Narnia Composer Geoffrey Burgon Dies at 69

Geoffrey Burgon, who composed the score for the BBC’s television adaptations of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and The Silver Chair, has died at age 69. One of Burgon’s publishers at Chester Music, James Rushton, praised the composer’s works, calling them “unforgettable melodies” that are “standards, both within their genre and as pure music.” Burgon, who started his career as a composer in ballet, wrote several acclaimed scores including those of Brideshead Revisited, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, The Forsyte Saga, and others.

You can read the BBC News story here. Thanks I_LiVe_iN_NarNia for the alert.

30 Responses

  1. De_De says:

    Oh my how sad :(!

  2. Not Of This World says:

    That is so sad! And at 69! He was young. My grand parents are almost that age. that is just so sad. 🙁

  3. narnian resident says:

    thats truly sad. its always makes me feel funny when someone who was so involved in Narnia leaves the earth. my condolences.

  4. Lucy says:

    Very sad. My favorite grandmother (I have three, one is the stepmother of one of my stepparents) is only two or three years younger than that. He died fairly young, then.

  5. DamselJillPole says:

    Awe, that's sad! Rest In Peace Geoffrey!

  6. MurtaghLuv says:

    Oh how sad! Pretty young. Rest in Peace Mister Geoffrey Burgon.

  7. Fire vein says:

    Oh thats so sad!! I hope he was a christian.

  8. Violet Fire Krazed says:

    May he rest in peace. I will always remember his music. I grew up humming it. and pretending to be a knight of Narnia, a naiad, a dryad and faun. He will live on through his music.

    ~VFK~

  9. boke_wyrm says:

    If any of you subscribe to Emusic, a music site with a better focus on alternative, non-mainstream artists, there is a download album available with his music from the BBC Narnia series. You can also get the Narnia CD and many others of his work from Amazon.

  10. WilliamMoseleyandSkandarcrush! says:

    Amen!

  11. that's so sad! i honestly feel bad for those who love the BCC narnia…..

  12. Starlily says:

    Awww…that's sad. I really liked the beginning theme song of the BBC Narnia. I used to hum it to my little cousin when he was a baby–it sounded like a lullaby to me. A wild, Narnian lullaby that spoke of secret wardrobes, majestic lions, and grand adventures. Man, it still takes me back to when I was little. I thank Geoffrey for creating such an imaginative and lovely song to remember.

  13. Eustace says:

    I love his music, but I am sad at 69.

  14. Eustace says:

    I meant that he died at 69.

  15. You took the words right out of my mouth. Like your name… 🙂

  16. You took the words right out of my mouth. Like your name… 🙂 Murtagh is really cool. 🙂

  17. Shy Galadriel says:

    Resquiat in Pacem, I loved the music. It stuck in my head so much that the other music could not really compare for me.

  18. Keyaan says:

    what does that matter?

  19. Skilletdude says:

    I emailed him about a year ago and told him how much I enjoy his scores for the BBC productions and I asked if a more complete soundtrack would be available someday (only a 15 minute suite has been released on CD), but he replied back saying there were no future plans for such a release. But he thanked me for the kind words about his work.

    I don't know about anyone else, but when I think of Narnia as a whole, his music is the first thing that comes to mind. It was so fitting for the stories.

  20. LucyTheValiant says:

    Rest In Peace Geoffrey Burgon 🙁

  21. pselpevensie says:

    oh…thats so sad :*(

  22. WilliamMoseleyandSkandarcrush! says:

    he'll go 2 heaven. It's exciting 4 Christians 2 know someone is going 2 heaven. Hope you'll do the same…

  23. Narnian_Dreamer says:

    Oh that's so sad! Every time I heard that music I felt happy and sad at the same time! It is truly an amazing feeling! It's too bad that he died young! :'(

  24. HighQueen_Of_LanternWaste says:

    Rest in peace!

  25. Laura Elizabeth says:

    Yes 🙁 I've always loved the music for the BBC Narnia movies. It was perfect.

  26. QueenLucy12 says:

    awww thats sooo sad!!! he will be remembered. Hopefully I'll see him in Heaven someday…

  27. brandon says:

    wow,thats terrible well aleast he's in aslans country now right?

  28. Narnia101 says:

    That is sad.
    I can't believe that when did he die?

  29. aslans's narnia says:

    may he rest in peace! his music was heartwarming! he will be sorely missed.

  30. aslans's narnia says:

    thats sad! may his soul rest in peace. he will be sorely missed1 his music was heartwarming!