What's the best and worst Harry Potter score?

[Richard Penna 3,662]

Only considering the movies - never heard anything else.

 

Best: HP1

Worst: Deathly Hallows (either).

 

Hooper's have a mix of really good stuff and really dull stuff, but they feel like they belong in the same universe (moreso than Doyle's).

 

Unfortunately, Desplat's efforts go too far towards the generic RCP sound - which is likely not his fault, and is the direction Yates wanted to take the movies for the end, but it still means that for me they're largely pretty dull. I generally find there's about 20 mins of interesting material across his two scores.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

I don't really like these Henry Potter songs.

[Edmilson 7,367]

14 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

Goblet of fire below Desplat is something I truly, madly, deeply disagree with.  I'll forgive you ranking it below the JNHes since you're such a fan of his.

 

I believe I'm actually one of the few here who likes Desplat's DH scores. I thought they are pretty solid and have some great moments (Lilly's theme, Obliviate, Ron Leaves, etc.).

 

As for Doyle, I haven't listened to Goblet of Fire in years, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me.

[Bounty95 557]

1. Chamber of Secrets (yes, it has everything the first one has, but it fleshes the ideas out and makes them better) 

2. Prisoner of Azkaban 

3. Philosopher's Stone 

4. Goblet of Fire (by far the best of the non-Williams scores) 

----------------------------------

5. Deathly Hallows 2

6. Order of the Phoenix (I like the themes, but the score doesn't feel big enough 

7. Deathly Hallows 1

8. Half-Blood Prince (Dumbledore's Farewell is great but the rest is meh) 

[Jay 37,249]

In some ways I think COS is better than HPSS too, in that in includes most of what made HPSS great plus tons of new awesome stuff.  But it is missing Voldemort's theme which is a bummer.  I wish JW had composed a cue for the name reveal instead of them just tracking in HPSS recordings!

[Datameister 2,034]

45 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

 

I believe I'm actually one of the few here who likes Desplat's DH scores. I thought they are pretty solid and have some great moments (Lilly's theme, Obliviate, Ron Leaves, etc.).

 

As for Doyle, I haven't listened to Goblet of Fire in years, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me.

 

I quite like DH1. There aren't any catchy tunes or earworms to be found here, but the overall sound is closer to Williams's than with Doyle or Hooper. And I think the sky battle sequence contains the series's finest non-Williams action music.

 

But as I mentioned, when I watch DH2, nothing about the music ever makes me go, "Hmmm, I should buy the soundtrack."

[bored 301]

Desplat's first DH score feels like it's desperately trying to make up for Hooper's failed attempts at thematic material and general good writing. So he writes a plethora of themes, along with cleverly using Hedwig's theme like Williams did, (hell in Sky Battle he even brings back the 3 note motif after Hedwig is killed), but since it's literally the last 2 movies, it's too little too late. Though I will say his theme for the Order of the Phoenix in "Polyjuice Potion" is an ear worm for me. 

 

Yates is used to the generic style set up by Hooper in HBP, and so while Desplat is trying to bring the musical style back in a lot of areas of his scores, it always feels like he's stopped by a bad director (the worst example being the Pirates 2 sounding music when Harry is taken to Malfoy Manor). 

 

DH2 has Lily's theme, Underworld, The Resurrection Stone, and Dragon Flight which are all great, but unfortunately not much else stands out. At that point, it's Yates' generic-Os all the way down. 

[Tom Guernsey 2,277]

I'll be unoriginal and say Azkaban, although it is a bit of shame that so much of the thematic material from the first couple of movies was jettisoned for this one. However, JW did a masterful score in a different direction, which works well given that it's the first of the movies directed by someone new and so the movie itself was quite different in style. I don't dislike the Hooper scores nearly as much as everyone here it seems. Sure they are quite lightweight, but some of his melodic material is quite enjoyable but he was certainly quite a strange choice for such a major franchise. I have never warmed to either of the Desplat scores. They just seem so dark and grungy. I can barely remember a thing about them despite ample listens. I also quite enjoyed Imogen Heap's music for the stage show. Which surprised me as I know nothing of her work, but was fully prepared for it to be totally different to the movie scores; indeed its style has much in common with contemporary theatre (not necessarily new plays, but contemporary performances of older ones too) so it didn't really surprise me at how it sounded, but I can imagine how it's not for everyone.

