Top Ten Songs
The music in the Harry Potter films made up a large part of the series and helped influence our reactions while we watched them. Below are my ten favorite songs from the films’ soundtracks.
- “Hedwig’s Theme”
John Williams’s iconic piece is almost always played during the opening credits of the films. The opening tinkling will forever take me back to the joy of watching a Harry Potter movie for the first time.
- “Obliviate”
Alexandre Desplat’s song is a hauntingly beautiful way to start Deathly Hallows – Part 1. The emotive music highlights the sadness and darkness of Hermione wiping her parents’ memory. Gone are the happy melodies of earlier films; the fearful and tragic start encapsulates the tone of the final two movies perfectly.
- “Statues”
This beautifully rhythmic piece plays during the preparation for the battle, and the steady beat shows that. The rhythmic beat is fitting to the typical marching sound associated with battle. The beat also matches our pounding heartbeat, which captures the fear presented in the movie wonderfully. Once more, Desplat is toying with our emotions.
- “Dumbledore’s Farewell”
Nicholas Hooper’s eerie melody expresses the morbid and tragic tone of the Half-Blood Prince film’s end wonderfully. The addition of the choir intensifies the tragedy of the scene.
- “A Window to the Past”
The slow and poignant melody really captures the sense of longing that Harry would have felt at learning about his family. The fantastic build-up and crescendo never fails to make me empathize with Harry’s loss.
- “Harry’s Wonderful World”
This always brings to mind happy images of Hogwarts. It’s a hopeful and lively theme that demonstrates the lightness and joy that filled the first couple of movies. Williams’s piece is an incredibly optimistic way to end Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets.
- “Fawkes the Phoenix”
Williams’s uplifting tune takes the listeners on a journey of Fawkes’s life cycle. The calm tone builds to a dark one before going back to a happy one, representing Fawkes’s death and rebirth.
- “Harry in Winter”
Unlike the other composers, Patrick Doyle only composed one soundtrack (Goblet of Fire), and this is my favorite piece on it. It’s an incredibly hopeful and calming piece.
- “Harry and Hermione”
The emotional melody, played primarily on a harp, captures the sadness Hermione felt when Ron kissed Lavender.
- “A Journey to the Cave”
The use of the choir adds a fantastic depth to the number. Hooper captures the fear and anxiety wonderfully. The build-up followed by the slow end mirrors the audience’s dread at what’s about to happen when Harry and Dumbledore enter the cave.
Are there any other songs you like? Let us know in the comments.
