Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (soundtrack)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Film score by John Williams
Released	25 May 2004 (2004-05-25)
Genre	Film soundtrack
Length	68:37
Label	Warner/Sunset
Harry Potter chronology
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

The Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban original motion picture soundtrack was released on 25 May 2004. The film's score was composed and conducted by John Williams. It introduced two major themes: "Window to the Past" and "Double Trouble", although neither were featured in the series' other films. Two other notable themes were used to represent the Time-Turner and Sirius Black's hunt for Harry. The soundtrack was performed at Abbey Road Studios in London. It charted at 68 on the Billboard 200 and also charted at three on the Top Soundtracks Chart.^[1]

The album was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score, the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media and the World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Soundtrack.

Track listing

1. "Lumos! (Hedwig's Theme)" - 1:38
2. "Aunt Marge's Waltz" - 2:15
3. "The Knight Bus" - 2:52
4. "Apparition on the Train" - 2:15
5. "Double Trouble" - 1:37
6. "Buckbeak's Flight" - 2:08
7. "A Window to the Past" - 3:54
8. "The Whomping Willow and the Snowball Fight" - 2:22
9. "Secrets of the Castle" - 2:32
10. "The Portrait Gallery" - 2:05
11. "Hagrid the Professor" - 1:59
12. "Monster Books and Boggarts!" - 2:26
13. "Quidditch, Third Year" - 3:47
14. "Lupin's Transformation and Chasing Scabbers" - 3:01
15. "The Patronus Light" - 1:12
16. "The Werewolf Scene" - 4:25
17. "Saving Buckbeak" - 6:39
18. "Forward to Time Past" - 2:33
19. "The Dementors Converge" - 3:12
20. "Finale" - 3:24
21. "Mischief Managed!" - 12:10

Track details

Double Trouble

Double Trouble was composed by John Williams during the production of the film as he felt to be a warm welcome back to Hogwarts. The song was sung by the London Oratory School Schola. The lyrics to this song are taken directly from Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Forward to Time Past

The track is heard when Hermione and Harry use the time turner to go back in time. During the whole piece a ticking sound is heard, indicating that time is running out. Loads of flourishing strings over-lap the four note motif that the brass repeat rhythmically, and lastly the little bursts of woodwind throughout enforce the sensation of movement.

The Dementors Converge

This music is heard when Harry is attempting to save Sirius Black from the Dementors. The piece mainly consists of discordant wavering strings at the beginning, but as it progresses, Williams weaves punctuating piccolos and long notes of brass that gradually build up the menacing tension. This rises to a climax where thunderous clusters of timpani and hair-raising choir are introduced only to die back down, followed by an atmospheric flutter from the harp. The strings then lead into another extremity which uses bits and pieces from John Williams's "The Patronus Light", interjected by harsh grating brass. The music appears to die off again instantly; however, the familiar sound of lush strings and celesta (so prominent in John Williams's earlier scores for these films) subdue the tension afore.

Finale

This is probably best known for appearing in the Goblet of Fire film trailer.

Responses and Ratings

The album was well received among film music critics. Archie Watt of MovieCues highly praised the score, calling it "One of the best albums of 2004, and well worth a listen by any film music or John Williams fan."^[2]

References

1. ^ Trust, Gary (2010-11-24). "Weekly Chart Notes: Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow, the Beatles". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://login.vnuemedia.com/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004130545. Retrieved 2010-11-25. 
2. ^ http://www.moviecues.com/hp3/

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