Jacques Hardel

Jacques Hardel (died March 1678) was a French composer and harpsichordist.

He came from a family that included two noted instrument makers: his grandfather Gilles Hardel (fl.

1611) and his father Guillaume Hardel (died 1676), who was a lute maker and a well-established harpsichordist—in 1673–4 he served as harpsichord teacher to the daughter of Philippe d'Orléans.

He was a pupil of Jacques Champion de Chambonnières and achieved a very high reputation at the court, at one point giving concerts for the King every week, performing together with the lutenist Porion.

The two men shared a close friendship, and Hardel bequeathed all of his works to Gautier.