|
NICHOLAS HOOPER Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Warner) |
 AS I bid farewell to the Potter-verse with the final page of the seventh book, it seems age ago that Harry Potter and friends were in their fifth year and first encountered the Order of the Phoenix. Oddly, this feeling of nostalgia is now evoked in a film that has just only been released. Similarly, the accompanying soundtrack has a hint of the familiar, yet is trying primarily for something else. British composer Nicholas Hooper takes over from John Williams and continues the journey into the magic-infused realm of Potter. And remember, it is in Order of the Phoenix that things turn a shade darker now that even their magical school Hogwarts has been infiltrated (while it was previously a safe haven)? This feeling of hesitancy is conveyed with the usual orchestral tricks - a shrill chorus builds tension on Dementors in the Underpass while pizzicato violins bring about the whimsical movement elsewhere. Those familiar with the motifs used in earlier scores will recognise their appearance in Another Story. Perhaps it is futile to describe individual tracks here, but the most noteworthy augmentation of Hooper is the elements added to convey change in the status quo -- soaring electric guitars cascade over Fireworks, while the percussions add a sense of urgency and determination to Flight of the Order of the Phoenix. While a good attempt at continuing the music of the film franchise, this album will be enjoyed (as a companion to reading the book, perhaps) by fans of the movie. It doesn't help then that the tracks seem arbitrarily arranged. This feels like the film franchise playing catch-up with the books. |
|
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
|