 

I'm keen to try the video game scores, especially the James Hannigan ones, although my recollection is that they are for sale but aren't called Harry Potter (for some unfathomable reason).

[TSMefford 1,509]

19 hours ago, Edmilson said:

I do. They're shite.

 

Absolutely disagree with that statement. Especially on an overall level. Gimme the Hooper scores over Zimmer's DC work anyday.

 

Plenty find them dull, but there's a lot I love about them, even Order of the Phoenix, which I will acknowledge isn't as strong as the others, has some lovely highlights (Dumbledore's Army, Umbridge, and Fireworks, etc). The problem I have with HP5 is that some of the pieces (like Flight of the Phoenix) really sound like they're meant for a large orchestra to play them, but for some reason it sounds very small. I guess it sounds quite held back in many places.

 

Half-Blood Prince on the other hand, I feel does better and takes advantage of the smaller sound. While some see it is as dull, I see it as dark, intimate, and atmospheric with a few comedic moments. It doesn't sound as small for me when I listen to it, or at least it doesn't feel small. I actually quite like this score.

 

My highlights:

• I quite like the foreboding and pulsing strings and timpani for the Death Eaters in "Death Eater Attack", "Rushes", and "Death Eaters Arrive Pt 1"
• The theme for Slughorn is honestly beautiful and haunting in "Bye Bye Horace" and "Confession"
• The two ideas present for Malfoy that I like throughout the film. The "suspicion" that appears in "Diagon Alley", "Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder", "Weasley Workshop", and "Katie Bell Returns". And the ideas throughout the "Malfoy's Mission" cues.
• And of course "In Noctem" is great. I love utilizing it as the theme of the film pretty much.
• Some other single track highlights: "Aragog's Funeral", "Living Death", "When Ginny Kissed Harry", "Dumbledore Drinking", "Inferi and Fire", "Killing Dumbledore Pt 2", "Dumbledore's Farewell", and "The Weasley Stomp"
• Plus, the Hedwig's theme statements are fun.

It's not the best of the series by any means, but I find there's a lot that I love and attach to. I think it suits the film well plus, it tracks in some of the best cues from Order of the Phoenix so it's really the best of Hooper. I certainly think calling it shite is ridiculous, but that's just me. I'm well aware I'm in the minority here when it comes to the Hooper scores. Lol. A lot of people particularly think Half-Blood Prince is garbage. 

 

Of course the Williams scores and Doyle's score are the best and are hard to beat, but I still appreciate Hooper's work. I appreciate Half-Blood Prince more than I do Deathly Hallows Pt 2, which, like Order of the Phoenix, has a couple good cues, but I find it overall to be too...blockbustery? Feels like RCP possessed Desplat or something.

 

3 hours ago, Tom Guernsey said:

...my recollection is that they are for sale but aren't called Harry Potter (for some unfathomable reason).

 

Correct. They are for sale as part of the EA Music Composer series. (Order of the Phoenix is Vol 2 and Half-Blood Prince is Vol 1) I imagine the reason for this is trademark / copyright issues. Some license that expired or something. You'll notice all Hedwig's Theme material has been scrubbed from the release as have any Potter specific names from the track titles. As you can see in these humorous examples:

• D and V (Dumbledore and Voldemort)
• Combat W (Wand Combat)
• Welcome (Welcome to Hogwarts)
• F and G Return (Fred and George Return)
• Quid (Quidditch)

Seems like a weird mess though because "Umbridge" "Occlumency" "Death Eaters" "Fred and George" and other terms managed to sneak their way in there in other places. 

 

I'd recommend them! They're very vibrant and lively with beautiful melodic ideas and themes. Although, I'm sure my opinion is tarnished after going to bat for Hooper's "Half-Blood Prince" score, so take it as you will. Lol.

[mrbellamy 6,270]

POA is my fave. All three are personal favorites. I'm out of things to say about them. The first one got me hooked on film music, the second was the first time I really got the satisfaction of listening to a soundtrack I'd been hyped up to hear, and the third pushes all my aesthetic buttons and probably established them in many ways. These are just my John Williams scores.

