Here's what I've found so far:

• Hedwig's Theme
  At least it seems that this refers to the main theme, although the concert piece uses other themes as well. It's the most obvious theme, and the one that's easily identified in key moments of the film. However, it seems to be NO theme for Harry (or Hedwig, for that matter). Heard in two versions, the "real" version with the ending turned "upside down", and the more familiar concert version, which shows up only a couple of times.
  
• Harry's Theme #1
  Heard first on the CD in Harry's Wondrous World, the first theme after Hedwig's Theme, which starts the cue. The first half is very broad, while the second half is rather jumpy and often used in the underscore for the Hogwarts scenes. Also transformed into fanfares. It seems to represent Harry "as a person".
  
• Harry's Theme #2
  Also heard in Harry's Wondrous World, accompanied by decending woodwinds after the other Harry theme. It ALSO represents Harry, but mainly is used as a "family theme": When Harry sees his parents in the mirror, this theme is used instead of the #1 theme. At the end of the film, when they're entering the Hogwarts Express, and Harry says it's not really going home (implying that he considers Hogwarts his real home), the family theme is used as well, with more powerful repetition when the Hogwarts castle is seen in the background. Very clever, if you ask me. The "main theme" (Hedwig's theme) is only used at the very end of this piece.
  
• The Hogwarts Theme
  Featured most prominently on the CD in Hogwarts Forever!, it's used throughout the score, particularly as a fanfare at the beginning of the Quidditch track. From it's use in the film, it could be that it represents not Hogwarts, but only the Gryffindor house. It's not really clear, I think.
  
• The Philosopher's Stone's Theme
  A three-note theme that is first heard when Hagrid takes the Stone from the vault at Gringotts, though curiously it starts a couple of seconds before this, just when the pile of gold in Harry's vault is shown. Shows up a few times in the score, but returns most prominently in the finale, particularly when Harry stands in front of the mirror and finds the Stone in his pocket (and also at the end, when Voldemort is defeated and Harry still has the Stone). The theme doesn't seem to represent the Sorcerer's Stone per se, but its part in the plot (i.e. it only shows it's negative side). It's often used as the "bad theme", but it's not Voldemort's theme.
  
• Voldemort's Theme
  Heard when Harry finds Voldemort in the forest (not on the CD) and in The Face of Voldemort at about 2:00. Not as menacing as the Sorcerer's Stone theme, but darker and more brooding, and also used in a "violent" way.
  
• Flying Theme (part 1 & 2)
  These are only heard in Mr. Longbottom Flies, The Quidditch Match and Hedwig's Theme, even though they don't have that soaring sound Williams usually employs for his flying themes. Part 1 is mostly an ostinato, while part 2 is a broad string melody, with a desparate edge. This part doesn't even show up in the Quidditch track, I think, so it's only appearance in the film (except for the end credits) is when Harry follows Malfoy during the first flying lesson (which is a shame, since it's one of Williams best themes)

Those are all the recurring themes I found so far, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are more. If someone has additions or corrections, bring them on!

--Brian (HPA)

Yes, that's right, Harry Potter should have been called Harry Pooper, because it smelled like my poop.

Whoopie Whoopie Poopie Butt!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Tim_P:
Poor Marian- I feel sorry for you- writing so much on the themes of Harry Potter and then getting a bunch of stupid replies.

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Su casa es mi casa. Feel the apathy.

::Everyone holds their breath::

I thought so!

--Brian

quote:

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Originally posted by Crono/Kyp:
Ok, who dares suffer the wrath of the Lord Brian!!!!

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I'd say it's time for some Crucio spells...

Np: Harry Potter

quote:

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Originally posted by John Zimmer:
Come ye Potter fans!!! Let us vanquish the evil does!!!

Np: Harry Potter

Jz

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I'm down!!

--Harry Potter

Why? Because it was a disappointment for me, and I'm sad I cannot enjoy it like some other people.

--Harry Potter

I'm not sure....

Is the Voldemort theme you're referring to the one that also shows up in "The Face of Voldemort" at about 1:55 (and then other points later in that cue)? It also pops up in "The Quidditch Match," and perhaps some other places I'm not remembering now. But I do think it was also in the forest scene you're referring to.

Just trying to get my themes straight.

John: Yes, the one at the start of track #9. I've seen another review that also refers to it as the Gryffindor theme, so perhaps it's really that. What made me curious is that that review talks about ANOTHER theme for Hogwarts, perhaps something I haven't found yet?

