Peter Connelly is a British

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

and

sound designer In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the br ...

known for his work on the action-adventure ''Tomb Raider'' series. He has been part of several video game releases working mainly with

Core Design Core Design Limited (known as Rebellion (Derby) Ltd between 2006 and 2010) was a British video game developer based in Derby. Founded in May 1988 by former Gremlin Graphics employees, it originally bore the name Megabrite until rebranding as Co ...

Eutechnyx Eutechnyx Limited (formerly Zeppelin Games Limited, until 1994, and Merit Studios (Europe) Limited, until 1997) is a British video game developer based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Since 1997, the company has focused on racing games. They a ...

and

Ubisoft Ubisoft Entertainment SA (; ; formerly Ubi Soft Entertainment SA) is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include '' Anno'', '' Assassin's Creed'', ' ...

Career

In September 1998, Connelly joined

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

-based studio Core Design, a subsidiary of UK video game publisher

Eidos Interactive Eidos Interactive Limited (formerly Domark Limited) was a British video game publisher based in Wimbledon, London. Among its franchises were '' Championship Manager'', '' Deus Ex'', ''Hitman'', '' Thief'' and ''Tomb Raider''. Domark was founded ...

. As part of Core Design, Connelly worked in

sound design Sound design is the art and practice of creating auditory elements of media. It involves specifying, acquiring and creating audio using production techniques and equipment or software. It is employed in a variety of disciplines including filmmaking ...

on '' Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft'' and later as a leading composer for '' Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' and '' Tomb Raider: Chronicles''. '' Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness'', which Connelly co-wrote with Martin Iveson, featured the

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...

. Connelly has scored other commercial games at Core Design such as '' Herdy Gerdy'', ''

Smart Bomb ''SMart'' was a British CBBC television programme based on art, which began in 1994 and ended in 2009. The programme was recorded at BBC Television Centre in London. Previously it had been recorded in Studio A at Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham ...

'', and ''

Free Running Freerunning is an athletic and acrobatic discipline incorporating an aesthetic element, and can be considered either a sport or a performance art, or both. Freerunning is similar to parkour, from which it is derived, but emphasizes artistry over ...

''. At

Ubisoft Reflections Ubisoft Reflections Limited (formerly Reflections and later Reflections Interactive Limited) is a British video game developer and a studio of Ubisoft based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Founded in 1984 by Martin Edmondson and Nicholas Chamberlain, th ...

, developers of the '' Driver series'', Connelly worked as senior sound designer on '' Driver: San Francisco''. After completion of ''Driver'', Connelly was contracted as Audio Lead and Composer on both ''

Watch Dogs ''Watch Dogs'' (stylized as ''WATCH_DOGS'') is an action-adventure video game franchise published by Ubisoft, and developed primarily by its Montreal and Toronto studios using the Disrupt game engine. The series' eponymous first title was rele ...

'' and '' The Crew''. Connelly is currently a contractor with

Slightly Mad Studios Slightly Mad Studios Ltd. was a British video game developer based in London. Founded in 2009, it was best known for the '' Project CARS'' series of racing games that it developed from 2015 until the series' discontinuation in 2022. Codemaster ...

, working as Senior Sound Designer. Connelly also runs Peter Connelly Limited, a sound production studio. According to ''Tomb Raider Chronicles'', Connelly has cited

John Williams John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932)Nylund, Rob (November 15, 2022)Classic Connection review, ''WBOI'' ("For the second time this year, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic honored American composer, conductor, and arranger John Williams, who w ...

and

Danny Elfman Daniel Robert Elfman (born May 29, 1953) is an American film composer, singer, songwriter, and musician. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the new wave band Oingo Boingo in the early 1980s. Since scoring his ...

as “exceptional” soundtrack composers who have influenced his own work. Another influence is

Burt Bacharach Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music. Start ...

. Connelly's experience with the London Symphony Orchestra while working on ''Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness'' was a significant milestone in his career. The recording sessions took place at Abbey Road Studios in 2002. Working with the LSO was an unexpected dream come true for Connelly, especially given the time constraints for recording. The orchestra's ability to sight-read and precisely execute the music with minimal takes was highly impressive. Connelly described the live performance of the Angel of Darkness theme by the LSO as incomparable to any recording.

