Legendary film composer John Williams, who Potter fans know for (among other classics) scoring Sorcerer's Stone through Prisoner of Azkaban, just completed two nights of " Music of the Movies" at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
MuggleCast co-host Matt and I attended Saturday night's show and we were treated to something Williams has never done before at these annual performances - he dedicated the first hour of the show to Potter films. The setlist: Hedwig's Theme (SS), Aunt Marge's Waltz (POA), Diagon Alley (SS), Knight Bus (PoA), Nimbus 2000 theme (SS), Fawkes the Phoenix (CoS), Window to the Past (POA), Chamber of Secrets (CoS), and Harry's Wondrous World (SS) - all performed by Williams and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Some songs included video montages from the films that were sync'd with the live music.
As an extra treat, legendary UK actress Lynn Redgrave sat beside John and introduced each Potter score. She connected one to another and ran through several facts that proved the success of the franchise. It was similar to a series of performances hosted in Boston last year.
With all this Potter goodness going on at the show, we can't help but wonder if this franchise is stuck on his mind. Rumors of his return have been swirling ever since an article quoted him as saying he believed "with confidence" (link goes to John Williams Fan Network) that he'd be back for the final film. Were these performances to get back into the Potter groove?
Posted by
09-06-2009
at 02:52 AM
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Fan Comments |
Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 03:11:02
Oh man, that mustve been a treat! I really love John Williams compositions. The first three Potter movies had such amazing soundtracks! GoF was okay, and the OotP music was really bad, in my opinion. I liked the music in HBP. It was like they toned it down from the fifth movie, but I really do hope John Williams comes back and finishes off the franchise with a bang. :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 03:23:21
Oh how beautiful. I really must go over to the states to watch John Williams perform at his music nights, Ive seen vids on youtube and they look brilliant!
As always, I hope to god he is back for the next films, will be a treat and the most amazing way they could finish off the franchise!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 05:42:01
I would LOVE him to do the score for the final two films.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 06:54:52
Arent you lucky to be able to experience that!! I welcome his return, but I also had no problem with the music of the other films, especially OoTP, loved it.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 07:11:57
I reaaly hope he returns; the later films just arent the same without his music. We need him to finish off the series with another amazing score!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 07:14:34
This is good to hear. John Williams has been my favorite composer since I was a little girl and he conducted the Boston Pops. The man has such a way to capture the intensity and emotion of whats on the screen and put it to music. I still get choked up listening to the Sorcerers Stone soundtrack. I really hope John finishes the series he started. It wouldnt be the same without him.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 07:30:07
Thats AMAZING!! It would be so awesome to see him perform live. John Williams is freakin legendary!! And on top of that he performed the HP scores! Im so jealous!! OMG! Hopefully, this is a sign that hes going to score the last two Potter films! *fingers crossed*
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 09:08:45
i reallllly hope he comes back! it just wouldnt be the same you know?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 09:28:17
I really hope he returns for the last two films. I did enjoy Patrick Doyles and Nicholas Hoopers compositions, but none will compare to the magic John Williams brought to the films.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 10:04:33
Ugh. Williams mundane regurgitations of "Variations on the 4th Movement of Beethovens 5th" became trite and redundant 20 years ago. Given how interesting the last 3 soundtracks have been, I was hoping that theyd go for a composer who has has had more than a couple of original ideas since Reagan left office.....
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 10:26:30
Ooh, I saw him do this at the Boston Pops last year~
He better do DHs score, it wont be as epic without him~
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 10:44:01
@DrWimsey: Bitter much? No one is denying that Nicholas Hooper and Patrick Doyle didnt both do an amazing job composing the HP films, but John Williams is the one who invented Hedwigs theme and many other themes that Hooper and Doyle used in the movies they composed. Without Williams the HP movies wouldnt be the same! Can you imagine any other score for HP besides Hedwigs theme?? That man is a genius and we would be lucky to have him for a 4th and 5th time.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 10:50:39
I have seen him interviewed and he has said that he would love to return and do the last movie(DH). I think that would be terrific. The last two movies scored by the composer who started the magical sound of the Harry Potter series. IMDB.com (Internet Movie Data Base) does not list anyone doing the music. Nicholas Hooper has stated that he is not doing the music for DH. Lets keep our fingers crossed that John Williams is doing the music.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 11:29:31
Window to the Past! Ah, how my heart aches. Thats amazing. I really hope John Williams comes back for DH. He did the best soundtracks, imo. There a few I really liked, like Umbridges theme and Dumbledores farewell. But there are so many more JW songs that make Harry Potter Harry Potter. Like iwantorlando05 said, he invented Hedwigs theme and eveytime you hear it, it just so magical and makes me soo excited. I really think if he comes back for DH hell compose completely unique songs thatll do that for the last films, itll make it really special- a bittersweet ending.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 11:34:54
I was there on Friday!!! It was amazing! So good! I think I may have shed a tear.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 11:38:44
John Williams is my favorite composer, not only for HP, but for Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and pretty much any Spielberg movie.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 11:59:56
http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=SGITXIELXXE
From watching the trailer, this might be a fail movie, but since its being directed by the somewhat-capable hands of Chris Columbus, it might be good.