--Brian

I'm happy to see that you've classified the three-note motif as the "Stone's theme". The first time I watched the movie, I saw that the theme was played always when the Stone was being mentioned, etc., yet people were saying about it being Lord Voldemort's theme. I thought that was a little flat. I just doubted that John Williams would write such a simple theme for such a complex character.

"Voldemort's theme" is definitely the brooding, 13-note motif in "The Face of Voldemort".

About the "ostinato", I think it's a theme for Harry and Harry's magical moments. It plays during the Zoo scene (which you mentioned) and again in "Mr. Longbottom Flies" when Harry has to get on his broom. The title of that track would lead me me to think it was a flying theme, but I think "Hedwig's Theme" is the real "flying theme" in this score.

I was talking to a friend about a week ago and he thought the (beautiful) theme in "Leaving Hogwarts" was Hogwarts' theme. I don't think so. I think that's a "family theme" for the film. The same motif is played during the Mirror scene.

Hogwarts' theme, (or at least a second theme)I think is the heralding fanfare motif played at the non-action, pleasant moments (beginning and end) of "The Quidditch Match". The same motif appears in "Harry's Wondrous World" and Hogwarts is definitely part of Harry's wondrous world.

So, my opinion, is that Harry has AT LEAST three themes in the movie, them being:
- the main motif in "Harry's Wondrous
World" (another AWESOME melody of
Williams')
- the "magic theme" I mentioned above
- and the "family theme" I mentioned above

About the LOTR argument - hasn't really done anything to keep me listening. I'm hoping it fits much better in the film and also hoping that THE TWO TOWERS and THE RETURN OF THE KING are much more captivating. I still think it's good, but it doesn't compare to scores like HARRY POTTER.

And I'll leave it at that since most of you are smitten by this robot of a film and immediately turn to evicerating the score.

I disliked it immediately. Too loud. Too much. Too little to say..."hey, that's Star Wars isn't it," my companion whispered... yet on and on it went, stomping about like a goblin on the roof who won't let you sleep. And I so much wanted to just close my eyes and dream about LOTR.

Had Goldsmith been assigned this turkey, I would at least be comforted in the knowledge that the man's experience scoring bad films would at least render Potter some degree of drama, however fraudulent it might be. But Williams' is not Goldsmith and so, slavishly, the score follows head to toe an incoherent , peel-and-apply plot to a pointedly unremarkable conclusion with equal artiface.

Np: Hero (George Fenton) **/*****

--Brian

I first thought the 3-note-motif was Voldemort's theme, too. But then I noticed that it popped up during the Gringotts music.

The point about the "magic theme" is interesting, but I'm not yet quite convinced. Evereything you said makes sense, but it sounds too threatening for a Williams magic theme, don't you think?

Right before Harry Potter, one of the trailers showed previews to the
new remastered E.T. which will play in theaters in March. As I reflect
back upon that preview of that classic family movie and when I think
about Wizard of Oz, I think I understand why I didn’t enjoy Harry
Potter. Both WO and E.T. were not afraid to take EMOTIONAL
risks even if somewhat manipulative risks. Characters were allowed
to develop causing us to care. Kids cry when Dorothy
says good bye to her three friends and are horrified when the monkeys
fly away with Dorothy and unstuff the scarecrow. We were genuinely
emotionally invested in those characters. Spielberg wasn’t afraid to
play upon all of our emotions either. We were terrified of E.T. at first
and horrified for him when the “bad guys” came to quarantine him.
The film was loaded with rich humor, and the magical child within
all of us delighted when the bicycles lifted into the air. And of course,
E.T. had to leave, so why not sniffle our way through the ending?
We cared. And finally, Spielberg had something to say about human
paranoia towards something “different.” Both movies tapped into
our emotions, and it is this investment of our feelings that gives those
movies their hearts and souls. I know some of you loved Potter, and
I’m glad you did, but for me, I couldn’t infuse any emotion into a
flat, CGI laden movie that forgot about the hearts of the audience.
The music was fine; in fact, it was what kept me awake. While I
admired some of its visuals, I just couldn’t care about the story
nor the characters. So sorry.

quote:

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Originally posted by joan hue:
Hi Marian. You’ve done a nice job of analyzing the music. Perhaps
you should try to publish something about this score.

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Thanks! As I said, I wanted to write a review, but I'd need to see the film again to really "get" everything. While I enjoyed it very much, I'll wait for the DVD to watch it a third time - I need to keep some money for a couple of LOTR tickets as well.