Thomas Hewitt Jones
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hewitt Jones is a British composer of contemporary classical and commercial music. He has written extensively for ballet, including the 2008 score for the Independent Ballet Wales
production of Under Milk Wood
, which was met with critical acclaim including a 5* review from the Independent
, a second 2008/2009 ballet commission which was funded by the Arts Council of Wales
, and a third ballet work, 'How Green was my Valley', which toured the UK throughout 2009. In 2010 he wrote music for a ballet adaptation of the Welsh folk tale 'Lady of the Lake', again with Independent Ballet Wales
, which toured to venues including Sadler's Wells and Wales Millennium Centre
, Cardiff. His catalogue includes several large orchestral works, an organ concerto, chamber and vocal works, solo instrumental works and many smaller pieces. Thomas has had works published by Faber music
, Oxford University Press
, Boosey & Hawkes
, ABRSM Publishing, the RSCM, Encore Publications and Metronome Music Ltd. A revival of 'Under Milk Wood' is taking place in 2011 on a UK tour by Independent Ballet Wales, newly named Ballet Cymru.
The Daily Express
has described Thomas's own compositional voice as "wistful and gently stirring" and his music is thoughtful & dark, with its roots in lush harmony. He has collaborated with members of the Royal Opera House
orchestra.
He also writes commercial music, including music for theatre, radio, TV, jingles, music for audiobooks and advertising campaigns. In 2008 he assisted in Los Angeles
on two Hollywood film scores, and is currently writing a large-scale musical
.
Thomas is writing the music for the 2012 Olympics Mascots animated films series. In May 2010, the arrival of Wenlock and Mandeville was heralded by the first short animated film, 'Out of a Rainbow', produced by Tomboy Films with a story by Michael Morpurgo
. For the second mascots film, 'Adventures on a Rainbow', Thomas conducted members of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in the recording of his score. The first Odeon Cinema spot, a 4-minute version of the first two films, was recorded by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and played in Odeon UK cinemas during August and September 2011.
and Cambridge University, where he was also organ scholar at Gonville and Caius College. As well as a composer and keyboard player he is also a cellist, and can often be heard on many of his own commercial tracks, as well as performing 'The Fall of the Leaf' for solo cello on the recent acclaimed CD of music by Imogen Holst
, which he also produced and recorded. This was the debut album released by Court Lane Music, the production company of which Thomas was co-owner. The album won a BBC Music Magazine premiere award in 2010.
In addition to his work as a composer, Thomas has frequently worked as record producer, producing & engineering albums that have been released on Naxos Records
, Signum, Priory records
, Carducci Classics and his own record labels, Court Lane Music, which he co-founded, and Vivum Records.
While studying at university, Thomas wrote a series of notorious viral songs semi-anonymously under the name 'Cambridge Madness', which at its peak had gained an underground fan base spanning 5 continents. He later described this activity as "detached and really quite calculated - a way of testing people's reactions musically".
Thomas's paternal grandparents were Cheltenham-based composers, Tony and Anita Hewitt-Jones, known for their choral and educational music respectively.
Independent Ballet Wales
Independent Ballet Wales, formerly Cwmni Ballet Gwent, is a touring classical ballet company based in Newport, South Wales, formed in 1986 by dancer and choreographer Darius James. Formed of 8 dancers, the company tours to around 70 venues each year throughout the UK...
production of Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, adapted later as a stage play. A movie version, Under Milk Wood directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released during 1972....
, which was met with critical acclaim including a 5* review from the Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, a second 2008/2009 ballet commission which was funded by the Arts Council of Wales
Arts Council of Wales
The Arts Council of Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body, responsible for funding and developing the arts in Wales.Established by Royal Charter in 1946, as the Welsh Arts Council , when it merged with the three Welsh regional arts associations...
