Harry Gregson-Williams

Harry Gregson-Williams (born 13 December 1961)[1] is a British composer, conductor, orchestrator, and record producer. He has composed music for video games, television and films including the Metal Gear series, Spy Game, Phone Booth, Man on Fire, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, Déjà Vu, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Martian, Antz, The Tigger Movie, Chicken Run and its sequel, the Shrek franchise, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, Flushed Away, Arthur Christmas, Early Man, and Catch-22. He is also the older brother of fellow composer Rupert Gregson-Williams.

Harry Gregson-Williams
Born (1961-12-13) 13 December 1961 (age 62)
OriginSussex, England
GenresFilm score, video game music
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)Keyboards, percussion
Years active1990–present
LabelsWavecrest

Gregson-Williams worked with several film directors such as Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Andrew Adamson, Ben Affleck, Joel Schumacher, Antoine Fuqua, Niki Caro, Nick Park, and Dan Ireland.

Education edit

Gregson-Williams won a musical scholarship to St John's College School in Cambridge at the age of seven. He was a child chorister at the school and later attended Stowe School, a boarding independent school in the civil parish of Stowe in Buckinghamshire, where he was a music scholar. He next went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.[2]

He learned to play the piano as a child on a Broadwood piano which his father had bought with the winnings from a hundred-to-one bet during the Grand National.[3]

Discography edit

Film edit

1990s edit

Year Title Director(s) Studio(s) Notes
1990 Revenge Tony Scott Rastar Additional music
Director's cut
1991 Cold Heaven Nicolas Roeg Hemdale Music associate
1994 White Angel Chris Jones Living Spirit Pictures
Broken Heart Matt McConaghy ITV Yorkshire Short film
1995 Hotel Paradise Nicolas Roeg Westdeutscher Rundfunk Short film
Three Miles Up Lesley Manning TV movie
Full Body Massage Nicolas Roeg Paramount Television
Showtime Networks
TV movie
1996 The Whole Wide World Dan Ireland Sony Pictures Classics Co-composed with Hans Zimmer
Witness Against Hitler Betsan Morris Evans BBC TV movie
The Rock Michael Bay Hollywood Pictures Music producer with Hans Zimmer
Score composed by Hans Zimmer and Nick Glennie-Smith
1997 Smilla's Sense of Snow Bille August Det Danske Filminstitut
Bavaria Film
Constantin Film
Fox Searchlight Pictures (US)
Co-composed with Hans Zimmer
Deceiver Jonas Pate
Josh Pate
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Borrowers Peter Hewitt Working Title Films
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Gramercy Pictures
1998 The Replacement Killers Antoine Fuqua Brillstein Entertainment Partners
Columbia Pictures
Antz Eric Darnell
Tim Johnson
Pacific Data Images
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
Co-composed with John Powell
First score for an animated film
The Prince of Egypt Brenda Chapman
Steve Hickner
Simon Wells
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
Co-composed with Hans Zimmer for the song number "All I Ever Wanted"
Enemy of the State Tony Scott Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Scott Free Productions
Touchstone Pictures
Co-composed with Trevor Rabin
1999 Swing Vote David Anspaugh Columbia TriStar Television
ABC
TV movie
The Match Mick Davis Gramercy Pictures
Light It Up Craig Bolotin 20th Century Fox
Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? Peter Hewitt Intermedia

