"(John's) soundtrack was I think the key ingredient - supportive but insistent, constantly holding text, action and video afloat. An extraordinary achievement under the pressure of delivery.”  
Mike Pearson - Director, The Persians
   

John Hardy
 
A confident and sensitive collaborator, John Hardy has created unique, critically acclaimed and popular music for a huge range of productions, from films and TV to theatre and radio, operas and classical performances. In each collaboration he specialises in finding that unique fingerprint springing from the individual opportunities and needs of the project.



Films include

Cuckoo (Cwcw) - BAFTA Cymru award for Best Original Music Soundtrack
Abraham's Point - starring Mackenzie Crook & Joseph Milson
Martha, Jac & Sianco - BAFTA Cymru Best Original Music Soundtrack
Rancid Aluminium - starring Rhys Ifans, Joseph Fiennes, Tara Fitzgerald and Keith Allen.
Dead Long Enough - starring Michael Sheen & Jason Hughes
The Life Story of David Lloyd George – restored 1918 epic with new orchestral score
Streetlife - starring Helen McCrory & Rhys Ifans
Hedd Wyn - (Oscar-nominated; BAFTA Cymru Best Original Music; RTS Best Single Drama)

Television credits include

Y Pris (The Price) (S4C) - BAFTA Cymru for Best Original Music with Rob Love of Alabama 3
Imagine... (BBC One) various episodes, including Ai Weiwei, Art is Child's Play & The Year of Anish Kapoor
Children Of The Valley (ITV 1 / Yap Films) RTS Best UK TV Documentary
America: The Story of Us (History Channel/Nutopia)
Chaos at the Zoo (Channel 4)
Egypt Uncovered (Discovery Channel)
Hidden Gardens (BBC Two)
A Year At Kew (BBC Two)
Wild Wales (BBC One & Two)
True Horror with Anthony Head (Discovery Channel)
A Mind To Kill (Five)

…production music regularly used around the world including Coast (BBC Two).

John's music has been performed and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Westminster Abbey Choir, BBC Singers, London Brass, Serendipity, Only Men Aloud, Vivace Singers and his own Ensemble.

His music has been described as "hauntingly atmospheric" (The Observer) "unique" (the Guardian) "witty" (The Independent) "gripping and intensely theatrical" (Opera Now) and "energetic, instinctive" (The Times). The Guardian wrote about John's music for National Theatre Wales' universally praised 'The Persians', saying "4 Stars - what is impressive... is the totality of the experience.... superb production, with atmospheric music by John Hardy."

His orchestra suite 'Blue Letters from Tanganyika' was commissioned and recorded by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and released on John's own label Ffin Records. It has been remixed by Culprit One and described as "powerfully cinematic" by the South Wales Echo and as "immediately engaging... bright and colourful" by Gramophone Magazine. Quotes to add like we've done the others within the text…

“His work on DAWN was so beautiful. He understood the script inside out and he produced the most subtle and haunting of soundtracks… a pleasure to work with… the thought of collaborating with him again… fills me with excitement.”
Tony Hurley - Director,
Dawn (D.M Davies award for Best Writer & Director; BAFTA Cymru Best Short Film)

"The music is a triumph. Literally everyone who has watched the programme has said so."
Renny Bartlett - Director, True Horror with Anthony Head.


Visit John's website: johnhardymusic.net
Production Credits [FULL PDF]
Imagine
(BBC One) Three episodes of the flagship arts film series.
America: The Story of Us
(History Channel / Nutopia) Emmy award and 3 nominations
Wild Wales
(BBC One & Two)
Cuckoo (Cwcw)
(Ffilmiau Fondue Films / S4C) BAFTA Cymru award: Best Original Music Soundtrack
Martha, Jac & Sianco
(Boomerang Plus / S4C) 6 BAFTA Cymru awards including Best Original Music Soundtrack
Hedd Wyn
(Pendefig Ty Cefn) - Oscar nominated (Best Foreign Language Film), six BAFTA Cymru awards including Best Original Music, RTS Award for best Single Drama