Joseph Trapanese

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Short description|American composer (born 1984)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Joseph Trapanese

| image = Joseph Trapanese 2019 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Trapanese conducting his score for Disney's Lady and the Tramp at Sony's Barbra Streisand Scoring Stage

| background = non_performing_personnel

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date = August 7, 1984

| origin = New Jersey, U.S.

| genre = {{hlist|Film score|jazz|electronic|ambient}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Film composer|orchestrator|arranger|conductor|music producer}}

| years_active = 2006–present

| associated_acts = Daft Punk, M83, Dia Frampton, Kelly Clarkson, Greg Kurstin, Mike Shinoda, John Debney, Anamanaguchi

| website = {{URL|joecomposer.com}}

}}

Joseph Trapanese (born 7 August 1984) is an American composer, arranger, and producer. He works in the production of music for films, television, records, theater, concerts, and interactive media.

Early life and education

Raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, Trapanese attended Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School before moving on to the Manhattan School of Music.Romero, Adrienne. [https://www.nj.com/hudson/2019/03/jersey-city-still-feels-like-home-to-oscar-winning-composer.html "Jersey City still 'feels like home' to award-winning composer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224112551/https://www.nj.com/hudson/2019/03/jersey-city-still-feels-like-home-to-oscar-winning-composer.html |date=December 24, 2019 }}, The Jersey Journal, March 18, 2019. Accessed December 24, 2019. "Joe Trapanese returned home from Hollywood on Friday to talk and help guide students of The Ethical Community Charter School about composing music and scoring for film, television and video games.... Trapanese went to McNair Academic High School and the Manhattan School of Music for his undergraduate studies."

Film and television music

= Early career =

Trapanese began his composing career by collaborating with Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo) on the soundtrack for the Walt Disney Pictures film Tron: Legacy. His arrangements for the soundtrack have been described as "resolutely grand"{{cite web |last=Walters |first=Barry |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/daft-punk-tron-legacy-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-disney |title=Daft Punk, 'Tron: Legacy Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' Review |publisher=Spin.com |date=December 7, 2010 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=April 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406042710/http://www.spin.com/reviews/daft-punk-tron-legacy-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-disney |url-status=live }} and "stirring... ominous, hypnotic".{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/daft-punk-mash-classical-electronica-48548 |title=Daft Punk Mash Classical, Electronica to Shape 'Tron: Legacy's' Soundscape |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 24, 2010 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025202930/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/daft-punk-mash-classical-electronica-48548 |url-status=live }} The BBC described the work as "a sophisticated integration of acoustic and electronic instrumentation... majestic… rich, solemn tones… saturnine orchestration and a muscular rhythm”.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/f5fd |title=Music – Review of Daft Punk – Tron: Legacy |publisher=BBC |date=December 7, 2010 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=May 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507015603/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/f5fd |url-status=live }}

= 2011–present =

File:Josephtrapanese.jpg

Trapanese has composed for numerous projects, including Disney XD's animated series Tron: Uprising,{{cite web |author=Mercedes Milligan |url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/disney-xds-tron-uprising-coming-soon |title=Disney XD's 'TRON: Uprising' Coming Soon! |publisher=Animation Magazine |date=May 1, 2012 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=June 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617131851/http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/disney-xds-tron-uprising-coming-soon/ |url-status=live }} Sony Pictures Classics' The Raid: Redemption (cocomposed with Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park), Sony Pictures Television's original web series The Bannen Way, the independent feature Mamitas (featured at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival),{{cite web |url=http://www.topangamessenger.com/story_detail.php?ArticleID=5223 |title=Film Interview: Off The Grid |publisher=Topanga Messenger |date=May 3, 2012 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714141815/http://www.topangamessenger.com/story_detail.php?ArticleID=5223 |url-status=dead }} and numerous live-action and animated films from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television. Trapanese contributed musical arrangements to Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, What Happens in Vegas and Traitor. Alongside composer Daniel Licht, Trapanese produced and orchestrated the scores for seasons 3 and 4 of Showtime's original series Dexter, and provided orchestrations for seasons 5 and 6. The 2012 teaser trailer for Iron Man 3 features Trapanese's composition Something to Fight For.{{cite web|url=http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/marvel/ironman3/|title=Iron Man 3 – Movie Trailers|publisher=Apple|date=May 3, 2013|access-date=August 24, 2013|archive-date=September 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902004053/http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/marvel/ironman3/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://soundcloud.com/joecomposer/hope |title=Something to Fight For by Joseph Trapanese on SoundCloud |publisher=Soundcloud.com |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108130613/http://soundcloud.com/joecomposer/hope |url-status=live }}