2000s edit

Year Title Director(s) Studio(s) Notes
2000 The Tigger Movie Jun Falkenstein DisneyToon Studios
Walt Disney Pictures
The Magic of Marciano Tony Barbieri Outrider Pictures
Chicken Run Peter Lord
Nick Park
Aardman Animations
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures (International)
Pathé (Europe)
Co-composed with John Powell
King of the Jungle Seth Zvi Rosenfeld Urbanworld Films
2001 Spy Kids Robert Rodriguez Troublemaker Studios
Dimension Films
Co-composed with John Debney, Danny Elfman, Los Lobos, Robert Rodriguez, Heitor Pereira, and Gavin Greenaway
Shrek Andrew Adamson
Vicky Jenson
PDI/DreamWorks
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
Co-composed with John Powell
The Hire Alejandro González Iñárritu BMW Films Segment: "Powder Keg"
Spy Game Tony Scott Beacon Pictures
Universal Pictures
2002 Passionada Dan Ireland Samuel Goldwyn Films
Phone Booth Joel Schumacher Zucker/Netter
20th Century Fox
The Hire Tony Scott BMW Films Segment: "Beat the Devil"
2003 Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas Tim Johnson
Patrick Gilmore
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
Veronica Guerin Joel Schumacher Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Touchstone Pictures
The Rundown Peter Berg Strike Entertainment
WWE Films
Universal Pictures (North America and Japan)
Columbia Pictures (International)
2004 Man on Fire Tony Scott Scott Free Productions
Regency Enterprises
20th Century Fox
Co-composed with Lisa Gerrard
Shrek 2 Andrew Adamson
Kelly Asbury
Conrad Vernon
PDI/DreamWorks
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
Return to Sender Bille August DEJ Productions
Team America: World Police Trey Parker Paramount Pictures Replaced Marc Shaiman
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Beeban Kidron StudioCanal
Working Title Films
Miramax Films
Universal Pictures
2005 Kingdom of Heaven Ridley Scott Studio Babelsberg
Scott Free Productions
20th Century Fox
As composer and conductor
Replaced Hans Zimmer
Domino Tony Scott Scott Free Productions
Davis Films
New Line Cinema
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Andrew Adamson Walden Media
Walt Disney Pictures
2006 The Uninvited Louise Runge Logo TV Short film
Seraphim Falls David Von Ancken Icon Productions
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Destination Films
Flushed Away Sam Fell
David Bowers
Aardman Animations
DreamWorks Animation
Paramount Pictures
Déjà Vu Tony Scott Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Scott Free Productions
Touchstone Pictures
2007 The Number 23 Joel Schumacher New Line Cinema
Shrek the Third Chris Miller
Raman Hui
PDI/DreamWorks
DreamWorks Animation
Paramount Pictures
Gone Baby Gone Ben Affleck The Ladd Company
Miramax Films
Slipstream Anthony Hopkins Strand Releasing
Destination Films
Music producer
Score composed by Anthony Hopkins
2008 Em Tony Barbieri SnagFilms
Vanguard Cinema
The Forbidden Kingdom Rob Minkoff Lionsgate
Relativity Media
Casey Silver Productions
Huayi Brothers
Score producer
Score composed by David Buckley
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Andrew Adamson Walden Media
Walt Disney Pictures
Also voiced Patterwig the Squirrel
Jolene Dan Ireland E1 Entertainment Also music producer
2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine Gavin Hood Seed Productions
Marvel Entertainment
20th Century Fox
As composer and conductor
Additional music by Hybrid and Halli Cauthery
The Taking of Pelham 123 Tony Scott Escape Artists
Scott Free Productions
Relativity Media
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Columbia Pictures
Additional music by Hybrid

2010s edit

Year Title Director(s) Studio(s) Notes
2010 Twelve Joel Schumacher Radar Pictures
Hannover House
Gaumont
Shrek Forever After Mike Mitchell DreamWorks Animation
Paramount Pictures
Most recent collaboration with DreamWorks Animation as of 2023
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Mike Newell Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Walt Disney Pictures
Additional music by Halli Cauthery and David Buckley
As composer and conductor
The Town Ben Affleck GK Films
Legendary Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures
Co-composed with David Buckley
Unstoppable Tony Scott Scott Free Productions
Dune Entertainment
20th Century Fox
Additional music by Justin Caine Burnett
2011 Life in a Day Kevin Macdonald National Geographic Films
Cowboys & Aliens Jon Favreau Platinum Studios
Fairview Entertainment
Imagine Entertainment
DreamWorks Pictures
Universal Pictures (North America)
Paramount Pictures (International)
Additional music by Halli Cauthery
Hybrid provided sound design textures[4]
Arthur Christmas Sarah Smith Aardman Animations
Sony Pictures Animation
Columbia Pictures
Also music producer
Replaced Michael Giacchino and Adam Cohen
2012 Prometheus Ridley Scott Scott Free Productions
Brandywine Productions
Dune Entertainment
20th Century Fox
Two tracks ("Life" and "We Were Right")
Main score by Marc Streitenfeld
I Am Bad David Rackoff OneZero Productions
Total Recall Len Wiseman Original Film
Columbia Pictures
Additional music by Hybrid
As composer and music producer
Orchestra conducted by Gavin Greenaway
2013 The East Zal Batmanglij Scott Free Productions
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Themes
Main score by Halli Cauthery
Mr. Pip Andrew Adamson Olympus Pictures
2014 Hate from a Distance Dan Ireland Privarte Pictures Co-composed with Tom Howe
The Equalizer Antoine Fuqua Escape Artists
Village Roadshow Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Additional music by Hybrid
2015 Blackhat Michael Mann Legendary Pictures
Universal Pictures
Co-composed with Atticus Ross, Ryan Amon, and Leo Ross
Monkey Kingdom Mark Linfield
Alastair Fothergill
Disneynature
The Martian Ridley Scott Genre Films
TSG Entertainment
Scott Free Productions
20th Century Fox
As composer and conductor
Miss You Already Catherine Hardwicke Lionsgate (US)
Entertainment One (UK)
2016 Confirmation Rick Famuyiwa HBO TV movie
Additional music by Stephanie Economou
Live by Night Ben Affleck Warner Bros. Pictures
Appian Way Productions
Pearl Street Films
Additional music by Stephanie Economou
As composer and conductor
2017 The Zookeeper's Wife Niki Caro Focus Features Additional music by Stephanie Economou
As composer and conductor
Breath Simon Baker See Pictures
Windalong
Gran Via
FilmRise
Additional music by Stephanie Economou
Alien: Covenant Ridley Scott TSG Entertainment
Scott Free Productions
Brandywine Productions
20th Century Fox
Two tracks ("Life" and "We Were Right")
Main score by Jed Kurzel
2018 Early Man Nick Park StudioCanal
Aardman Animations
Co-composed with Tom Howe
Additional music by Paul Mounsey
Orchestra conducted with Gavin Greenaway
The Equalizer 2 Antoine Fuqua Columbia Pictures
Escape Artists
Additional music by Stephanie Economou
The Meg Jon Turteltaub Warner Bros. Pictures Additional music by Stephanie Economou
As composer and conductor
2019 Penguins Alastair Fothergill
Jeff Wilson
Disneynature

