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. At 10, he was accepted to the South African College of Music on a municipal bursary.

Filmography

Film

Feature films

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Year

! Title

! Director

! Studio(s)

! Notes

|-

|1980

! Brothers and Sisters

| Richard Woolley

| British Film Institute

| Also conductor.

|-

| rowspan="3" |1981

! The Appointment

| Lindsey C. Vickers

| First Principle Film Productions Ltd.

| Also conductor.

|-

! Excalibur

| John Boorman

| Orion Pictures<br />Warner Bros.

| Also conductor.<br />Bootleg soundtracks released by Old World Music and Excalibur Enterprises.

|-

!Time Bandits

| Terry Gilliam

| HandMade Films<br />Janus Films<br />Avco Embassy Pictures

| Additional music only. Main score by Mike Moran and George Harrison

|-

| rowspan="2" |1982

!The Sender

| Roger Christian

| Paramount Pictures

| Soundtrack released by La-La Land Records.

|-

! The Dark Crystal

| Jim Henson

Frank Oz

| ITC Entertainment<br />Henson Associates<br />Universal Pictures

| First collaboration with Jim Henson.<br />Score performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.<br />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<br />Golan-Globus Productions<br />The Cannon Group Inc.

| Also conductor.<br />Soundtrack released by Enigma Records, reissued by La-La Land Records.

|-

| 1986

!Labyrinth

| Jim Henson

| Henson Associates.<br />Lucasfilm<br />TriStar Pictures

| Second and final collaboration with Jim Henson.<br />Soundtrack released by EMI with the songs by David Bowie and about 20 minutes of score.

|-

| 1987

!Angel Heart

| Alan Parker

| Carolco Pictures<br />TriStar Pictures

|

|-

| rowspan="4" |1988

!Dominick and Eugene

| Robert M. Young

| Orion Pictures

| Also conductor.<br />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.<br />Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film Music

|-

!Sweet Lies

| Nathalie Delon

| Island Pictures

|

|-

| 1989

!Sea of Love

| Harold Becker

| Universal Pictures

| Soundtrack released by Mercury Records.

|-

| rowspan="2" |1990

!Bad Influence

| Curtis Hanson

| Triumph Releasing Corporation

|

|-

!Arachnophobia

| Frank Marshall

| Amblin Entertainment<br />Hollywood Pictures

| First fully orchestral score since Labyrinth.<br />Soundtrack released by Hollywood Records.

|-

| rowspan="2" |1991

!True Colors

| Herbert Ross

| Paramount Pictures

|

|-

! Chains of Gold

| Rod Holcomb

| M.C.E.G.<br />Orion Pictures

|

|-

| rowspan="4" |1992

! Freejack

| Geoff Murphy

| Morgan Creek Productions<br />Warner Bros.

|

|-

! Blame It on the Bellboy

| Mark Herman

| Hollywood Pictures

| Also orchestrator.

|-

! CrissCross

| Chris Menges

| Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

| Also conductor and orchestrator.<br />Soundtrack released by Intrada Records.

|-

! The Last of the Mohicans

| Michael Mann

| Morgan Creek Productions<br />20th Century Fox <small>(US/Canada)</small> <br />Warner Bros. <small>(International)</small>

| Composed with Randy Edelman.<br />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<br>Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score

|-

| rowspan="2" |1993

! Cliffhanger

| Renny Harlin

| Carolco Pictures<br />Le Studio Canal+<br />Pioneer Corporation<br />RCS MediaGroup<br />TriStar Pictures

| Also orchestrator.<br />Soundtrack released by Scotti Bros. Records, reissued by Intrada Records in 2011.

|-

! In the Name of the Father

| Jim Sheridan

| Hell's Kitchen Films<br />Universal Pictures

| Also orchestrator.

|-

| rowspan="3" |1995

! Hideaway

| Brett Leonard

| TriStar Pictures

| Also conductor.

|-

! Kiss of Death

| Barbet Schroeder

| 20th Century Fox

| Also conductor and orchestrator.<br />Soundtrack released by Milan Records.

|-

! Richard III

| Richard Loncraine

| United Artists<br />Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

| Soundtrack released by London International.

|-

| rowspan="2" |1996

! Loch Ness

| John Henderson

| PolyGram Filmed Entertainment<br />Working Title Films<br />Gramercy Pictures <small>(US/Canada)</small> <br />Universal Pictures <small>(International)</small>

| Also orchestrator.

|-

! Brassed Off

| Mark Herman

| Prominent Features<br />Miramax Films <small>(US)</small> <br />Channel Four Films <small>(UK)</small>

| Also conductor and orchestrator.<br />Soundtrack released by RCA Victor.

Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film Music

|-

| rowspan="3" |1997

! Roseanna's Grave

| Paul Weiland

| Spelling Films<br />Fine Line Features<br />PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

| Also orchestrator.<br />Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.

|-

! G.I. Jane

| Ridley Scott

| Hollywood Pictures<br />Caravan Pictures<br />Largo Entertainment

| Also orchestrator.<br />Soundtrack released by Hollywood Records.

|-

! Lawn Dogs

| John Duigan

| Strand Releasing <small>(US)</small> <br />The Rank Organisation <small>(UK)</small>

| Also orchestrator.

|-

| rowspan="5" |1998

! Desperate Measures

| Barbet Schroeder

| Mandalay Entertainment<br />TriStar Pictures

| Also conductor and orchestrator.<br />Soundtrack released by Velvel Records.

|-

! Dark City

| Alex Proyas

| Mystery Clock Cinema<br />New Line Cinema

| Also orchestrator.<br />Soundtrack released by TVT Records.

|-

! The Mighty

| Peter Chelsom

| Scholastic<br />Miramax Films

| Also orchestrator.<br />Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra<br />Soundtrack released by Pangaea Records.

Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song

|-

! Titanic Town

| Roger Michell

| Shooting Gallery

|

|-

! Talk of Angels

| Nick Hamm

| Miramax Films

|

|-

| rowspan="2" |1999

!Notting Hill

| Roger Michell

| PolyGram Filmed Entertainment<br />Working Title Films<br />Universal Pictures

| Also orchestrator.<br />Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra<br />Soundtrack released by Island Records.

|-

!Molly

| John Duigan

| Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

|

|-

| rowspan="2" |2000

!Thirteen Days

| Roger Donaldson

| Beacon Pictures<br />New Line Cinema

| Also orchestrator.<br />Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.<br />Soundtrack released by New Line Records.

|-

!The Long Run

| Jean Stewart

| Universal Focus

| Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.

|-

| 2001

!From Hell

| Albert Hughes<br />Allen Hughes

| 20th Century Fox

| Also orchestrator.<br />Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande.

|-

| 2002

!Crossroads

| Tamra Davis

| MTV Films<br />Zomba Films<br />Paramount Pictures

| Also orchestrator.

|-

| rowspan="2" |2003

!The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

| Stephen Norrington

| Angry Films<br />International Production Company<br />JD Productions<br />20th Century Fox

| Also orchestrator.<br />Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.<br />Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande

|-

!I'll Be There

| Craig Ferguson

| Morgan Creek Productions<br />Warner Bros.

| Also orchestrator.<br />Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.

|-

| rowspan="2" |2004

!I, Robot

| Alex Proyas

| Davis Entertainment<br />Overbrook Entertainment<br />20th Century Fox

| Rejected score. Replaced by Marco Beltrami.

|-

!Around the World in 80 Days

| Frank Coraci

| Walden Media<br />Walt Disney Pictures

| Composed with David A. Stewart<br>Also orchestrator.<br />Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.<br />Soundtrack released by Walt Disney Records.

|-

| rowspan="2" |2005

!Aegis

| Junji Sakamoto

| Cross Media<br>Kadokawa Daiei Studio<br>Shochiku Company

|

|-

!Chaos

| Tony Giglio

| Capitol Films<br />Lionsgate

| Also orchestrator.<br />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<br>Damon Foster

|Foster Brothers Productions<br>Videovision Entertainment

|Documentary film

|-

|2011

! How to Steal 2 Million

| Charlie Vundla

| Indigenous Film

|

|-

| 2018

! To Tokyo

| Caspar Seale Jones

| Mannequin Films

|

|}

Short films

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Year

! Title

! Director

! Studio(s)

! Notes

|-

| 1979

! Brittania: The First of the Last

| John Samson

|

| rowspan="2" |

|-

| rowspan="2" |1980

! Black Angel

| Roger Christian

| 20th Century Fox <small>(theatrical only)</small>

|-

!The Beneficiary

|Carlo Gébler

|National Film and Television School (NFTS)

| rowspan="2" |

|-

|1981

! The Dollar Bottom

| Roger Christian

| Cinema International Corporation <small>(theatrical only)</small>

|-

| 1994

! De Baby Huilt

| Mijke de Jong

|

|

|-

|2004

!The Unsteady Cough

|Sam Leifer<br />Jonathan van Tulleken

|Rise Films

|

|-

|2005

!Aegis

| Junji Sakamoto

| Cross Media<br>Kadokawa Daiei Studio<br>Shochiku Company

|

|-

| rowspan="2" |2006

!Fields of Freedom

| David de Vries

| rowspan="2" | Greystone Communications

Stargate Studios

| rowspan="2" | For museum exhibit

|-

!We Fight to Be Free

| Kees van Ostrum

|-

|2011

! War Paint

| Marcus Carlos Liberski

|

|

|}

Television

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Year

! Title

! Notes

|-

|1979

|Ripping Yarns

|1 episode

|-

|1982

|Joni Jones

|Miniseries;<br>2 episodes

|-

| rowspan="2" |1983

|Those Glory Glory Days

| rowspan="2" |Television film

|-

|One of Ourselves

|-

| rowspan="3" |1984

|The Last Days of Pompeii

|Miniseries;<br>3 episodes

|-

|This Office Life

| rowspan="3" |Television film

|-

|Aderyn Papur... and Pigs Might Fly

|-

| rowspan="4" |1985

|Dr. Fischer of Geneva

|-

|The Last Place on Earth

|Miniseries;<br>7 episodes

|-

|Arena

|Documentary series;<br>1 episode

|-

|Jim Henson Presents The World of Puppetry

|Documentary series;<br>6 episodes

|-

|1988

|Coppers

| rowspan="2" |Television film

|-

| rowspan="2" |1989

|Murder by Moonlight

|-

|Screen Two

|1 episode

|-

| rowspan="2" |1990

|By Dawn's Early Light

|Television film

|-

|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;<br>2 episodes

|-

|1998

|Merlin

|Miniseries;<br>2 episodes

Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition

|-

|1999

|Cleopatra

|Miniseries;<br>2 episodes

|-

|2002

|Dinotopia

|Miniseries;<br>3 episodes

|-

|2006-07

|Jozi-H

|13 episodes

|-

|2009

|Blood and Oil

|Television film

|-

|2012

|Labyrinth

|Miniseries;<br>2 episodes

|}

Video games

  • Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (2005)

References

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.
  • Cooper, David, Ian Sapiro & Laura Anderson, The Screen Music of Trevor Jones: Technology, Process, Production, Abingdon, Routledge, 2020. Book page on publisher's website.
  • The Professional Career and Output of Trevor Jones, University of Leeds