Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone [Original Soundtrack]

• Artist: John Williams
• Release Date: January 01, 2002
• Total Time: 73:36
• Type: Soundtrack
• Genre: Sound Effects

Review

As a fan of J.K. Rowling's massively popular Harry Potter books and the composer of some of the best fantasy/sci-fi film scores, John Williams was a natural choice to write the music for Chris Columbus' film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. His score captures the childhood mischief, magic, and adventure of the film and the books, mixing winding, soaring melodies with instrumentation that spans the delicately spooky to the darkly majestic. However, his work here won't necessarily dispel Williams' reputation as an occasionally light-fingered composer: one of the score's main motifs, a light-as-a-cobweb celesta melody most clearly stated in "The Arrival of Baby Harry" and "Hedwig's Theme," recalls the work of both Danny Elfman and Tchaikovsky, while some of the other melodies sound like they're just a few notes away from themes in his own Hook and Star Wars scores. Harry Potter's score also tends to repeat these main themes a little too often; fortunately they're reinterpreted fairly creatively from piece to piece. "Harry's Wondrous World" and "Visit to the Zoo and Letters from Hogwarts" are sweeping and lighthearted, while "In the Devil's Snare and the Flying Keys," "The Chess Game," and "The Face of Voldemort" close the score with a trio of menacing, climactic musical cues. In between are pretty, delicate moments like "Fluffy's Harp" and whimsical pieces like "Christmas at Hogwarts," which manages to combine the festive, carol-esque melody with the atmosphere of a school for witches and wizards. The pomp and circumstance of "The Quidditch Match" is probably the score's most typically Williams composition; a thrilling mix of his heroic style and the rest of the music's spooky, supernatural feel. Not surprisingly, considering that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone runs nearly three hours long, Williams' score is on the long side, making it somewhat difficult to take in outside of the film's context. While it may not be one of his most inspired works, it's never less than perfectly appropriate and does include some brilliant moments. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Prolo	John Williams	John Williams	(2:12)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Harry	John Williams	John Williams	(5:21)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Arriv	John Williams	John Williams	(4:25)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Visit	John Williams	John Williams	(3:22)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Diago	John Williams	John Williams	(4:06)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Platf	John Williams	John Williams	(3:14)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Entry	John Williams	John Williams	(3:42)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Mr. L	John Williams	John Williams	(3:35)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Hogwa	John Williams	John Williams	(3:46)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Norwe	John Williams	John Williams	(2:47)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Quidd	John Williams	John Williams	(8:28)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Chris	John Williams	John Williams	(2:56)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Invis	John Williams	John Williams	(3:15)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Fluff	John Williams	John Williams	(2:38)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~In th	John Williams	John Williams	(2:20)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Chess	John Williams	John Williams	(3:48)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Face	John Williams	John Williams	(6:10)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Leavi	John Williams	John Williams	(2:13)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score~Hedwi	John Williams	John Williams	(5:09)

Credits

Simon Rhodes (Engineer), London Voices (Vocals), London Voices (Choir, Chorus), John Williams (Performer), Keith Zajic (Picture), John Williams (Producer), Gary LeMel (Executive in Charge of Music), Lisa Margolis (Picture), Terry Edwards (Choir Director), Shawn Murphy (Mastering), Ken Wannberg (Supervising Music Editor), Darren Higman (Executive in Charge of Music), Peter S. Myles (Music Editor), Jake Jackson (Assistant Engineer), Chris Columbus (Liner Notes), John Williams (Conductor), Paul Hicks (Assistant Engineer), Randy Kerber (Celeste), Terry Edwards (Choir, Chorus), Jo Ann Kane (Music Preparation), Patricia Sullivan Fourstar (Mastering), Richard Lancaster (Assistant Engineer), Jon Oliva (Technical Support), Chris Barrett (Assistant Engineer), Marcia Crayford (Concert Mistress), Simon Rhodes (Mixing), Isobel Griffiths (Orchestra Contractor), John Williams (Producer), Doug Frank (Executive in Charge of Music)

• Main performer: John Williams
• Booklet languages: English
• Time: 73:36
• Release Date: 2002

Review

As a fan of J.K. Rowling's massively popular Harry Potter books and the composer of some of the best fantasy/sci-fi film scores, John Williams was a natural choice to write the music for Chris Columbus' film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. His score captures the childhood mischief, magic, and adventure of the film and the books, mixing winding, soaring melodies with instrumentation that spans the delicately spooky to the darkly majestic. However, his work here won't necessarily dispel Williams' reputation as an occasionally light-fingered composer: one of the score's main motifs, a light-as-a-cobweb celesta melody most clearly stated in "The Arrival of Baby Harry" and "Hedwig's Theme," recalls the work of both Danny Elfman and Tchaikovsky, while some of the other melodies sound like they're just a few notes away from themes in his own Hook and Star Wars scores. Harry Potter's score also tends to repeat these main themes a little too often; fortunately they're reinterpreted fairly creatively from piece to piece. "Harry's Wondrous World" and "Visit to the Zoo and Letters from Hogwarts" are sweeping and lighthearted, while "In the Devil's Snare and the Flying Keys," "The Chess Game," and "The Face of Voldemort" close the score with a trio of menacing, climactic musical cues. In between are pretty, delicate moments like "Fluffy's Harp" and whimsical pieces like "Christmas at Hogwarts," which manages to combine the festive, carol-esque melody with the atmosphere of a school for witches and wizards. The pomp and circumstance of "The Quidditch Match" is probably the score's most typically Williams composition; a thrilling mix of his heroic style and the rest of the music's spooky, supernatural feel. Not surprisingly, considering that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone runs nearly three hours long, Williams' score is on the long side, making it somewhat difficult to take in outside of the film's context. While it may not be one of his most inspired works, it's never less than perfectly appropriate and does include some brilliant moments. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
John Williams	Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone, film score	73:27