His career eventually lead to working on major studio feature films working solo and alongside recording artists. Some of his well known credits include Universal Studios's Straight Outta Compton,{{cite web |last=Balfour |first=Jay |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2015/07/kendrick-lamar-drdre-eminem-straight-outta-compton-soundtrack/ |title=Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar & Eminem To Feature On 'Straight Outta Compton' Soundtrack; complex.com |website=Complex Networks |date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=August 16, 2015 |archive-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826063252/http://www.complex.com/music/2015/07/kendrick-lamar-drdre-eminem-straight-outta-compton-soundtrack |url-status=live }} Lionsgate Films's The Divergent Series: Insurgent,{{cite web |last=Feeney |first=Nolan |url=http://www.hitfix.com/immaculate-noise/exclusive-joseph-trapanese-scoring-divergent-sequel-insurgent |title=Exclusive: Joseph Trapanese scoring 'Divergent' sequel 'Insurgent' |work=HitFix |date=November 25, 2014 |access-date=March 18, 2015 |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128055912/http://www.hitfix.com/immaculate-noise/exclusive-joseph-trapanese-scoring-divergent-sequel-insurgent |url-status=live }} Sony Pictures Classics' The Raid 2,{{cite web |last=Webb |first=Charles |url=http://twitchfilm.com/2014/03/interview-scoring-a-bloodbath---joe-trapanese-talks-scoring-the-raid-2.html |title=Interview: Composing for Hell – Joseph Trapanese Talks Scoring THE RAID 2 |publisher=twitchfilm.com |date=March 28, 2014 |access-date=August 17, 2015 |archive-date=September 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927143614/http://twitchfilm.com/2014/03/interview-scoring-a-bloodbath---joe-trapanese-talks-scoring-the-raid-2.html |url-status=dead }} and Universal Studios's Oblivion (co-composed with Anthony Gonzalez of M83).{{cite web |last=Feeney |first=Nolan |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2013/04/24/track-stars-m83-and-the-music-for-oblivion/ |title=M83 and the Music for 'Oblivion' |publisher=Time |date=April 24, 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=August 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806073231/http://entertainment.time.com/2013/04/24/track-stars-m83-and-the-music-for-oblivion/ |url-status=live }}

In 2017 he scored the Sony Pictures feature Only the Brave, his third collaboration with director Joseph Kosinski, and co-scored the 20th Century Fox musical The Greatest Showman alongside composer John Debney. On that film he produced several of the chart-topping songs from the film written by Oscar-winning duo Justin Paul and Benj Pasek.{{cite web |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/12/20/greatest-showman-review-lots-of-songs-not-much-story/#57221c6c2dba |title=Greatest Showman' Review: Lots Of Songs, Not Much Story |work=Forbes |date=December 20, 2017 |access-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410073231/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/12/20/greatest-showman-review-lots-of-songs-not-much-story/#57221c6c2dba |url-status=live }}

Music collaboration with artists

Following his collaborations with Daft Punk on Tron: Legacy, Anthony Gonzalez (M83) on Oblivion, and Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) on The Raid: Redemption, Trapanese continues to work with artists in film scoring, album production, and live events.

On August 7, 2015 Dr. Dre released his long-awaited third album Compton which featured string arrangements by Trapanese and Jennifer Hammond. They were conducted by Trapanese at the Straight Outta Compton scoring sessions at the Sony Pictures Studios scoring stage in Culver City.

