Patrick Doyle (born 6 April 1953[1]) is a Scottish composer and occasional actor best known for his film scores. During his 50-year career in film, television and theatre, he has composed the scores for over 60 feature films.[2] A longtime collaborator of actor-director Kenneth Branagh, Doyle is known for his work on films such as Henry V, Sense and Sensibility, Hamlet, Carlito's Way, Quest for Camelot, and Gosford Park, as well as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Thor, Brave, Cinderella, Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile.[3]

Patrick Doyle
Doyle at the Doha Film Institute in 2016
Doyle at the Doha Film Institute in 2016
Background information
Born (1953-04-06) 6 April 1953 (age 71)
Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
GenresFilm score, classical, Celtic, electronic, ambient
Occupation(s)Composer, actor
Years active1979–present

He has scored the films of many renowned directors including Robert Altman, Ang Lee, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell, Brian De Palma, Chen Kaige, Amma Asante, Régis Wargnier and Kenneth Branagh.

Doyle has been nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards,[3] one BAFTA and two Caesars and he won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Film Theme, for 'Henry V'. He has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from both The World Soundtrack Awards[4] and Scottish BAFTA, the PRS Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Music and received the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award for "outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of film and television music."[5]

Life and career

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Early life

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Patrick Doyle was born in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.[6][7] He is a classically trained composer who studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music graduating in 1975, and from which he was made a Fellow in 2001.

Film and television career

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Patrick Doyle began his career as an actor in the mid-1970s, appearing in television as well as film.[8] His first television acting role was as Archie in a 1978 episode of the BBC teen drama series Scene. In 1981, he played the role of Jimmie in the BAFTA and Academy Award winning historical sports drama film Chariots of Fire.[9] The same year, he appeared in a prominent role as Alexander Smith in the Scottish television drama programme Maggie, which ran for two series on BBC Two.[10] From 1982 until 1983, he played the role of Percy Simmonds/Alec Simmonds in the ITV children's television series No. 73.[11][12] Other roles include Balthazar in the 1993 romantic comedy film Much Ado About Nothing, and Amiens in the 2006 romantic drama film As You Like It, both adapted from plays by William Shakespeare and directed by Kenneth Branagh.[8]

Doyle joined Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance Theatre Company in 1987 as composer and musical director, composing music for plays such as Hamlet, As You Like It, and Look Back in Anger.[13] It was here that he established his relationship with Kenneth Branagh, scoring his first film, Henry V, in 1989[14] with the score being conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. The song "Non Nobis, Domine" from Henry V won the 1989 Ivor Novello Award for Best Film Theme.[15] He has since composed for 14 more Branagh films, including Dead Again (1991), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), Hamlet (1996), Love's Labour's Lost (2000), As You Like It (2006), Sleuth (2007), Thor (2011), Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014), Cinderella (2015), Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Artemis Fowl (2020) and Death on the Nile (2022).

In October 1997, shortly after composing for Great Expectations, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Doyle was diagnosed with leukemia. He managed to write the entire score for the animated fantasy Quest for Camelot (1998) in hospital whilst undergoing treatment, and eventually made a full recovery.[16]

Other films he scored in the 1990s have become cult gangster classics, such as Brian De Palma's Carlito’s Way (1993) and Mike Newell's Donnie Brasco (1997).

In the 2000s, Doyle composed for iconic British movies such as Bridget Jones' Diary (2001), Gosford Park (2001) and Calendar Girls (2003).

He collaborated with Mike Newell again on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005.

In the 2010s, he wrote scores for Hollywood blockbusters including Thor (2011), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and Cinderella (2015).

Other notable work includes his scores for family movies such as Brave (2012), Nanny McPhee (2005) and A Little Princess (1995).

He has scored multiple films for celebrated French director Régis Wargnier, including Indochine (1992), Une femme française (1995) and Est-ouest (1999). His scores for Indochine and Est-ouest were nominated for a César Award for Best Music Written for a Film.

Artist collaborations

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Doyle regularly collaborates with artists from other fields in his scores. From the classical music world, Plácido Domingo sang "In Pace" on Hamlet[17] and Jane Eaglen sang "Weep You No More Sad Fountains" on Sense & Sensibility,[18] with both films earning Doyle Oscar nominations for Best Film Score.

