Now that all the Harry Potter scores are released (and reviewed at MovieCues), and I’ve played all the scores through a couple of times, here’s my list of the Harry Potter scores in order of preference. Please note that this is my list of favourites as heard on album, not in the film.
What are yours?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
Composed by John Williams
Well…it’s like Indiana Jones and Star Wars isn’t it? I think it’s fair to say John Williams’ “Hedwig’s theme” is a classic film theme now, much like the “Raiders March” and the Star Wars Main Titles. Containing a multitude of memorable themes, whether it’s the heroic fanfares for the Quidditch Match, the soaring orchestral piece for Hogwarts, or the menacing theme for Voldemort, it is and will always remain my favourite Harry Potter score. Many have criticized Williams for not moving too far out of his comfort zone for the score (but hey, surely that’s the comfort zone of his fans as well?). For that reason, many consider The Prisoner of Azkaban to be the best, and, as much as I do love that, it’s just a little bit inconsistent to get the top spot.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Composed by John Williams
This one seems to be the favourite of just about everybody else. Indeed, Williams introduces numerous new ideas before departing the franchise, and indeed, cues such as “Buckbeak’s Flight” and “A Window to the Past” are easily among the top five of all the scores. Unfortunately though, there’s some cues that just don’t quite fit in, like “The Knight Bus” (which I loved, but few others did). Whilst it is possible that the disposal of themes from the previous two scores will upset some, I personally think there’s more than enough great new material to make up for it. A solid five star score, but not quite the best in my opinion.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Composed by Patrick Doyle
Patrick Doyle (in my opinion), the only composer other than John Williams to provide a solid five star Harry Potter score. Like Hooper and Desplat, Doyle removes most of Williams’ thematic base and replaces it with ideas of his own, but unlike Hooper and Desplat, his ideas are memorable. Doyle’s score contains numerous highlights, including the great Irish Jig in “The Quidditch World Cup”, the beautiful piece “Harry in Winter”, the dance music for the Yule Ball, and his fantastic theme for Voldemort, which is easily the best theme written for that character of all the Harry Potter scores. Doyle’s score was easily among the best of 2005, and it’s a great shame now more than ever, after having heard all the subsequent scores, that Doyle’s services were not retained for those films.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Composed by John Williams
Pretty much the same as the first film. John Williams, due to scheduling problems, had to hire William Ross to conduct the score and adapt it where necessary. Although the themes from the first film all carry over, there’s still some great new ones, including the theme for Fawkes the Phoenix, the comedic theme complimenting Kenneth Branagh’s wonderful performance as Gilderoy Lockhart, and, “Reunion of Friends”, which accompanies the final scene of both this, the first and the final film in the series.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
Composed by Alexandre Desplat
Since everyone was willing John Williams to return to finish the franchise, many were disappointed and sceptical of the hiring of Alexandre Desplat to compose the score to the finale. Whilst I found what he delivered for Part 2 monumentally disappointing, I actually really enjoyed his music for Part 1. I loved “Snape to Malfoy Manor” and the great action music heard in cues like “Sky Battle”. The problem is though, that the score is just very “un-Harry Potter”. Whilst there are several highlights at the beginning, the rest of the album is rather dull.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009)
Composed by Nicholas Hooper
Certainly better than Nicholas Hooper’s score for The Order of the Phoenix”, the primary highlight of The Half Blood Prince is of course of the soaring orchestral “Journey to the Cave”. I particularly liked the music heard towards the end of ”The Story Begins” as well, as well as the great choral piece for “Dumbledore’s Speech”. Not bad, not great, but enjoyable enough for me.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Composed by Nicholas Hooper
This is the score that nearly everybody considers to be the worst Potter score. Having actually listened to it a few more times, I do actually quite enjoy it (apart from the hideous “Fireworks” misfire). Professor Umbridge’s theme is a great comedy march, and I find the “Ministry of Magic” cue particularly enjoyable, as well as the flight music of “The Sirius Deception”. Whilst far inferior to The Half Blood Prince, it’s still very enjoyable despite a few upsets.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
Composed by Alexandre Desplat
Maybe it’s because I had such high expectations for the final Harry Potter score. It’s with some reluctance that I list it as my least favourite of them all, but the fact is that even Nicholas Hooper’s scores (who most consider to be the most inferior) contained some enjoyable and memorable material. The theme for Professor Umbridge in Order of the Phoenix and, easily his best composition for the two films he did – “Journey to the Cave” from the Half Blood Prince. Alexandre Desplat’s score for the final film, despite containing some very enjoyable battle music, contains nothing that is even remotely memorable, and his two themes from Part 1 that were, “Obliviate” and “Snape to Malfoy Manor” are not used to the extent that they could be, and the original themes by Williams that are used are simply copied and pasted instead of being integrated with new ideas. Ultimately, it’s OK as a standalone film score, but having listened to it a few times as part of the franchise, it’s my least favourite Harry Potter score.