 

The rest are always gonna give me mixed feelings because they're not John Williams but they all have their virtues, even though it's more fun to gripe. I will say I was fully immersed in these things until 2011 and have not really listened to 4-8 since then. The Fantastic Beasts have gotten a few listens apiece.

 

GOF has pretty clear thematic throughlines, nice collection of new melodies and their variants, cool setpieces, strong personality. I think it's a little overcranked without the subtleties that help balance out the first one, for example, but generally with these scores I prefer "too much" to "not enough."

 

OOTP is basically a fun easy listening album. Fireworks, Professor Umbridge, Dumbledore's Army, these are listenable tracks with clean hooks, throw them on the theme park playlist and I'd smile and bop and remember the film. Not nothing.

 

HBP, I think is a pretty interesting one to consider because as far as I've been able to tell, it probably has the biggest disparity between the consensus on this forum and the raves it gets just about anywhere else. It got a Grammy nod! Super weird but I think it's the one that comes closest to being a "vibe" score, just kinda simmering in a hook or sound. It's not quite aimless noodling, there's a structure to stuff like Harry and Hermione, When Ginny Kissed Harry, Dumbledore's Farewell. I get the appeal, I like about half of it.

 

Harmonically and rhythmically, every now and then things come up that I think are interesting.

 

String harmony from 1:08-1:45

 

 

 

String runs and brass/timpani accents from 0:55-1:13

 

 

Anyway now I'm cancelled for defending Nicholas Hooper.

 

I don't need to make a case for Desplat or JNH. I like what they do, they do it well. I voted Deathly Hallows: Part 2 as worst because even though the Hoopers are technically less sophisticated, I think DH2 has the most lost potential to be a greater score. Also DH2 isn't that much more impressive or enjoyable anyway. Also it's funnier not to vote Hooper. 

 

I only barely recall the first two video game scores from playing them and then I stopped playing Harry Potter video games, haven't listened to the scores or Cursed Child. Not really that interested.

[TSMefford 1,509]

I'm with you @mrbellamy

[mxsch 115]

6 hours ago, Bounty95 said:

1. Chamber of Secrets (yes, it has everything the first one has, but it fleshes the ideas out and makes them better) 

2. Prisoner of Azkaban 

3. Philosopher's Stone 

4. Goblet of Fire (by far the best of the non-Williams scores) 

----------------------------------

5. Deathly Hallows 2

6. Order of the Phoenix (I like the themes, but the score doesn't feel big enough 

7. Deathly Hallows 1

8. Half-Blood Prince (Dumbledore's Farewell is great but the rest is meh) 

I'll grab CoS for just one thing: Quidditch, Second Year

[Edmilson 7,367]

Yeah, the quidditch music from Chamber is excellent, even the part that copies Attack of the Clones, which is way better in HP than in SW.

 

In think the three quidditch tracks are probably the best action music in the franchise. 

[SF1_freeze 131]

Best is Azkaban, which is a creative firework almost unseen in JWs carreer which still blows me away. Its biggest feat is capturing the Potter atmosphere so perfectly while having a completely different approach as the first two films. The new medieval atmosphere is perfect for Potter as well as the equally perfect warm and magical first two scores.

 

Worst is DH Part 1, which is just a boring and dissapointing affair, which also further destroyed the thematic continuity of the scores.

 

PS: GoF to me still is a great score to listen to apart from Harry Potter and the film (which is why i have chosen DH1 as worst), but in terms of a Potter film it is a horrible and totally unsuitable score. It completely fails in terms of atmosphere and magic. I have rarely heard a score so plain wrong for its type of film...

 

This is where Hoopers scores got the upper hand even though they have all kinds of technical shortcomings. They are just nuch better in capturing the Potter atmosphere compared to DH1 and GoF. 

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,429]

1.  Prisoner of Azkaban

2. Philosopher’s Stone

3. Chamber of Secrets

4. Half-Blood Prince

5. Order of the Phoenix

6. Deathly Hallows Part 2

7. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

8. Deathly Hallows Part 1

9. Goblet of Fire

10. Crimes of Grindlewald 

 

I just find out that the scores were ranking in the same order of my favourites Potter movies.

