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John Williams to Score "Half-Blood Prince?"

HBP Film
Posted by: Sue
May 18, 2008, 01:14 PM

The Boston Globe is reporting today that film score composer John Williams will be leading the Boston Pops in a concert series starting this Tuesday ,featuring new pieces of his score to the upcoming Indiana Jones film, as well as selections from his scores of Star Wars and the Harry Potter series. The paper notes “actress Lynn Redgrave will join in each night to narrate what’s being called the “Harry Potter Grande Suite.” Of interest, the article then goes on to mention that the legendary composer is not slowing down, as Mr. Williams has work remaining on “soundtracks for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” “Jurassic Park IV,” and “Superman: Man of Steel” all scheduled for his touch.”

As readers will recall, in a formal press release issued in November of last year by Warner Brothers, it indicated the score for HBP was to be composed by Nicholas Hooper, who scored Order of the Phoenix. However we do not know if this new report (if accurate) just means John Williams will be contributing a few pieces to the overall score of HBP, or will now be handling the entire music for the sixth Harry Potter film. We are working to find out more about this, and will of course update with more when we can.

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91 Comments

Muddtallica

Paulo: Go and listen to the scores of Jaws, The Reivers, Schindler’s List and Catch Me If You Can, THEN come back here and tell me that all of John Williams’ scores “sound the same”.

You’re within your rights to not like John Williams, but if you start making criticisms which are plainly false then you just sound foolish.

Posted by Muddtallica on May 18, 2008, 06:59 PM report to moderator
Chrysanthemum

Thank you for the IMDB link, Look.

That confirms what earlier comments have said:

Williams is not composing new pieces for HBP. It is the theme he created that is once again being used, and for such he must be credited as each movie is being made.

It says he is credited with the main theme, and the short title sequences. He was credited for these in OOTP as well as HBP.

Posted by Chrysanthemum on May 18, 2008, 07:04 PM report to moderator
Miriam

John Williams is a great composer but his scores have become cliche. Hooper and Doyle did fantastically and the hp series (and every other franchise) shouldnt be monopolised by Williams familiarity.

Posted by Miriam on May 18, 2008, 08:15 PM report to moderator
Marjorie

That would be just too amazing for words. He was THE BEST by far, putting his distinctive stamp on HP with a superb theme for Harry and a huge range of emotional and exciting music.

Williams forHBP and DH – heaven!!

Posted by Marjorie on May 18, 2008, 09:05 PM report to moderator
LemonFaerie

I wish Williams would come back, but it looks clear that he is not, at least for HBP. I did not care for Hooper’s score for OoTP at all and I absolutely cannot listen to Umbridge’s theme outside the movie without grinding my teeth in annoyance. It was OK IN the movie, but Williams, in my opinion, is the master of the grand, sweeping themes that HP deserves. It sounds to me like the two people Yates should most replace are the two he is least likely to, his composer and his editor. I hated the way OoTP was cut. The editing and the score would benefit from other choices.

Posted by LemonFaerie on May 18, 2008, 09:45 PM report to moderator
Jo

I hope does does come back, if not him Doyle should. I don’t know, I really liked OotP (the best movie out of the series) but the soundtrack was kind of a let down for me, it didn’t even last over an hour!! Patrick Doyle was okay, it was a big shocker to listen to the first track and not immediately hear Hedwig’s theme (without noticing that Doyle was the composer) though, but John WIlliams put the magic in HP, he should at least finish it.

Posted by Jo on May 18, 2008, 10:24 PM report to moderator
Maximus Dumbledore

I believe that Williams is theperfect one to do it. I love his work. I wish to see him again!!! Pelaseee!! Hooper’s soundtrack was sooooo boring and light, honestly..

Posted by Maximus Dumbledore on May 18, 2008, 11:11 PM report to moderator
Becca

I really really really hope this is true but have a feeling it isn’t!

Posted by Becca on May 19, 2008, 12:07 AM report to moderator
Hermy

Yes! Yes!!! John Williams practically rocks! HBP will be a much better movie with a strong background score by William. I hope this is true!

Posted by Hermy on May 19, 2008, 12:51 AM report to moderator
Matthew

I highly doubt this is true. For a reputable newspaper, the Boston Globe is really stupid at listing him for composing the scores and they should rectify their mistake. The IMDB has Williams listed as the composer for the themes to HBP, JP 4 and S:TMOS (which means he is not composing the original score for these three flicks).

And for those who still haven’t a clue of what composer did the music for each HP films, here’s a quick rundown:

John Williams composed the scores for PS/SS, COS and POA Patrick Doyle did the GOF score Nicholas Hooper composed the score for OOTP (and will do so for HBP)

It’s highly likely that Hooper will return for the 2-part DH flicks, but I did hear from a reputable source (Ford A. Thaxton) that the WB would love to get Williams to score the final HP films (Ford A. Thaxton is a film music soundtrack producer who has reliable connections). It is possible that the WB could take the composer decision out of Yates’s hands (but let him have final cut over the two DH films) and bring on Williams. In fact, the WB did the exact thing for Steven Spielberg when he did “The Color Purple”—only that Spielberg wasn’t allowed to use Williams but Quincy Jones instead.

Posted by Matthew on May 19, 2008, 01:20 AM report to moderator
HeadGirlInTraining

I’ve read elsewhere that he was going to be back for DH, but I hadn’t heard that he’d be there for HBP. Perhaps the Globe got confused?

Posted by HeadGirlInTraining on May 19, 2008, 02:30 AM report to moderator
Julia

Hmm … personally, I like Hooper and Williams, so I would be happy either way. But if they both contributed that would be even better! Personally, I think Hooper should do HBP and Williams should do DH.

Posted by Julia on May 19, 2008, 03:31 AM report to moderator
Prenz

Wow! That man makes some fabulous music! I hope this news is true!!

Posted by Prenz on May 19, 2008, 04:00 AM report to moderator
~LV~

Oh, PPPLLLLEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! Make it be true!!!! John Williams is the ONLY COMPOSER who should ever be allowed to compose for Harry Potter!!!!!!!

Posted by ~LV~ on May 19, 2008, 05:27 AM report to moderator
bec majec

omg my friend and i were just talking about how awesome it would be if we could see john williams pieces in concert. I live in australia so i HIGHLY doubt that it would come here. what a pity.

Posted by bec majec on May 19, 2008, 05:36 AM report to moderator
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