On February 27, 2015 Kelly Clarkson released her seventh album Piece by Piece which featured an orchestra arranged and conducted by Trapanese recorded at EastWest Studios in Hollywood. He collaborated with producers Greg Kurstin, Jesse Shatkin, and Jason Halbert on the project.

On September 22, 2013, Trapanese performed with M83 at the Hollywood Bowl as conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-review-m83-hollywood-bowl-orchestra-explore-youth-and-the-universe-20130923-story.html |title=Review: M83 and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra explore youth |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 23, 2013 |access-date=December 20, 2013 |archive-date=December 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222002242/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/23/entertainment/la-et-ms-review-m83-hollywood-bowl-orchestra-explore-youth-and-the-universe-20130923 |url-status=live }} For the concert, Trapanese arranged new orchestral material for songs from Before The Dawn Heals Us, Saturdays=Youth, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, and Oblivion. He also arranged and conducted an orchestra for M83's show at Central Park Summerstage in New York City on August 8, 2012.{{cite web |author=Amanda Hatfield |url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2012/08/m83_played_cent.html |title=M83 played Central Park Summerstage (pics, review, setlist) |publisher=Brooklyn Vegan |date=August 9, 2012 |access-date=December 20, 2013 |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224120034/http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2012/08/m83_played_cent.html |url-status=live }}

Released on October 25, 2013, by RCA Records, Kelly Clarkson's Wrapped in Red features an orchestra arranged and conducted by Trapanese.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/wrapped-in-red-mw0002578098/credits |title=Kelly Clarkson – Wrapped In Red |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=December 20, 2013 |archive-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124045647/http://www.allmusic.com/album/wrapped-in-red-mw0002578098/credits |url-status=live }} Produced by Greg Kurstin, it is Clarkson's first Christmas-themed release, featuring cover versions of various Christmas standards in addition to original material. As part of the album's promotion, on October 30, 2013, Trapanese led the orchestra for Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale at The Venetian Las Vegas, which was broadcast on NBC on December 11, 2013.

Trapanese collaborated with Active Child on the arrangement of "Silhouette" (featuring Ellie Goulding) for his 2013 EP Rapor. In addition to the album, he provided new string and choir arrangements for his performances in Melbourne, London, New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.[http://www.facebook.com/ActiveChild/posts/10152013001871940 "Active Child"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124045647/https://www.facebook.com/ActiveChild/posts/10152013001871940 |date=January 24, 2016 }} Facebook Retrieved December 20, 2013.

For 2012's The Bourne Legacy, Trapanese worked with Moby on a new orchestral version of his "Extreme Ways".{{cite web |url=http://www.ology.com/post/166018/stream-moby-s-orchestral-new-bourne-legacy-version-of-extreme-ways |title=Stream Moby's Orchestral New 'Bourne Legacy' Version Of "Extreme Ways" |publisher=Ology |date=July 31, 2012 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130824212113/http://www.ology.com/post/166018/stream-moby-s-orchestral-new-bourne-legacy-version-of-extreme-ways |archive-date=August 24, 2013 }}

On October 18, 2011, M83's double-disc album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming released with five tracks arranged by Trapanese. Trapanese's work can be heard on "Intro", "Wait", "Soon, My Friend", "My Tears Are Becoming a Sea", and "Outro".{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/M83-Hurry-Up-Were-Dreaming/release/3162054 |title=M83 – Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. (CD, Album) at Discogs |date=October 18, 2011 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=June 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625094208/http://www.discogs.com/M83-Hurry-Up-Were-Dreaming/release/3162054 |url-status=live }}

Trapanese co-wrote and co-produced the song "Do or Die" with 3OH!3 from their album Omens.{{cite web |url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2012/05/30/3oh3-do-or-die |title=New Song: 3Oh!3, 'Do Or Die' |publisher=Buzzworthy.mtv.com |date=May 30, 2012 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102302/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2012/05/30/3oh3-do-or-die |url-status=dead }}

