Listen to Three Tracks off the “Crimes of Grindelwald” Soundtrack

Three weeks ahead of the release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, composer James Newton Howard released three incredible piano solos from the film. As bonus tracks on a robust soundtrack, these simplistically beautiful pieces are certainly a treat for fans.

The tracks are incredibly short – the longest (“Leta’s Theme”) has a runtime of just over two minutes. However short, these pieces are certainly sweet. The piano notes interweave softly, gently dancing together to create more sensitive approaches to what is promised to be a dark and action-packed movie.

Dumbledore and Leta Lestrange are certainly complicated characters. They have their personal struggles, have to face down their fears, and occasionally have to find their ways out of very sticky situations. But each of the piano solo themes for these characters brings listeners a quieter (and almost caring) way of approaching these controversial characters. If the beauty of music could remind us to be compassionate, these tracks certainly inspire such emotion. Close your eyes and listen:

Even the “Fantastic Beasts Theme” piano solo is soothing, rather than ominous chords of lower flat tones. Even though the notes are a little quicker and more playful than the other two tracks, the word “fantastic” still seems too abrasive for such a whimsical gentleness. Listen below:

What do you think of Howard’s piano solos for Leta and Dumbledore? Are the tracks as magical as you imagined?