Maurice Jarre

Date of Birth: September 13, 1924

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: March 28, 2009

Biography

Maurice Jarre was a French composer and conductor, renowned for his film scores. Born in Lyon, France, Jarre initially studied engineering before switching to music at the Conservatoire de Paris under the tutelage of Joseph Martenot. His career in film music began in the 1950s, but he gained international fame with his score for “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962), which earned him his first Academy Award. Jarre’s collaboration with director David Lean on films like “Doctor Zhivago” (1965) and “A Passage to India” (1984) further cemented his reputation. Over his career, he won three Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, and a Grammy. He also composed scores for over 150 films, including “The Man Who Would Be King” (1975), “Dead Poets Society” (1989), and “Ghost” (1990). Maurice Jarre passed away on March 28, 2009, in Los Angeles, California.

5 Interesting Facts about Maurice Jarre

1. Maurice Jarre was originally trained as an engineer before he decided to pursue music.

2. He was the father of electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre.

3. Jarre composed the score for “Lawrence of Arabia” in just six weeks.

4. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.

5. Jarre was one of the first composers to use electronic instruments extensively in film scoring.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Maurice Jarre

1. “I think my music has always been about the mood, the atmosphere.”

2. “A film is a boat which is always on the point of sinking—it always tends to break up as you go along and drag you under with it.”

3. “I have always been attracted to the desert. It is a big, empty space where nothing seems to happen, but it is actually full of life.”

4. “The best music for film is music that you don’t hear.”

5. “Film music should have the same relationship to the film drama that somebody’s piano playing in my living room has on the book I am reading.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Maurice Jarre’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.

Children

Maurice Jarre had three children: Jean-Michel Jarre, an influential electronic music composer; Stéfanie Jarre, a set designer; and Kevin Jarre, a screenwriter and actor.