Pop artists Doyle has collaborated with include Jarvis Cocker on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,[19] as well as Pulp and Tori Amos on Great Expectations.[20] He co-wrote "I find your love" with Nashville-based singer Beth Neilsen Chapman for Calendar Girls, and co-wrote the song "Never Forget" with Kenneth Branagh for Murder on the Orient Express, which was performed by Michelle Pfeiffer.[21]

Concert works and original commissions

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Doyle's Music from the Movies concert, in aid of Leukaemia Research UK, was staged at the Royal Albert Hall in 2007. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and written by Daniel Hill, it included appearances from Emma Thompson, Sir Derek Jacobi, Dame Judi Dench, Alan Rickman, Imelda Staunton, Richard E. Grant, Adrian Lester, and Robbie Coltrane, with music from Doyle's scores performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.[22]

Doyle's work was celebrated in two concerts at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow in 2019,[23] both performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Dirk Brossé. The first concert was the world's first live performance to film of the music Doyle composed for Pixar's Brave, which took place at the Glasgow Concert Hall. The second, "Patrick Doyle – A Celebration", took place at the Glasgow City Halls and featured two original works composed by Doyle for the concert: "Sweet Rois of Vertew" and "Scottish Overture". The concert also featured a performance of "Corarsik", a solo violin piece he originally composed for Emma Thompson's 50th birthday.[24]

Doyle has composed numerous concert pieces, including "The Thistle and the Rose," a song cycle commissioned by Prince Charles in honour of the Queen Mother's 90th birthday, produced by George Martin and premiered at Buckingham Palace;[25] "The Face in the Lake", commissioned by Sony and narrated by Kate Winslet;[26] and "Tam O Shanter," commissioned by the Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust.[27]

The Syracuse International Film Festival commissioned Doyle to write a film score for the classic silent movie ‘It’ in 2012.[28] In 2015 it was subsequently performed by members of both the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior Orchestra as well as Lanarkshire's Arts and Film Orchestra, as part of pioneering music education initiatives which Doyle supports.[29]

Several French film festivals have hosted Doyle as their guest of honour, including Festival international du film d'Aubagne,[30] where Cinderella was screened; Festival International Musique et Cinéma à Auxerre Congrexpo;[31] and the 1er Salon du Cinema.[32]

In 2023, Doyle was asked to compose the Coronation March for the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.[33] His composition, King Charles III Coronation March, was performed during the Commonwealth Processions.[34]

Recorded works

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In 2013, Doyle composed an original concert suite, Impressions of America, released by Varèse Sarabande.[35] It was performed in 2012 by the National Schools Symphony Orchestra, of which Doyle is a patron.[36]

Doyle recorded a solo piano album in 2015, performing pieces from his film scores; it was released by Varèse Sarabande.[37]

In 2020, Doyle contributed the opening track "Château Ferguson" of the album Fresh Air… Breathe In, in aid of the not-for-profit organisation Breathe Arts Health Research, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[38]

In 2022, Doyle released a recorded album entitled Robert Burns – Love Songs for Solo Piano in which he performs a newly arranged collection of works penned by Scotland's world-famous National Baird.[39]

Awards

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In June 2013, at the 28th annual Film & Television Music Awards, Doyle received the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award in recognition of his "outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of film and television music".[5] ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams observed, "Patrick Doyle's extensive body of work is some of the most compelling and affective in the industry. His flawless ability to cross genres in film, TV and beyond is why he can successfully score everything from Carlito's Way to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."[5]

In October 2015, Doyle received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Soundtrack Academy during the Gent Film Festival in Belgium.[40]

In 2018 Doyle received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland.[41]

Personal life

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Doyle lives with his wife Lesley, with whom he has four children.

