Harry Manfredini
Harry Manfredini | |
|---|---|
Manfredini in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 25, 1943 |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1976–present |
Harry Joseph Manfredini[2] (born August 25, 1943)[3][4] is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, and jazz soloist. He has scored more than one hundred films, including most of the Friday the 13th series. He has had years of classical training, as well as twenty years in the popular music scene.
Early life and education
Manfredini was born and raised in Chicago, the son of Italian American parents.[5] As a child, Manfredini took accordion lessons and studied clarinet and saxophone before performing in a local rock band as a teenager.[6]
He received a Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University,[7] a Master of Arts degree from Western Illinois University, and a doctorate from Columbia University.[8]
Career
Manfredini composed the scores for several films in the late 1970s, including Through the Looking Glass (1976), Here Come the Tigers (1978), and Manny's Orphans (also 1978).[3]
Manfredini is known for composing the scores for Friday the 13th (1980) and most of its sequels: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), Friday the 13th Part III (1982), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985), Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993), and Jason X (2001).[3]
Manfredini also scored numerous other horror films, including The Children (1980), Swamp Thing (1982), House (1986), House II: The Second Story (1987), The Horror Show (1989), and House IV (1992).[3]
In addition to film scores, Manfredini composed the music for the children's television adaptations Corduroy (1984) and A Pocket for Corduroy (1986).[3]
In 2017, Manfredini provided the score to Friday the 13th: The Game, a video game based on the Friday the 13th franchise. [9]
In February 2026, it was announced that Manfredini was involved in the scoring of the forthcoming Crystal Lake television series, a prequel to the original Friday the 13th (1980) produced by A24.[10]
Influences
In conversation with Russian journalist and composer Tony Vilgotsky, Manfredini said that his musical tastes and style were influenced by such composers as Giacomo Puccini, Igor Stravinsky, Maurice Ravel and others.[11]
Selected credits
Film
Television
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Corduroy | Television short | [3] |
| 2026 | Crystal Lake | [10] |
Video games
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Friday the 13th: The Game | [9] |
Screen appearances
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th | Documentary film | [21] |
| 2013 | Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th |
References
- ^ a b c Iken, Maggie (April 13, 2018). "A Conversation with Composer Harry Manfredini About 'Friday the 13th'". Fright Day. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Repertoire search – Harry Manfredini". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved February 25, 2026. (Note: Access may require manual search)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Manfredini, Harry 1943–". Encyclopedia.com. Cengage. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026.
- ^ Guo, Sherry (August 25, 2023). "Friday 8/25/23". Film Score Monthly. ISSN 1077-4289. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026.
- ^ Reeves, Rachel (September 13, 2024). "Killer Score: How Harry Manfredini Helped Redefine the Slasher Sound [Friday the 13th Week]". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on October 4, 2025.
- ^ Probert, John Llewellyn (October 21, 2012). "Harry Manfredini – Part II". This Is Horror. Archived from the original on November 13, 2025.
- ^ Galil, Leor (October 24, 2018). "The Reader's guaranteed unboring homegrown Halloween mix". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025.
- ^ "Harry Manfredini". Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original on December 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Parker, Jason (June 13, 2017). "Meet Friday The 13th Composer Harry Manfredini This Halloween". Friday the 13th: The Franchise. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Konopka, Matt (February 12, 2026). "'Friday the 13th' Composer Harry Manfredini to Score 'Crystal Lake' Prequel Series". Dread Central. Archived from the original on February 12, 2026.
- ^ Vilgotsky, Tony (November 2012). "Maestro of the 13th note". Mir Fantastiki. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017.
- ^ Craig 2019, p. 191.
- ^ Grove 2005, pp. 39, 64.
- ^ Grove 2005, p. 84.
- ^ Grove 2005, p. 93.
- ^ Grove 2005, p. 114.
- ^ Grove 2005, pp. 134, 145.
- ^ Variety staff (December 31, 1985). "House". Variety. Archived from the original on August 25, 2025.
- ^ "'Friday the 13th' continues". The Mesquite News. August 15, 1986. p. 8B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Grove 2005, p. 153.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Harry Manfredini Credits". TV Guide. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025.
- ^ Wilmington, Michael (August 17, 1993). "Will This Really Be the 'Final Friday' For the Murderous Jason?". Los Angeles Times. p. B9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Doubting Tom". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026.
- ^ "Headless Horseman". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026.
- ^ "Midnight Bloodshed". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026.
- ^ "Monster Mash". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026.
- ^ "Solitude". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026.
- ^ Hamman, Cody (October 9, 2025). "Crystal Lake Nightmares convention interview with Harry Manfredini, creator of the iconic Friday the 13th score". JoBlo.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2025.
Sources
- Craig, Rob (2019). American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-1-476-66631-0.
- Grove, David (2005). Making Friday the 13th: The Legend of Camp Blood. Godalming, England: FAB Press. ISBN 978-1-903-25431-8.