Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix OST [Soundtrack]

I'll be honest with you: I still believe that it would have been very interesting, compositionally, to hear what John Williams would have done had he had the opportunity to score all of the Harry Potter films. The fact remains that Patrick Doyle's score for The Goblet of Fire and Nicholas Hooper's work on The Order of the Phoenix are both excellent in their own right.

The theme used in "Professor Umbridge" reflects her character's fluffy and pompous nature, but it always hints at something being not quite right, which is clearly the case with Umbridge herself. "Another Story" begins with the obligatory snatch of Williams' `Hedwig's Theme' played over the title of the film, before it's replaced by a broken piano solo which mimics Harry's confused and isolated position at the start of the movie.

Both "Dumbledore's Army" and "The Room of Requirement" play over montage sequences showing the Hogwarts students' progress as they learn to defend themselves against the dangers that they are to come, and constitute the most buoyant and chipper themes in the score, although the latter has its dark moments. The conflict within Harry's soul is showcased in "Possession" as the low, sad strings of despair compete for dominance with the stronger theme of Harry's happier memories that eventually overrides it.

A tender new theme that plays over the conversations that Harry and Sirius share is included in "A Journey to Hogwarts", which ends with a jumpy tune as Harry and friends discover that Hagrid has returned. "The Sirius Deception" and "The Flight of the Order of the Phoenix" are stand out tracks for me purely because they represent the two scenes in the film involving flying, and regardless of how many times I've heard it, the music still makes my hair stand on end!

"Death of Sirius" features the music that accompanies the battle in the climax of the film, and whereas Patrick Doyle opted for excesses of brass in action scenes, Hooper prefers to go for up-and-down strings and carefully used percussion. Chorus sounds as Harry and his friends first rally together to face the Death-eaters, and also when the Order of the Phoenix arrive to save the day.

The only thing missing on this CD is Luna Lovegood's theme: there is a hint of it in "Loved Ones and Leaving", but not nearly enough. And perhaps a `Credits' track to make it a 60-minute CD, but overall I was pleasantly surprised by this soundtrack and now agree that inviting different composers to score the various films encourages a greater variety of sounds and a more dynamic mix of music.

*This review was previously a lot longer. When I realised that it was too long (and that another reviewer had imitated my style, which I in turn had imitated from Doug Adams of 'The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films'-fame) I changed it, making it shorter and more to the point.

This is, for me, perhaps the best HP soundtrack released to date! Different in feel yet with familiar themes running through it (i.e. Hedwig's Theme) this soundtrack mirrors Harry's journey into darker territory and towards adulthood.

The Order of the Phoenix is a darker story in the Harry Potter series and the music reflects that. Whilst Hooper weaves Hedwig's Theme into the tapestry of his soundtrack, he introduces new colour and depth through a range of subtle devices and new themes. The palette is broad and varied and produces interesting results.

However, whilst this soundtrack mirrors the darkness of the story set to it, there is also some fun and a little romance to be found. The album begins with `Fireworks' which showcases the rebellious and mischievous nature of the Weasley twins. Though this music appears much later in the film and is certainly not the first piece of music in the movie it opens the album on a joyous, happy and riotous note.

The lightness of touch in `Professor Umbridge' and `Umbridge Spoils a Beautiful Morning' is ironic considering the damage the character causes to others and the particularly vile and sadistic nature of her personality.

From what should be the first track of the score but is in fact the third - `Another Story' - we are forewarned of the darkness awaiting Harry and the wizarding community. Opening with Hedwig's Theme, it quickly descends into a troubling and haunting refrain. Followed by `Dementors in the Underpass' we are given clear signals that all is not well in the wizarding world and that danger is certainly approaching. Low chanting and menacing tones are broken only by the heavenly Patronus music on which this piece ends.

`Dumbledore's Army' begins softly and hints at Harry's feelings of doubt before breaking into rising swells of hope. Belief has been renewed and new bonds of friendship are being made. This is the establishment of a mini, youth OOTP.

`Hall of Prophecy' is deeply ominous. There is an uneasy feeling and the music ratchets up the tension. Hedwig's Theme can be heard in the background - transformed into a menacing backdrop to building anxiety and dread. Just listening you can imagine Death Eaters apparating all around and closing in for the kill. The piece builds to a fast moving climax, suggestive of the excitement of the chase through the Ministry.

The sinister strains of the Possession theme appear throughout the score and serve to highlight the insidious nature of Voldemort's rise to power and influence. `Possession' is ominous and creates a foreboding sense of menace.

`The Room of Requirement' is playful and the light, rather whimsical percussion alludes to the cat-and-mouse game of hide-and-seek that Dumbledore's Army play with Filch, Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad who are on their trail.

`The Kiss' hints at the trepidation of two adolescents embarking on a tender moment and the magic associated with a first kiss.

