The Harry Potter movies scored quite a coup having John Williams create the basic musical themes for the movie adaptations of the best-selling novels. Williams scored Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, composing some of the musical tones we immediately associate with the franchise, including the memorable Hedwig’s theme. He went on to handle music for the next two pictures as well, but since then, however, other composers have been at work in the Harry Potter saga, adapting Williams’s work and coming up with their own material.
I have to admit a little bit of sadness towards Williams sitting out Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix. Those were the movies that finally introduced the physical form of the villainous Voldemort. I can only imagine what sort of evil theme might have come from the same mind that gave us the Imperial March had he been the one composing the music.
It appears Williams will be returning to Harry Potter for the boy-wizard’s last adventure. He recently gave a lecture at the Berkshire Museum and told at least one audience member that he missed not doing the last two movies and said that he hopes to be back for the last picture. From their report at Film Score Monthly, it sounds like he’s willing as long as the movie’s producers will have him back.
This is really good news. Anyone who has read Deathly Hallows knows the book has a huge scope that is going to be rather difficult to convert to screen. Having someone known for epic scale music, especially the person who set the musical stage for the franchise, is definitely going to help. Not that Nicholas Hooper or Patrick Doyle haven’t done a wonderful job, but John Williams is the music man when it comes to films like this.
