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Product Description
Review
There aren't many film series that reach a seventh installment without having lost their sense of momentum. Harry Potter falls into that illustrious bracket though, and a big part of the magic is down to its music. That lilting, whimsical, slightly sinister little phrase, penned for the first film by composer John Williams, must surely be one of the best-known cinematic themes ever written.
Alexandre Desplat is the fourth composer invited to write a Potter soundtrack. A three-times Oscar nominee, his previous film scores include The Golden Compass and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. In a nice instance of events coming full circle, the orchestrator is Conrad Pope, who worked on the first three films with John Williams. It's a formidable writing team, and both must feel as though they've accomplished what they set out to achieve. Pope's orchestration is a work of genius, hightening the music's drama with a myriad of different instrumental colours, from recorders and theorbo (a plucked, lute-like instrument), to ethnic percussion and a shakuhachi (a Japanese end-blown flute). The score itself is equally affective – menacing, comforting, magic-tinged, powerful and fragile all in one. It's particularly striking for its smooth beauty, which remains present even when painting scenes dripping with evil or fraught with pain.
So far, so very good. However, there is one single but sizeable question mark over whether this recording is going to completely hit the spot for Potter fans. This is a work more intent on painting an atmosphere than in giving the listener motivic handles on which to grasp. The famous theme itself is used sparingly. This means that, whilst there's no question that Desplat's music evokes the menacing, increasingly dangerous world of Harry Potter with beauty and dramatic precision, it's slightly debateable as to whether it works as an effective piece in isolation from the film. Perhaps the answer to that will be down to personal taste.
--Charlotte Gardner
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you are pining away waiting for the film to be out on dvd this is a great way to relive the moments from the film. Put it on and close your eyes and you are THERE. The moment it starts with 'Obliviate' I'm filled with the same excitement and expectancy I felt seeing the film.
I don't know why people are complaining I think this is fantastic, after all the tone of this film and subject matter (not having any scenes at Hogwarts) ARE altogether different from the other films and having a soundtrack with a different tone / style is apt I think.
The inlay sleeve of this cd is fantastic for collectors, some great images, its in pride of place along with the other soundtracks, just eagerly awaiting the finale now!
I don't know why people are complaining I think this is fantastic, after all the tone of this film and subject matter (not having any scenes at Hogwarts) ARE altogether different from the other films and having a soundtrack with a different tone / style is apt I think.
The inlay sleeve of this cd is fantastic for collectors, some great images, its in pride of place along with the other soundtracks, just eagerly awaiting the finale now!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In general the album is good, the music has much darker feel to it, well complemeting the penultimate instalment of the Harry Potter series. Unlike the previous scores however, most of the pieces are quite forgettable, with only few exceptions. As a Harry Potter fan myself I was quite disappointed, missing some of the key pieces I came to love while listening to the previous soundtracks (most notably the Hedwig's theme). Though essential album for any Harry Potter fan, it's definately not the best one.
I recommend listening to some of the songs before buying the album to avoid any unnecessary disappointment.
I recommend listening to some of the songs before buying the album to avoid any unnecessary disappointment.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Desplat's assignment for The Deathly Hallows undoubtedly occurred as a result of his excellent score for Twilight: New Moon, showing his skills at writing for the fantasy genre. Unfortunately, Desplat did not manage to pull anything special or unique for this penultimate film of the Harry Potter franchise. The scores for Harry Potter have suffered from a lack of consistency as different directors chose different composers from The Goblet of Fire onwards, often with little or no reference to John Williams' original themes or any subsequent themes by the other composers.
Desplat, as he did with New Moon, could have stamped his own mark, but instead many of the tracks whilst individually impressive, never seems to evolve into a well rounded listening experience on album. It is frustrating because he does have some good themes here, and some of the action writing does sound impressive. Maybe he will develop the themes further in Part 2, but this score does feel a little incomplete. It is nonetheless good, but not groundbreaking score with individual moments of flare rather than a cohesive music progression of ideas and themes. Hopefully these themes will be further developed in Pt 2.
Desplat, as he did with New Moon, could have stamped his own mark, but instead many of the tracks whilst individually impressive, never seems to evolve into a well rounded listening experience on album. It is frustrating because he does have some good themes here, and some of the action writing does sound impressive. Maybe he will develop the themes further in Part 2, but this score does feel a little incomplete. It is nonetheless good, but not groundbreaking score with individual moments of flare rather than a cohesive music progression of ideas and themes. Hopefully these themes will be further developed in Pt 2.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fab
we got another masterful maestro with more feathers in his cap than Robin Hood in a pillow fight. Alexandre Desplat brought new depth and darkness to the series that really made... Read more
Published 21 days ago by Kieron
as good as john williams' soundtracks
I have not seen the movie but the soundtrack ( purchased for my kids ) is stunning. very very clever musically and a great disk to have in the car , potter fan or not..... Read more
Published 3 months ago by JrF
Very good!!!
I don't know how this could be rated under 4* but you can't please everyone, all the soundtracks are ace poetically the sad ones they give a significant impact on your emotions and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by preston
Contains some classic moments but a little boring in places
Alexandre's soundtrack worked very well with the film and perfectly complements the themes of suffering, bleakness, hope and loss that are so prevalent in the film. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Alexander J. Dunn
music for harry
Next to John Williams who wrote the original score,Alexandre Desplat has come very
close to the feeling for now the darker side of these films, I hope in the future we hear... Read more
close to the feeling for now the darker side of these films, I hope in the future we hear... Read more
Published 11 months ago by I. H. Kemp
Fantastic composer, disappointing soundtrack
I hate to say it, but I found this soundtrack so disappointing. I absolutely LOVE Alexandre Desplat, I really admire his other works, so it really surprised me when I just couldn't... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Holly
wow
I love everything to do with Harry Potter and this soundtrack is the best so far, my favourite track is track 2 Snape to Malfoy Manor, fab music, the rest is well worth listing... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Chloe Lear
dissapointing
I agree totaly with the other reviews regarding the absence of hedwigs theme.
As the films have got darker the music has become duller. Read more
As the films have got darker the music has become duller. Read more
Published 17 months ago by D. I. Whiteley
Wanting to drag up the overall rating here...
This isn't the best soundtrack in the Harry Potter series so far but I think it deserves a bit more than two stars. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Helenies
A great addition to the Potter soundtrack canon
Following on from John Williams, Patrick Doyle and Nicholas Hooper, Alexandre Desplat takes up the baton for the latest entry in the Harry Potter soundtracks and he is the perfect... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Theatre Addict
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