Harry Potter has a New Composer
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One of the less noticed rumor mills tending to surround the Harry
Potter film franchise is the "who is going to write the musical score" question which first popped
up when John Williams left after the third film. The current
Potter film is keeping up the proud tradition of a new director, and Mr. David Yates has clamped down on the recent speculation regarding
his composer by announcing the position will be filled by his long time friend Nicholas Hooper. Now, I'm not really a composer guy -- I tend only to
recognize the big names -- but Cinescape
has a bit to say on the guy, if you are curious. Apparently, work on the score will not begin for months and months
(likely into 2007 before real work starts), so you can continue on with your crazy rumors in the meantime if you like;
but it seems as though the composer issue is going to go much smoother this time around.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-25-2006 @ 8:45AM
Ellen said...
The changes in composer seem to me to be more reflective of the Potter series now being produced and directed by Brits. They seem less anal retentive about sticking to the very short list of "approved" A-list composers. I think the films are better off for this, since Williams wrote strong themes for the series but his musical voice doesn't necessarily lend itself to some of the films' darker elements now.
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4-25-2006 @ 9:11AM
Mary said...
That was announced weeks ago on HP fansite HPANA.com. It amazes me that the news hasn't spread over the net as is usual with HP news or that Warner Bros. hasn't said anything on the matter.
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4-25-2006 @ 9:26PM
Laura said...
They better keep the feel of the "Harry Potter" novel in the music.
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4-25-2006 @ 9:28PM
Laura said...
"Hedwigs' Theme" Better still be in it because it's the theme song of "Harry Potter."
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4-26-2006 @ 5:29PM
Leslie said...
I was completely outraged when John Williams did not come back to conduct GOF. As a professional musician I tend to really listen to a film's score and the bloke they had conducting GOF kept recycling the same boring themes over and over again with the same orchestration and without any element of variation. GOF is definitely my favorite Potter movie but makes for one tired score. Williams can capture anything you ask him to. Not dark enough, some say... I disagree... who's darker than Darth Vader???? I think they really need to find a creative composer who can regenerate some of Williams' themes but put their own stamp on it, so to speak. The score needs to compliment the movie, not be its weakness.
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4-28-2006 @ 12:16PM
Donna said...
"As a professional musician I tend to really listen to a film's score and the bloke they had conducting GOF kept recycling the same boring themes over and over again with the same orchestration and without any element of variation."
Ummm... well if you were a professional musician, then you would know that it was about who was "composing" the music rather than "conducting" it.
Williams' music is as dangerous as a peanut butter jelly sandwich on white bread. He has all the notes in the right place but it's all cutesy and neat.
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5-06-2006 @ 1:14PM
Miqueias (a white American) said...
While JWilliams did write all the scores for Star Wars and Indian Jones, he never completed the Jurassic Park Series. While I believe the composer should be British like everything else in HP, the last guy was terrible and JWilliams was sorely missed. As for the darkness, while I disagree that the Imperial March (DV's theme)is dark, I will say that the score for ROTS was about as dark as you're going to find. Where JWilliams lacks is his ability to create suspense- he simply doesn't have it. And the HP series HAS to have suspense. Let's hope Hooper can do a better job.
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6-26-2006 @ 1:17PM
Tabitha said...
I think John Williams did a fine job conducting the Harry Potter soundtracks. I believe he kept the feel of an enchanting world, such as the world of Hogwarts and its surroundings, in his music. "Hedwigs' Theme" is proof that Williams is an excellent artist and will be remembered.
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