Filmography

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Year Title Director Notes
1979 Charles Endell Esquire Gerry Mill TV series, as actor
1981 Holding the Fort Derrick Goodwin
Chariots of Fire Hugh Hudson Jimmie, as actor
Maggie Renny Rye TV series, as actor (as Alexander Smith)
1982 No. 73 Nigel Pickard TV series, as actor (as Alec Simmons)
1988 Twelfth Night Paul Kafno Videotaped TV drama
1989 Look Back in Anger Judi Dench
Henry V Kenneth Branagh Ivor Novello Award for Best Film Theme[42]
1990 Shipwrecked Nils Gaup
1991 Dead Again Kenneth Branagh Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score[3]
1992 Indochine Régis Wargnier Nominated – César Award for Best Music Written for a Film
Into the West Mike Newell
1993 Much Ado About Nothing Kenneth Branagh
Needful Things Fraser C. Heston
Carlito's Way Brian De Palma
1994 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Kenneth Branagh Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Music
Exit to Eden Garry Marshall
1995 Une femme française Régis Wargnier
A Little Princess Alfonso Cuarón Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music
Sense and Sensibility Ang Lee Nominated – Academy Award for Best Original Score[3]
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film Music
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score[3]
1996 Mrs. Winterbourne Richard Benjamin
Hamlet Kenneth Branagh Nominated – Academy Award for Best Original Score[3]
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Original Score
1997 Donnie Brasco Mike Newell
1998 Great Expectations Alfonso Cuarón
Quest for Camelot Frederik Du Chau
1999 East/West Régis Wargnier Nominated – César Award for Best Music Written for a Film
2000 Blow Dry Paddy Breathnach
Love's Labour's Lost Kenneth Branagh
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Sharon Maguire World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Score of the Year Not Released on an Album
Gosford Park Robert Altman World Soundtrack Award for Soundtrack Composer of the Year
2002 Killing Me Softly Chen Kaige
2003 Calendar Girls Nigel Cole
Secondhand Lions Tim McCanlies
The Galíndez File Gerardo Herrero
2004 Battle of the Brave (Nouvelle-France) Jean Beaudin
2005 Man to Man Régis Wargnier
Wah-Wah Richard E. Grant
Nanny McPhee Kirk Jones
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Mike Newell Theme by John Williams
ASCAP Award for Top Box Office Films
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Music
2006 Jekyll & Hyde Nick Stillwell
As You Like It Kenneth Branagh
Eragon Stefen Fangmeier
2007 Have Mercy on Us All Régis Wargnier
The Last Legion Doug Lefler
Sleuth Kenneth Branagh
2008 Nim's Island Jennifer Flackett
Mark Levin
Igor Tony Leondis
2010 Main Street John Doyle
2011 La Ligne droite Régis Wargnier Nominated – World Soundtrack Award for Soundtrack Composer of the Year
Thor Kenneth Branagh
Jig Sue Bourne Documentary
Nominated – World Soundtrack Award for Soundtrack Composer of the Year
Sarajevo Short film
Rise of the Planet of the Apes Rupert Wyatt
2012 Brave Mark Andrews
Brenda Chapman
Also voice of Martin
Sir Billi Sascha Hartmann Also voice of The Admiral
2013 It[43] Clarence G. Badger Silent movie from 1927
Puppeteer Gavin Moore Video game
2014 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Kenneth Branagh
2015 Cinderella[43]
2016 A United Kingdom Amma Asante
Whisky Galore! Gillies MacKinnon
2017 The Emoji Movie Tony Leondis [44]
Murder on the Orient Express Kenneth Branagh
2018 Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero Richard Lanni [45]
All Is True[46] Kenneth Branagh
2020 Artemis Fowl
2022 Death on the Nile

Awards and nominations

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Award Year Project Category Result
Academy Award 1995 Sense and Sensibility Best Original Score[3] Nominated
1996 Hamlet Best Original Score[3] Nominated
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards 2006 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Top Box Office Films Won
2012 Rise of the Planet of the Apes Top Box Office Films Won
2012 Thor Top Box Office Films Won
2013 Brave Top Box Office Films Won
2013 Henry Mancini Award Won
BAFTA Award 1995 Sense and Sensibility Best Film Music[3] Nominated
César Awards 1993 Indochine Best Music Nominated
2000 Est-Ouest Best Music Nominated
D.I.C.E. Awards 2014 Puppeteer Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition[47] Nominated
Golden Globe Awards 1991 Dead Again Best Original Score[3] Nominated
1995 Sense and Sensibility Best Original Score[3] Nominated
Ivor Novello Awards 1989 Henry V Best Film Theme Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 1995 A Little Princess Best Music Won
Satellite Award 1996 Hamlet Best Original Score Nominated
Saturn Awards 1994 Frankenstein Best Music Nominated
2005 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Best Music Nominated
World Soundtrack Awards 2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Best Original Score of the Year Not Released on an Album Won
2002 Gosford Park Soundtrack Composer of the Year Won
2006 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Best Original Song Written for Film ("Magic Works") Nominated
2011 La ligne droite, Thor, Jig Soundtrack Composer of the Year Nominated
2015 Cinderella Best Original Film Score of the Year Nominated
2015 Lifetime Achievement Award Won

