John Williams - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
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Free Music Notes for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Free Music Review: Mr. Williams, meet Mr. Potter
Hit: 5 Stars
Yes, I admit it: I'm such a Harry Potter fan that I bought and listened to the soundtrack to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" before the film was even released. I knew that Harry's musical "voice" was in good hands: the score is composed and conducted by John Williams, a Hollywood legend with credits too long to list in a short review. Fear not, "Harry" fellow fans: Williams delivers a rousing score that successfully evokes the magic and excitement of J.K. Rowling's beloved novel (on which the film is based). This is a full, rich orchestral score that effectively uses choral voices on certain tracks.The disc starts off on a compelling note with the "Prologue," a fanciful, delicate theme with hints of magic and mystery. The prologue leads into "Harry's Wondrous World," a big, sweeping theme that is rich in emotional texture, yet has fun, playful accents.
I liked the charming, sort of Celtic flavor of the opening of "Diagon Alley...." "Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters..." makes good use of the chorus for a mystical effect. "The Quidditch Match" is, as might be expected, a spectacular action piece that you might find slightly reminiscent of the action music in Williams' score for "The Empire Strikes Back."
Another rousing selection is "The Chess Game," whose energetic percussion reminded me somewhat of the action scenes in Jerry Goldmith's score for the original "Planet of the Apes"; Williams effectively whips his instrumental elements into a controlled frenzy. The score turns rather ominous and scary with "The Face of Voldemort," a section that evokes Harry's dreaded, powerful enemy. The CD ends strong with "Hedwig's Theme": this is basically a reprise of the prologue music which builds up to an energetic finale. Overall, Williams' "Potter" score is a varied and enjoyable musical tapestry. Not only does the score hold up to the high standards of Williams previous work, but it also taps into the classic tradition of big, ambitious Hollywood orchestral scores.
Free Music Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Soundtrack
Hit: 5 Stars
WOW!!!!!!!I have read all four books-Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azcaban, and Goblet of Fire. When I first heard that they were doing a movie for the first book, I went on the internet and found as much info and pics as I could find. I did. Then I watched the first trailer, then when the 2nd came out, I watched that, and when the third came out not to long ago, I watched that. Then I started seeing scenes on TV. Then I heard that they were coming out with a soundtrack. I was pleased. I went on the internet (...) and found info on the soundtrack and listened to bits and pieces of te songs. Then I went to this website and someones review said to go to (...) to listen to the first 30 seconds of each song. I did. I loved each song. My faavorite was Hedwig's Theme. I liked Voldemort song because you could tell the scene in which this song is played is dark and spooky. All of the songs are great. Most of them are calm and soothing songs. I don't have the cd but I have neard bits of each song and think it is great!!!!!!!! (...) I have kept all of the newspaper articles about Harry Potter. So, I hope you think this review was a big help for the cd, books, and for the movie! So, read the books! Listen to the CD! (...) Thank you.
"Dear Mr. Potter,
You have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." "In a few minutes, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates." "Mr. Potter, our new celebrity." "I picked this up for a bit of light reading." "You call this light?" "You're a wizard, Harry." "I'm a what?" "Do you really have that scar?" "Who told you about Fluffy?" "That thing has a name." "Mr. Longbottom, where do you think you're going." "You could get us killed, or worse, expelled." "She needs to fill our her priorities." "Mr. Potter." "Harry Potter." "Harry Potter." "MR. POTTER." Those were some words and phrases that I heard from trailers and on TV from the movie. Thank you and Expelarium!
Free Music Review: One of the most magical scores of all time...don't miss it!!
Hit: 5 Stars
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is a story all about magic, so it's obvious that the film needed a truly magical underore, and not everyone can deliver a magical score. Chris Columbus had worked with John Williams before on the first two "Home Alone" movies. and I think he made the right choice when asking him to score the first "Harry Potter" title. This score is...amazing? Wonderful? Awe-inspiring? Take your pick of words, but none of them fit this stunning piece of work performed beautifully by the London Symphoney Orchastra. Magical is the only word for it.