[Arpy 4,145]

There's a lot of charm in Order of the Phoenix and it's always unfavorably compared to the efforts of the last two composers, which is somewhat unfair. My appreciation for Hooper's scores has grown over the years.

 

Doyle's score is sublime - it's big from start to finish which I think reflects the drama of the Tournament and the feel of that film so well. I'd love an expansion of that score!

 

Desplat's scores sort of continue from where Hooper left. They both have their moments but feel somewhat diminished in size and impact for the final chapters of a film series. There's some tonal clashes here and there where they track in re-recorded Williams' themes that stick out instead of blend in comfortably.

[MaxTheHouseelf 324]

1. Prisoner of Azkaban - everything mentioned beforehand already, great themes and texture-like pieces, unique sound. One of Williams' best.

2. Philosopher's Stone, well, "Hedwigs Theme", "Nimbus 2000", "Leaving Hogwarts".. not much to say.

 

3. Deathly Hallows Part I - fits perfectly to the somber mood of the movie. Tracks like "Godrics Hollow Graveyard", "At the Burrow", or "Hermiones Parents" give me chills every time. The sordino strings sound amazing.

4. Chamber of Secrets - feels more like a Philosopher's Stone, Part 2 and always had a hard time appreciating it on its own. Love "Fawkes heals Harry (alternate)", "The Chamber of Secrets" and "Transformation Class (alternate segment)"

 

5. Deathly Hallows Part II -  "The Resurrection Stone" or "Harry Surrenders" are great. Like the movie, could've needed a bit more distinctivness, guess the director wanted the last one to be more of the generic epic finale film. Tracks like "Courtyard Apocalypse" on the other hand sound extremely uninspired and don't do much for me.

6. Goblet of Fire has some interesting moments, nice orchestration and adding some fresh ideas as well. I still consider it as a fairly good score. It can be quite theatrical and bombastic, but considering the theme of the movie is a huge, exciting tournament, I find it very fitting.

.

. (...with lots of space...)

.

7. & 8. Order of the Phoenix & Half Blood Prince - well, I don't like Hoopers style at all and the extremely silly and "childish" ideas/writing (Umbridge Theme f.ex.). HBP is just a total trash movie and unfortunatly not anything like the book, which is much more mature and more focused on Dumbledore&Harry and not so much about silly romances. Should've brought Doyle back, or Desplat in, for these.

[GerateWohl 4,319]

6 hours ago, Arpy said:

Doyle's score is sublime - it's big from start to finish which I think reflects the drama of the Tournament and the feel of that film so well. I'd love an expansion of that.

Doyle's suffers a lot from the fact that it had to accompany the worst film in the series. 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

You mean 2nd best in the series

[Bounty95 557]

1 hour ago, MaxTheHouseelf said:

 Fawkes heals Harry (alternate)

 

What's the difference between this track and the version in the main program? Is it just a different take or are there different editing points? 

[GerateWohl 4,319]

6 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

You mean 2nd best in the series

No. Have you read the books? It is to me the biggest dissapointment in comparison with the books. 

[Bilbo 3,709]

12 minutes ago, GerateWohl said:

No. Have you read the books? It is to me the biggest dissapointment in comparison with the books. 

Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince say hi!

[GerateWohl 4,319]

1 minute ago, Bilbo said:

Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince say hi!

Yes. If Half-Blood Prince would have been a better book, then maybe I would consider this as the worst film of the series.

But for me it is Goblet of Fire. But I don't want to argue on that.

[Bilbo 3,709]

Well you’re wrong. But I don’t want to argue that. 

[MaxTheHouseelf 324]

31 minutes ago, Bounty95 said:

 

What's the difference between this track and the version in the main program? Is it just a different take or are there different editing points? 

I think it's a different take. The alternate sounds just a little bit more exciting and expressive overall, especially the celli starting at 0:32 and towards the end.

[Jay 37,249]

On 2/14/2021 at 2:11 PM, Bounty95 said:

 

What's the difference between this track and the version in the main program? Is it just a different take or are there different editing points? 

 

They put a different take on the OST album than was used in the film.  That's all.  Nothing compositionally different.