`A Journey to Hogwarts' begins with echoes of Hedwig's Theme but is darker and suggestive of the change that is sweeping over the wizarding community, the waves of doubt and the fact that Harry will not feel as at home in school as he has previously. The odd looks people have been giving him and scurrilous reports in the Prophet are getting to him. However this piece breaks into more hopeful tones, suggestive of the fact that Harry's struggle against the vicious rumours circulating about him will be successful.

`Sirius Deception' begins low and dark in tone before breaking into joyful `flight' music as the core members of Dumbledore's Army race to London to save Harry's godfather. However `Death of Sirius' follows. A sinister piece with low chanting in places, it is very atmospheric, with a feeling of great tension, building to excited and faster moving music to mirror Sirius's final duel before finishing with a slow, mournful and moving climax.

A real sense of portentous peril is to be felt in `Darkness Takes Over'. This piece highlights the insidious nature of the rise of evil and is troubling, dark and full of menace.

`The Ministry of Magic' begins rather playfully before descending into slightly darker tones - though not without some sense of hope. This hints at the Ministry's own descent into darkness and webs of intrigue, artifice and self-deception - but also that there are still those who will be working on the side of good.

`The Sacking of Trelawney' evokes great sympathy for a character who in both books and on film is mildly comic. The sense of pathos is wonderful, highlighting that this is a woman who is being removed not only from her job but also her home.

Suggestive of the excitement of flying on brooms and Harry's joy at returning to the magical world he belongs in is `Flight of the Order of the Phoenix'. Though heard towards the beginning of the film it is placed as the penultimate track on the album.

`Loved Ones and Leaving' is poignant but with hopeful tones. The music gradually rises and swells, hinting at brighter times ahead - or at least the hope that such times may come again.

Whilst it was undoubtedly a strange decision to arrange the tracks out of the order they are heard on film as it is annoying (and most people want to hear the soundtrack in the right chronological order) it doesn't take away from the overall brilliance of the score or the beauty of the composition. As I said at the opening, this is perhaps the best HP soundtrack produced so far! I love it!

All except one of the 'reviews' written here are quite obviously totally fraudulent, having been produced by persons that have never clapped eyes on the product; if they had have done, surely this should have provoked some sort of comment about the nature of the 'special edition'? This 'special edition' priced at around £33 - selling here at £26 (that says a lot for it - doesn't it?) - is very substantially more expensive than the 'regular' version. Only one person has actually commented (unfavorably) as to what one is getting that's different from the standard version, and venture an opinion as to whether the extra cost is justified. All of the comments bar that one, have been written by cretins that evidently just want to see their names 'up in lights', and have clearly never had their hands upon the actual product! They are all commenting solely on the music; their comments may be perfectly valid in that respect, but since the musical content varies not one iota from the standard edition, then we didn't really need to be told anything about it - except just that! Frankly, most of these soundtrack CDs (except for the odd track in the earlier films) contain music that has very little appeal as 'music' in its' own right; as soundtrack to the film - played to create a 'mood' for the images, then it's another matter. However, none of these soundtrack CDs are ever likely to achieve lasting acclaim.

This edition has been somewhat overpriced just because of it's 'special edition' content - that really has nothing to do with the soundtrack; that's quite standard as far as I can tell. What the purchaser is paying all the extra cash for, is the fact that it contains a 20-page booklet (big deal), the face of the CD is specially designed and printed (another big deal?), and it comes in a fancy box that is covered in a velour-like material and on the front is a plastic dome that's about the same diameter as the CD and is about one-and-a-half inches deep; looking into the dome, one can see either an image of Tom Riddle or the words 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' - depending upon the angle of view; it's the fancy box that is essentially what the extra charge is all about - just the box, with the audio content being no different. I have to say that it does look and feel 'nice' - and is unusual. I believe that people reading a review of this product would wish to know these facts before deciding to buy. Make your own mind up as to whether it is worth it. To me, it's essentially just another 'Marketing' scam. As a 'limited edition' version, I can't see too many being sold, as the descriptions given for the product do not do justice to it (never any relevant pictures), and the descriptions have clearly been written by persons that have never clapped-eyes on the goods. The descriptions make it sound as it the extra cash is solely for the booklet included. Picture of 'the product' merely shew the image on the front cover of the booklet, presented as if the item were just another CD in the conventional crappy 'jewel case' plastic box; it is somewhat better than that. Surely the picture ought to shew an image of the outside of the box that contains the CD plus booklet? The problem here is that it would be rather difficult to do this by conventional photography; it would require two pictures, and probably have to resort to using drawn images - as I can't see the the product photographing too well using simple techniques because of the properties inherent in the 'dome' - that needs to be viewed from unconventional angles to see anything at all!

I can't see the product retaining any value, as I imagine that most of the product will not be sold by regular means at these prices (unless marketed properly), and will end up getting dumped on E-bay getting sold for a song (pun not intended), but of course with the usually chancers trying to extort ridiculous prices. It's an unusual item - but is it really worth the extra cash?