Works

Music and sound design

*'' The Crew'' (2014) (with

Joseph Trapanese Joseph Trapanese (born 7 August 1984) is an American composer, arranger, and producer. He works in the production of music for films, television, records, theater, concerts, and interactive media. Early life and education Raised in Jersey City ...

) *''Watch Dogs'' (2014) *'' Horrid Henry'' (2009) *'' Speed Zone/Wheelspin (2009) *''Garden Party'' (2008) *''Smartbomb'' (2005) *''Podz'' (2004) *''Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness''(2003) (with Martin Iveson) *''Herdy Gerdy'' (2002) (with Martin Iveson) *''Tomb Raider: Chronicles'' (2000) *''Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation'' (1999) *'' Flesh Feast'' (1998) *'' Mass Destruction'' (1997) *''

Risk II ''Risk II'' is a video game version of the board game ''Risk (game), Risk'', developed by DR Studios, Deep Red Games and published by Hasbro Interactive under the MicroProse label. It's a sequel to the Risk (1996 video game), 1996 version of ''R ...

'' (1996) *''Battleship'' (1996)

Audio director and sound design

*'' Hot Wheels: Beat That!'' (2007) *''

Pimp My Ride ''Pimp My Ride'' is a staged American television series produced by MTV and hosted by rapper Xzibit, which ran for six seasons on MTV from 2004 to 2007. In each episode, a car in poor condition is both restored and customized. The work on th ...

'' (2008) *''

Cartoon Network Racing ''Cartoon Network Racing'' is a racing video game developed by Eutechnyx for PlayStation 2 and Firebrand Games for Nintendo DS, published by Danish video game developer The Game Factory, and released on December 4, 2006, in North America, and o ...

'' (2007) *'' Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift'' (2006) *'' Hummer Badlands'' (2005)

Sound design

*''Driver: San Francisco'' (2011) (as senior sound designer) *'' PopStar Guitar'' (2008)

Additional sound design

*'' Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli'' (2008) *''Free Running'' (2007) *''Tomb Raider III'' (1998)

Orchestral arrangement

*'' Emergency Heroes'' (2008)

Recent work

Peter is currently engaged producin
''Tomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony''
This is a crowd-funded album of his body of ''Tomb Raider'' scores rearranged and produced as a brand-new album that was successfully funded on Kickstarter at the end of 2018 (with an estimated shipping date of December 2019). Working alongside Peter on ''The Dark Angel Symphony'' are, among others, Dr Richard Niles (arranger, conductor); virtuoso cellist Tina Guo, known for her work in ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superheroine who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' Introducing Wonder Woman, #8, published October 21, 1941, with her first feature in ''Sensation Comic ...

'' and alongside

Hans Zimmer Hans Florian Zimmer (; born 12 September 1957) is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, five Grammy Awards, and has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards and a Tony ...

on his live shows; and vocalis
Julie Elven
ref name=":1"> whose previous work includes ''

League of Legends ''League of Legends'' (''LoL'', commonly referred to as ''League'', is a multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Riot Games. Inspired by ''Defense of the Ancients'', a Mod (video games), custom map for ''Warcraf ...

'' and '' Horizon: Zero Dawn''. The album's executive producer and communications lead is Ash Kapriélov, declared "Lara's Biggest Fan" in

Retro Gamer ''Retro Gamer'' is a British magazine, published worldwide, covering Retrogaming, retro video games. It was the first commercial magazine to be devoted entirely to the subject. Launched in January 2004 as a quarterly publication, ''Retro Gamer'' ...

(Issue 163) for his dedicated work for the ''

Tomb Raider ''Tomb Raider'', known as ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'' from 2001 to 2008, is a media franchise that originated with an Action-adventure game, action-adventure video game series created by British video game developer Core Design. The franchise i ...

'' video game franchise.

References

External links

*
Connelly on Last.fm

Peter Connelly's Profile on Studiologic MusicTomb Raider: The Dark Angel Symphony official website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Connelly, Peter British video game composers Living people Year of birth missing (living people)