Music for live theater

The music Trapanese has produced for theater is performed primarily in New York City, most notably in productions by The Actors Company Theatre. Recent productions that he has provided music for include T. S. Eliot's The Cocktail Party, Arthur Miller's Incident at Vichy, Václav Havel's The Memorandum, and Edward Bond's The Sea. His music for the production of Milan Stitt's The Runner Stumbles was described by the New York Times as "Precise and evocative... wistful, ringing melodies”.{{cite news|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/theater/reviews/13runner.html|author=Annette Midgette|title=Murder and Hymns|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 12, 2007|access-date=August 24, 2013|archive-date=November 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115002424/http://theater.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/theater/reviews/13runner.html|url-status=live}}

Awards and honors

  • In 2012, Trapanese was nominated for an IFMCA Award for 'Breakthrough Film Composer of the Year' by the International Film Music Critics Association[http://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2012-ifmca-awards/ "2012 IFMCA Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310093343/http://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2012-ifmca-awards/ |date=March 10, 2017 }}, Filmmusiccritics.org
  • In 2013, Joseph was nominated for Discovery of the Year for Oblivion at the World Soundtrack Academy Awards in Ghent, Belgium.[http://www.filmfestival.be/en/film-music/wsa-discovery-of-the-year-nominees-announced/02-09-2013/2026 "Discovery of the Year Nominees Announced"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023064852/http://www.filmfestival.be/en/film-music/wsa-discovery-of-the-year-nominees-announced/02-09-2013/2026 |date=October 23, 2013 }} Filmfestival February 9, 2013.
  • In 2013, Trapanese was nominated for the ASCAP Composers’ Choice Award for the movie Oblivion.[https://www.ascap.com/playback/2014/05/action/2014-composers-choice-awards.aspx "Vote for the ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221003916/https://www.ascap.com/playback/2014/05/action/2014-composers-choice-awards.aspx |date=December 21, 2016 }} ASCAP.com May 31, 2014.
  • In 2015, Trapanese was nominated for Best Original Song Written for a Film from Insurgent for the song "Carry Me Home" at the World Soundtrack Academy Awards [https://www.soundtrack.net/news/article/?id=2080 "World Soundtrack Awards Announce Nominees"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100341/https://www.soundtrack.net/news/article/?id=2080 |date=February 21, 2018 }} soundtrack.net September 14, 2015.
  • In 2015, Trapanese won the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Score for the film Straight Outta Compton.[http://awardswatch.com/news/16th-black-reel-award-winners-creed-punches-its-way-to-the-top/ "16th Black Reel Award Winners"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304232028/http://awardswatch.com/news/16th-black-reel-award-winners-creed-punches-its-way-to-the-top/ |date=March 4, 2016 }} AwardsWatch.com February 19, 2016.
  • In 2018, Trapanese was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Music for The Greatest Showman (shared with John Debney)[https://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2018-black-panther-walking-dead-1202727752/ "‘Black Panther,’ ‘Walking Dead’ Rule Saturn Awards Nominations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023438/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2018-black-panther-walking-dead-1202727752/ |date=March 16, 2018 }} Variety March 15, 2018.

Education

Trapanese completed his bachelor's degree in composition at the Manhattan School of Music, and later an M.A. in Music for Visual Media at UCLA, with support from the Henry Mancini fund. Joseph's tutors included Giampaolo Bracali, Bruce Broughton, Paul Chihara, Roger Bourland, Jack Smalley, and Martin Bresnick, and he also engaged in brief studies with Louis Andriessen, Aaron Jay Kernis, Julia Wolfe, Mark Snow, and Ira Newborn. From 2008 to 2011, Trapanese taught the Electronic Music and Composition curriculum at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music.[http://www.music.ucla.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=174:joseph-trapenese-bio&catid=6&Itemid=225] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709073114/http://www.music.ucla.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=174%3Ajoseph-trapenese-bio&catid=6&Itemid=225|date=July 9, 2010}}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Director(s)

