Why We Honor Them
For a craftsman's gift with fantasy and folklore, and for scores that feel hand-made — recorder, strings and story in perfect accord.
Biography
Richard Harvey is one of those composers whose music deserves a far wider audience. A gifted multi-instrumentalist with a remarkable command of both traditional orchestral and historical instruments, Harvey has brought a distinctive musical voice to film and television.
While some may question his place in Hall of Scores, I have enjoyed his work across multiple decades and developed a great appreciation for his music, enough so to merit his place among the legends. Much of his work has gone unnoticed by mainstream audiences, yet his contributions across an eclectic range of projects are significant, particularly for those who appreciate narrative music.
His longstanding collaboration with Hans Zimmer is especially noteworthy, having contributed his instrumental talents to both versions of The Lion King, as well as major productions such as The Da Vinci Code and Interstellar. He also co-composed The Little Prince with Zimmer, further demonstrating the breadth of his musical abilities. These are hardly insignificant accomplishments, yet they speak to a career often spent outside the spotlight.
Perhaps all Harvey has ever lacked is that one breakout score to make his name as recognizable as those of his contemporaries. For those of us familiar with his work, however, the musical rewards have been there all along.