But WHY must Olympus look so much like Hogwarts? WHY, GOD, WHY?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 12:54:25
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 13:05:25
I was there at the Bowl on Friday night, and it was incredible!! It was so great seeing the legendary John Williams on stage and hearing the music of Harry Potter fill the Bowl. I really hope that John Williams comes back for Deathly Hallows!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 13:38:37
what an experience that mustve been! would be great if he returned to score DH1 & 2.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 13:44:50
DeathlyH: wow, wtf? Whats Chris Columbus thinking?? Looks like a ripoff of HP for sure!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 14:22:48
HeRonFan...i so totally agree with you. I have soundtracks 3 - 6 plugged in to my car cd. I like SS but not too crazy about CoS. The evening sounded wonderful. Wish I was there. How wonderful it would be if JW came back to finish what he started!! Maybe even collaborated w/ someone else?!?!?!?
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 15:43:02
I love those books too, I think hes feeling nostalgic
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 15:56:24
Just checked a fan site of John Williams and it turns out hes conducting another concert in Chicago Nov. 28-29th to honor movie director David Lean and as part of the tribute, Williams will be playing a grand suite called "The Magic of Harry Potter!"
Heres hoping he warming up and searching for inspiration to compose the new score for Deathly Hallows!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 16:15:13
I hope it is John Williams too. The Flight of Buckbeak just makes my heart soar! I never tire of hearing it. Hedwigs theme and Harrys Wonderful World and Window to the Past, well, I just love them all. I am keeping fingers and toes crossed wishing for John Williams to score Deathly Hallows.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 16:59:06
I hope it is John Williams, he has a way of making everything sparkle, and I think he could add some lightheartedness to a dark movie. Plus, the other scores are good, but what do you think of when you think of Harry Potter? Hedwigs theme. Its perfect.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 18:23:30
James Phelps on twitter said hes going down south for a week of filming !!! Wonder where hes going?!?!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 18:26:35
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! I saw the performance in Boston last year which was INCREDIBLE.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 19:05:13
I really do think it would be great to have John Williams back to compose the score for the last two movies. Although every composer that has succeeded him has done a great job on the films, I feel he gave the films a very unique and memorable quality that no other composer has been able to replicate 100%. I feel he knows the dynamics involved in creating music for a film. He produces a main theme that is always very catchy and memorable, and one that kids for many generations to come will hum along to. If he does finally decide to do the last two films, then I feel he will have the tools to create an Oscar-worthy score, nothing like weve ever heard before.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-06 19:17:16
Awesome!!! Im sure hell do a good job...i love the hedwigs theme song (: its incredible. I want to hear him play it!!
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-07 00:27:16
Off topic, but they cast some guy to play elphias doge! Its really cool that they are keeping in even very minor characters in DH! Just thought you might want to know! :)
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-07 10:22:35
thats so cool I love his songs. We played a couple of them in my band concert and everyone clapped the loudest for Hedwigs theme. It is amazing I wish I could compose something that amazing.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-07 16:11:45
If there was one thing that was wrong with the films, it was the music. It sent the message that "This is a trivial kids film."
If I had my choice, I would love for Ennio Morricone to do the score the next two films. hed be perfect, and Id appreciate it if you guys started a rumor that it could plant itself into peoples minds.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-07 21:26:33
Star Wars came out between my freshman and sophomore years in college. I played in the university orchestra, but could never get our director to put any of John Williams work in any of our concerts. When I graduated in 1981 (a year late due to changing majors) the speakers were astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen, who were making their first commencement address after the shuttles first flight a month earlier. One of the pieces performed during the entrance of the dignitaries was the march from the award ceremony at the end of the first Star Wars movie. I was quite disappointed with that, as I was not able to perform since I was graduating. To top it off, John Williams was also on the podium that day to receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree. The mans film scores are without equal, and Im glad hell be back.
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Posted by: - Posted on: 2009-09-08 01:27:34
Jeez DrWimsey, for someone who thinks they know about music, you sure... dont have a clue.
I cant even begin to go into how ridiculous it is that you call JWs entire compositional style based on Beethovens 5th. That is complete ignorance. Surely you realize how petty such statements are, presented without any argument and simply as a means to offend anyone who does indeed like or appreciate the mans work?
Williams idiom is far, FAR removed from that of Beethoven and the popular classical writing of his period. Particularly the 5th Symphony. What, are all of his scores in C minor? Can you point me to the harp, celesta and harpsichord solos in the 5th? I must be missing them. I couldve sworn those instruments werent in wide use then. Nor the techniques, chords, colours and orchestral devices that Williams utilizes.
I also find your "argument" that he hasnt written anything new laughable. Obviously you havent heard any of his compositions in the last... 50 years. I dare you to listen to "Jaws" and then "Memoirs of a Geisha" and tell me its the same. Then I can truly laugh at you.
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