MMAM - Vol. 15

Blimey, fifteen of these already, not including a week I missed. Blimey, indeed. Apologies for doing another sorta 'themed' Much Music Awesomeness Monday, but I figured with the impending release of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 1, the awesome music of HARRY POTTER must be addressed.

The first two movies of the franchise may not have been the strongest in any category - writing, directing, acting, editing, etc. - but there was something comforting and profoundly awesome about the very fact John Williams, master composer of such works like JAWS and STAR WARS, wrote the music for them. SORCERER'S STONE was all about establishing the themes, and although it was the first of the series and allowed Williams creative room to breathe, it did feel a bit restrained - as if Williams wasn't entirely sure where to go or what to do with POTTER. It's been awhile since I watched CHAMBER OF SECRETS, but again, Williams delivered a unimpressive composition. I still own it and listen to it on rare occasion, mind you, it just simply wasn't up to the standards that Williams himself has set up.

And then there was PRISONER OF AZKABAN. Say what you want about the criminal adaptation from book to screen by Steve Kloves, but director Alfonso Cuaron created a gorgeous-to-look at movie with some of the best performances of the series, save ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, and from the looks of it, DEATHLY HALLOWS. Perhaps with the change of director, or the reinvigorated sense of fun Cuaron brought with him, John Williams delivered a score of beauty. The following track, "Qudditch, Year Three" is but one of many examples of Williams' own music making magic. If Williams is declined the opportunity to bookend the series with DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2, I will be disappointed, but nonetheless pleased with the marvelous work of AZKABAN, and thankful for his contributions to the franchise by establishing the musical tone and themes that exist even now, in the end.

So without further ado, the music of John Williams...