It succeeds in many areas where the movie it was created for fails. Williams has created a score that is perfectly tuned to the changing moods of the book and movie. At times warm and inviting, while later eerie, dark, and forbidding; at times happy, at other times sad, and sometimes all out thrilling. The strong diversity of this score is most perfectly reflected in the beautiful meadly "Harry's Wonderous World." track two (and my favorite track) on the CD.
Furthermore, the strong use of motifs enhances the score and film, and the eerie Harry Potter theme is destined to earn its place among John Williams' most famous works, right up there next to the Star Wars Main Title Theme and the Flying Theme from E.T. This score is clearly the best of its year, and the MPAA is [bad] not to hae awarded it the Oscar for Best Score. It is in my mind. My only complaint about this release is that it is an abridgement, and hope that someday the complete score will be issued.
Of John William's score for "The Phantom Menace," George Lucas said "Every fan of Star Wars -- and of great music -- is in his [John Williams] debt." Changing "Star Wars" in the quote to Harry Potter, the same applies here. This is a wonderful score, and it is truly magical -- one of the most magical of all time --and should not be missed for all the gold in Gringotts!
This is a truly five-star score in every way, shape, and form. ***** ...
Free Music Review: Williams makes Magic
Hit: 5 Stars
I got the soundtrack before I went to see the movie and I'm glad I did. I got a sense of the movie from it, and of course the motif is very prominent and also extremely important in the movie. It really set the stage for what to expect in the cinematic version of this much loved book series. However, I must agree with someone else who wrote a review on this soundtrack. The music for Diagon Alley and the Great Hall in the movie WAS different than the soundtrack version. Not necessarily better per se, but different. In the soundtrack, I thought the "Diagon Alley" woodwinds were a wonderful complement to the charm of the Alley and the newness that Harry encounters.
Though I really enjoy this soundtrack as a whole, I think my favorite track is "The arrival of Baby Harry." I think it transports you to that part of the movie and is very emotional fits perfectly. As you hear it, you can almost see the dark Privet Drive and the three looking over and holding baby Harry.
The epic proportions of "Quidditch" and "The Chess Game" were classic John Williams and are spectacular on the grandest of scales. Although I did notice some similarities between this and other Williams' scores, it matters not. I must disagree with my peers in that I don't think it resembles Star Wars as much as it resembles the Home Alone soundtrack. It has the same type of motif and celesta (I think) instrument that Home Alone did. A very good soundtrack to listen to while reading the books or just for fun. As a final note, I will be very disappointed if this soundtrack is not honored at the Oscars.
Free Music Review: The magic is not only Harry Potter, but Williams score!
Hit: 5 Stars
Been anxiously waiting for this score to be released...my wife has been hooked on the "Harry Potter" series ever since the first publication...if you think long and hard about the composer best to represent this film, the first name should be John Williams, now there's no magic about that, just a "film-score-buffs" intuition. When you go back to scores like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"(1977)..."Star Wars"(1977)..."Superman"(1978)..."The Empire Strikes Back"(1981)..."Raiders of the Lost Ark"(1981)..."E.T.-The Extra-Terrestrial"(1982)..."The Return of the Jedi"(1983)..."The Witches of Eastwick"(1987)..."Hook"(1991)...that's just the sci-fi, sword & sorcery, action, adventure films...the magical world of J.K. Rowling's fits Williams like a glove, he's completely in his element, registering with all his classmates in "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry".
Many fans will try and compare music to some of Williams past scores, don't do it...as composers before him ~ John Barry, Elmer Bernstein, George Delerue, Jerry Goldsmith, Bernard Herrmann, Maurice Jarre, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Henry Mancini, Jerome Moross, Ennio Morricone, Alfred Newman, Alex North, Nino Rota, Mikloz Rozsa, Max Steiner, Dimitri Tiomkin, Franz Waxman and Victor Young...each composer had their own particular sound, phrasing and technique...this project is JOHN WILLIAMS, plain and simple...so don't think about it so much, just spin this CD, sit back and ENJOY THE MAGIC!
Total Time: 73:43 on 19 Tracks ~ WEA/Atlantic 83491-2 ~ (2001)