken | Rise Films | |
| 2005 | Aegis | Junji Sakamoto | Cross Media Kadokawa Daiei Studio Shochiku Company | — |
| 2006 | Fields of Freedom | David de Vries | Greystone Communications Stargate Studios | For museum exhibit |
| 2006 | We Fight to Be Free | Kees van Ostrum | Greystone Communications Stargate Studios | For museum exhibit |
| 2011 | War Paint | Marcus Carlos Liberski | — | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1979 | Ripping Yarns | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Joni Jones | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 1983 | Those Glory Glory Days | Television film |
| 1983 | One of Ourselves | Television film |
| 1984 | The Last Days of Pompeii | Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| 1984 | This Office Life | Television film |
| 1984 | Aderyn Papur... and Pigs Might Fly | Television film |
| 1985 | Dr. Fischer of Geneva | Television film |
| 1985 | The Last Place on Earth | Miniseries; 7 episodes |
| 1985 | Arena | Documentary series; 1 episode |
| 1985 | Jim Henson Presents The World of Puppetry | Documentary series; 6 episodes |
| 1988 | Coppers | Television film |
| 1989 | Murder by Moonlight | Television film |
| 1989 | Screen Two | 1 episode |
| 1990 | By Dawn's Early Light | Television film |
| 1990 | Guns: A Day in the Death of America | Documentary |
| 1993 | Death Train | Television film |
| 1994-2014 | Generations | Theme music only |
| 1996 | Gulliver's Travels | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Merlin | Miniseries; 2 episodes Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition |
| 1999 | Cleopatra | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Dinotopia | Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| 2006-07 | Jozi-H | 13 episodes |
| 2009 | Blood and Oil | Television film |
| 2012 | Labyrinth | Miniseries; 2 episodes |

### Video games

* Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (2005)