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sandra Brennan (2013). "Patrick Doyle". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Hollywood's most in-demand composers plans to make Cork home". Irish Examiner. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Patrick Doyle". Filmtracks. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  4. ^ Chagollan, Steve (3 June 2015). "Patrick Doyle Tapped for Lifetime Achievement at the World Soundtrack Awards". Variety. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "ASCAP to Honor Patrick Doyle with Henry Mancini Award ..." ASCAP. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Patrick Doyle Biography (1953-)". Film Reference. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  7. ^ Kerr, Alison (16 April 2001). "Why Bridget's in the mood". The Herald. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Patrick Doyle". British Film Institute. 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Patrick Doyle". Turner Classic Movies. 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Maggie". Nostalgia Central. 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  11. ^ Morris, Paul; Morris, Rob (2006). "NO. 73". Nostalgia Central. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  12. ^ "No. 73 / 7T3". paulmorris.co.uk. 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  13. ^ Utichi, Joe (19 December 2007). "Composer Patrick Doyle: The RT Interview". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Patrick Doyle Interview | Composer of All is True, Murder on the Orient Express, and Thor". Pop Disciple | Film Music & Music Supervision Interviews | Music in Media News. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Patrick Doyle". Filmtracks. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Patrick Doyle – Shakespearean classicist". mfiles. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  17. ^ Doyle: William Shakespeare's Hamlet (soundtrack) – Patrick Doyle | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 10 June 2020
  18. ^ Sense and Sensibility – Patrick Doyle | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 10 June 2020
  19. ^ Koza-Culp, Hinda (10 October 2017). "New "Harry Potter" Soundtrack Features Members From Radiohead & Pulp | Rock 95". Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  20. ^ Great Expectations [Original Soundtrack] – Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 10 June 2020
  21. ^ Murder on the Orient Express [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] – Patrick Doyle | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 10 June 2020
  22. ^ Freer, Ian (29 October 2007). "Patrick Doyle's Music from The Movies". Empire. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  23. ^ "Happy homecoming beckons for Brave composer Patrick Doyle". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Happy homecoming beckons for Brave composer Patrick Doyle". scotsman.com. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  25. ^ Vickers, Hugo (31 March 2013). Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4481-5072-4.
  26. ^ "Patrick Doyle – Air Edel – Composer". Air Edel. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  27. ^ Hischak, Thomas S. (16 April 2015). The Encyclopedia of Film Composers (in Arabic). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-4550-1.
  28. ^ Chanatry, Hannah (2 July 2013). "Syracuse Film Festival commissions composer Patrick Doyle for silent film classic". syracuse. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  29. ^ McNeill, Alastair (13 July 2015). "Lanarkshire school pupils are inspired by Hollywood film composer Patrick Doyle". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  30. ^ "International Film Festival of Aubagne 2019 with Trevor Jones and Patrick Doyle". SoundTrackFest. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  31. ^ Basirico, Benoit. "Auxerre #4 : la famille de la Musique de film réunie pour un concert anthologique !". cinezik.org. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  32. ^ Deshayes, Damien (19 January 2007). "La musique de film se fait une petite place | ResMusica" (in French). Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  33. ^ "Andrew Lloyd Webber piece among new coronation music". BBC News. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  34. ^ [New Music Commissions for the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey Royal Family, "New music commissions for the coronation service at Westminster Abbey"], 17 April 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  35. ^ Sarabande, Varèse. "Impressions of America". Varèse Sarabande. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  36. ^ "Screen Composers Guild of Ireland Presents a Screen Composition Masterclass with Patrick Doyle". IMRO. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  37. ^ Sarabande, Varèse. "Music of Patrick Doyle, The: Solo Piano". Varèse Sarabande. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  38. ^ "'Fresh Air… Breathe In' & 'Breathe Out' Compilation Albums Announced | Film Music Reporter". Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  39. ^ "Air-Edel Launches Digital Sheet Music Store with Patrick Doyle's 'Robert Burns – Love Songs for Solo Piano' | LBBOnline". lbbonline.com. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  40. ^ "British composer Patrick Doyle receives World Soundtrack Lifetime Achievement Award". WSA. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  41. ^ "UWS Honorary Doctorate for Top Scottish composer". | UWS | University of the West of Scotland. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  42. ^ "Patrick Doyle". Air Edel. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  43. ^ a b Samter, Owley (13 October 2013). "Interview mit Patrick Doyle". Owley. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  44. ^ Eduardo Con (23 December 2016). "Patrick Doyle on The Emoji Movie". Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  45. ^ "'Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero' Teaser Trailer: Animated WWI Dog Tale". Deadline. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  46. ^ "Patrick Doyle Scoring Kenneth Branagh's 'All Is True' – Film Music Reporter". Filmmusicreporter.com. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  47. ^ "2014 Awards Category Details Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
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