! Notes

2009Countdown: JerusalemAdam Silver
2010Tron: LegacyJoseph KosinskiComposed by Daft Punk
Arranger and orchestrator
First collaboration with Joseph Kosinski
rowspan="2"| 2011MamitasNicholas Ozeki
The RaidGareth EvansComposed with Mike Shinoda, Aria Prayogi and Fajar Yuskemal
First collaboration with Gareth Evans
2013OblivionJoseph KosinskiComposed with M83
Second collaboration with Joseph Kosinski
rowspan="4" | 2014The Raid 2Gareth EvansComposed with Aria Prayogi and Fajar Yuskemal
Second collaboration with Gareth Evans
Earth to EchoDave Green
StandCosmos Kiindarius
Transformers: Age of Extinction

|Michael Bay

|Additional music
Score composed by Steve Jablonsky

rowspan="2"| 2015The Divergent Series: InsurgentRobert SchwentkeFirst collaboration with Robert Schwentke
Straight Outta ComptonF. Gary Gray
rowspan="2"| 2016The Divergent Series: AllegiantRobert SchwentkeSecond collaboration with Robert Schwentke
The Siege of JadotvilleRichie Smyth
rowspan="4"| 2017Only the BraveJoseph KosinskiThird collaboration with Joseph Kosinski
Wolf Warrior 2Wu Jing
Shimmer LakeOren Uziel
The Greatest ShowmanMichael GraceyComposed with John Debney
Songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
rowspan="3"| 2018ArcticJoe Penna
Robin HoodOtto Bathurst
SprinterStorm Saulter
rowspan="2"| 2019StuberMichael DowseFirst collaboration with Michael Dowse
Lady and the TrampCharlie Bean
rowspan="3"| 2020Coffee & KareemMichael DowseSecond collaboration with Michael Dowse
Project PowerHenry Joost
Ariel Schulman
SpontaneousBrian DuffieldFirst collaboration with Brian Duffield
rowspan="4"| 2021Finding 'OhanaJude Weng
Prisoners of the GhostlandSion Sono
HappilyBenDavid Grabinski
8-Bit ChristmasMichael DowseThird collaboration with Michael Dowse
2022SpiderheadJoseph KosinskiPerformed by The London Contemporary Orchestra

Fourth collaboration with Joseph Kosinski

rowspan="3"| 2023The MachinePeter Atencio
No One Will Save YouBrian DuffieldSecond collaboration with Brian Duffield
Postcard from EarthDarren AronofskyComposed with The Echo Society
rowspan="2"| 2025The Witcher: Sirens of the DeepKang Hei Chul
G20Patricia Riggen

= Television =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Notes

2009–10

|The Bannen Way

|16 episodes

2010–11

|Suite 7

|2 episodes

2012–13

|Tron: Uprising

|19 episodes

2016

|Dead of Summer

|10 episodes

rowspan="2" |2016–17

|Quantico

|20 episodes

Jean-Claude Van Johnson

|6 episodes

rowspan="2" |2018

|Unsolved

|10 episodes

Berlin Station10 episodes
2019

|Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Carnival of Doom

|Composed with Jason Lazarus

2021–23

|Shadow and Bone

|

2021–present

|The Witcher

Seasons 2-5{{cite news|title=Joseph Trapanese Tapped as Composer of Netflix's 'The Witcher' Season 2|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/10/29/joseph-trapanese-tapped-as-composer-of-netflixs-the-witcher-season-2/|website=Film Music Reporter|date=October 29, 2021|access-date=December 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029215505/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/10/29/joseph-trapanese-tapped-as-composer-of-netflixs-the-witcher-season-2/|archive-date=October 29, 2021|url-status=live}}
32 episodes
2023

| Skull Island

| 8 episodes
Composed with Jason Lazarus

2023

| Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

| 8 episodes
Composed with Anamanaguchi

2024

| Brilliant Minds

| 13 episodes

= Video games =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Developer

! Publisher

2014The CrewIvory TowerUbisoft
2017Need for Speed PaybackGhost GamesElectronic Arts
2020

|Star Wars: Tales From the Galaxy's Edge

|ILMxLab

|Disney Electronic Content

References

{{Reflist}}