, and a third ballet work, 'How Green was my Valley', which toured the UK throughout 2009. In 2010 he wrote music for a ballet adaptation of the Welsh folk tale 'Lady of the Lake', again with Independent Ballet Wales
Independent Ballet Wales
Independent Ballet Wales, formerly Cwmni Ballet Gwent, is a touring classical ballet company based in Newport, South Wales, formed in 1986 by dancer and choreographer Darius James. Formed of 8 dancers, the company tours to around 70 venues each year throughout the UK...
, which toured to venues including Sadler's Wells and Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
, Cardiff. His catalogue includes several large orchestral works, an organ concerto, chamber and vocal works, solo instrumental works and many smaller pieces. Thomas has had works published by Faber music
Faber Music
Faber Music is a British sheet music publisher best known for contemporary classical music. It also publishes music tutor books, and in 2005 acquired popular music publisher International Music Publications....
, Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, Boosey & Hawkes
Boosey & Hawkes
Boosey & Hawkes is a British music publisher purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and wind musical instruments....
, ABRSM Publishing, the RSCM, Encore Publications and Metronome Music Ltd. A revival of 'Under Milk Wood' is taking place in 2011 on a UK tour by Independent Ballet Wales, newly named Ballet Cymru.
The Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
has described Thomas's own compositional voice as "wistful and gently stirring" and his music is thoughtful & dark, with its roots in lush harmony. He has collaborated with members of the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
orchestra.
He also writes commercial music, including music for theatre, radio, TV, jingles, music for audiobooks and advertising campaigns. In 2008 he assisted in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on two Hollywood film scores, and is currently writing a large-scale musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
.
Thomas is writing the music for the 2012 Olympics Mascots animated films series. In May 2010, the arrival of Wenlock and Mandeville was heralded by the first short animated film, 'Out of a Rainbow', produced by Tomboy Films with a story by Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo, OBE FKC AKC is an English author, poet, playwright and librettist, best known for his work in children's literature. He was the third Children's Laureate.-Early life:...
. For the second mascots film, 'Adventures on a Rainbow', Thomas conducted members of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in the recording of his score. The first Odeon Cinema spot, a 4-minute version of the first two films, was recorded by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and played in Odeon UK cinemas during August and September 2011.
Biography
Thomas attended Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
and Cambridge University, where he was also organ scholar at Gonville and Caius College. As well as a composer and keyboard player he is also a cellist, and can often be heard on many of his own commercial tracks, as well as performing 'The Fall of the Leaf' for solo cello on the recent acclaimed CD of music by Imogen Holst
Imogen Holst
Imogen Clare Holst, CBE was a British composer and conductor, and sole child of composer Gustav Holst.Imogen Holst was brought up in west London and educated at St Paul's Girls' School, where her father was director of music...
, which he also produced and recorded. This was the debut album released by Court Lane Music, the production company of which Thomas was co-owner. The album won a BBC Music Magazine premiere award in 2010.
Trivia
Thomas frequently writes commercial music under pseudonyms, of which he has several.In addition to his work as a composer, Thomas has frequently worked as record producer, producing & engineering albums that have been released on Naxos Records
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
, Signum, Priory records
Priory Records
Priory Records is a record company in the UK founded in 1980 and devoted mostly to church music and organ music. Important projects have included the complete psalms sung by cathedral choirs to Anglican chant, all of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis settings by Herbert Howells and, more recently,...
, Carducci Classics and his own record labels, Court Lane Music, which he co-founded, and Vivum Records.
While studying at university, Thomas wrote a series of notorious viral songs semi-anonymously under the name 'Cambridge Madness', which at its peak had gained an underground fan base spanning 5 continents. He later described this activity as "detached and really quite calculated - a way of testing people's reactions musically".
Thomas's paternal grandparents were Cheltenham-based composers, Tony and Anita Hewitt-Jones, known for their choral and educational music respectively.
External links
- Official website
- Under Milk Wood, Piano Suite, String Music by Thomas Hewitt Jones
- http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23852435-2012-olympics-composer-beaten-up-by-teenage-gang.do
- http://gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/hear-the-score-behind-the-next-olympic-film
- Life of a Dulwich Composer