THERE are millions of people who think J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books are brilliant. Judging by the huge box-office returns of the sixth movie, there are obviously millions who think the Harry Potter movies are well worth watching. But do you know anyone who spends their days listening to the soundtracks of the Harry Potter movie franchise? I thought not.
Now that’s not to say that the soundtracks don’t contain some memorable themes. The first three movies were scored by meister soundtrack composer John Williams (the one who’d already given us Star Wars, Jaws, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of the Lost Ark and many other classic scores) and his successors Patrick Doyle and Nicholas Hooper have tried hard to live up to the man’s high standards.
However, as with most purely orchestral movie soundtracks the music will only really mean much to diehard fans who want to relive this particular aspect of the movie. I’m sad to say that two of the most memorable themes here are actually reworkings of Williams’ earlier pieces, Hedwig’s Theme and Quidditch Match.
Somewhat perversely, one of Hooper’s boldest compositions, the careering swing number Wizard Wheezes, was not actually featured in the movie, either!
Another highlight is the gentle, melancholic Harry & Hermione which features some lovely melodies played by the strings and harp, a mood that recurs on When Ginny Kissed Harry, while the vaguely Latin jazz rhythms of The Slug Party and the stately, sorrowful Dumbledore’s Farewell also register.
Still, this is 62 minutes of often incidental, almost totally instrumental orchestral music and it really is all too much for me to absorb at one go.