2020s edit

Year Title Director(s) Studio(s) Notes
2020 Mulan Niki Caro Walt Disney Pictures Themes by Jerry Goldsmith
Additional music by Stephanie Economou and Tom Howe
2021 Infinite Antoine Fuqua Paramount+
The Last Duel Ridley Scott 20th Century Studios
House of Gucci Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Bron Creative
United Artists Releasing
Al Kameen Pierre Morel AGC Studios
Image Nation Abu Dhabi
2022 Return to Space Jimmy Chin
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Netflix Co-composed with Mychael Danna
Polar Bear Alastair Fothergill
Jeff Wilson
Disneynature
2023 Meg 2: The Trench Ben Wheatley Warner Bros. Pictures
Retribution Nimród Antal Lionsgate
Roadside Attractions
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Sam Fell Netflix
Aardman Animations
2024 Gladiator 2 Ridley Scott Paramount Pictures

Television edit

Year Title Notes
1991 G.B.H. 2 episodes
music coordinator
1992 Champion Children
1999 The Hunger Episode: "Sanctuary"
2002 AFP: American Fighter Pilot
2004 Father of the Pride 3 episodes
2007–2008 The Riches
2007 Shrek the Halls TV special
2017–2018 Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams
2019 Whiskey Cavalier Composed with Tom Howe
2019 Catch-22 Composed with Rupert Gregson-Williams
2020 Manhunt Composed season 2 with Stephanie Economou
2020 Amazing Stories Episode: "Signs of Life"
2022-2023 The Gilded Age Composed with Rupert Gregson-Williams
[5]

Video games edit

Year Title Notes
2001 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty With Norihiko Hibino
2004 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater With Norihiko Hibino
2007 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Main theme only and music producer
With Stephen Barton
2008 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots With various others
2014 Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes With Ludvig Forssell
2014 Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Main title and themes only
With audiomachine (Paul Dinletir and Kevin Rix)
2015 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Music producer
Score composed by Ludvig Forsell,
Justin Burnett and Daniel James

Rides edit

Year Title Notes
2001 Shrek 4-D At various theme parks around the world.
Based on the Shrek film franchise.

Awards and nominations edit

Primetime Emmy Awards edit

Year Category Work Result
2018 Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Electric Dreams: The Commute Nominated
2022 Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special Return to Space Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ "Harry Gregson-Williams". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Harry Gregson-Williams". Stowe School. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  3. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Creative Cribs – Harry Gregson-Williams" – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Cowboys & Aliens". Hybrid Scores website. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Harry Gregson-Williams Scoring Nimrod Antal's 'Retribution' ('The Ambush')". Film Music Reporter. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.

External links edit