Patrick Doyle
About
Biography
Biography
Although Patrick Doyle has enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with actor-director Kenneth Branagh, he has also branched out to provide the musical scores for several acclaimed films.
The Scotsman began his career as an actor in the mid-1970s, appearing in revues at the Edinburgh Festival and later in the premiere of "The Slab Boys" by John Byrne. Doyle made his feature acting debut in Hugh Hudson's Oscar-winning "Chariots of Fire" (1981). In 1987, Branagh invited him to join the newly-formed Renaissance Theatre Company as actor, composer and musical director. Doyle subsequently appeared in and wrote the incidental music for the company's productions, including "Hamlet," "As You Like It" and "King Lear."
Doyle segued to film composition with his award-winning score for Branagh's film adaptation of "Henry V" (1989). The music was both rousing and elegiac; the extended sequence of the dirge-like "Non nobis dominie," during which Henry carries the body of a fallen youth across the bloodied battlefield, was particularly noted by critics. Doyle subsequently fashioned the Bernard Herrmann-influenced music for Branagh's romantic thriller, "Dead Again" (1991), the sunny, soaring themes for "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993) and the sweeping, sometimes martial, score for "Hamlet" (1996).
Additionally, Doyle provided the lilting, Celtic-influenced score for "Into the West" (1992) and the strong, thrilling Hermannesque music for "Carlito's Way" (1993). His richly varied score for "A Little Princess" (1995), incorporating various influences (e.g., Indian, Victoriana), won acclaim (and a citation from the Los Angeles Film Critics) and was a brilliant compliment to the film's gorgeous visuals. Also in 1995, Doyle provided the charming, appropriately romantic, themes for Ang Lee's "Sense and Sensibility."
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Life Events
1978
Made stage debut with the score for "Glasvegas" which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival
1981
Film acting debut (credited as Pat Doyle) in "Chariots of Fire"
1987
Joined the Renaissance Theatre Company as composer, musical director and actor; composed incidental music for and acted in "Twelfth Night," "Hamlet", "Much Ado About Nothing" and "As You Like It"; marked first collaborations with Kenneth Branagh
1989
Composed first film score, "Henry V", directed by and starring Branagh
1990
Commissioned by H.R.H. Prince Charles to write special music for the Queen Mother's 90th birthday gala
1992
First score for Mike Newell, "Into the West"
