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“Left behind (though
certainly not forgotten) are the wonderous childhood flourishes of
Williams’ score, and the ponderous beauty of Doyle’s turning-of-age
music, and now a mature-but-no-less-magical score lifts and propels
“Order of the Phoenix” through the viewers imaginations.”
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Phoenix Rising
Review by Steve
Townsley
(Apologies for
spoilers herein,
but…the seventh book
has broken sales
records in stores,
already—who am I
spoiling here?)
When I learned that
Patrick Doyle was
succeeding John
Williams as composer
for the phenomenal
HARRY POTTER
film-franchise, I was
elated and relieved,
for I knew that if
Williams could not
provide music for all
the
Potter-installments,
then Doyle is more
than worthy to pick up
the wand…er--baton.
So, when movie 5 was
announced, and
NICHOLAS HOOPER was
proclaimed the new
composer, I, probably
like many, had the
response, “Who??”
For the months
preceding, I
anticipated the
forthcoming film (and
score) very little.
Not that I wasn’t
intending to enjoy it
in due time. I merely
let my eagerness wane,
so as not to
over-exhaust myself
with Pottermania to
the saturation point.
And not that I wasn’t
curious as to the
as-to-my-ears
heretofore unheard
NICHOLAS HOOPER
turning in what was
suspected to be a
by-the-numbers
derivative score,
drawing naturally upon
the instantly
associative “Hedwig’s
Theme”, and perhaps a
quotation here and
there of other
established themes
within the franchise.
Rather than that,
though, something
unexpectedly…well…magical
happened. NICHOLAS
HOOPER rose to the
occasion, and provided
a wholly wonderful and
repeatedly enjoyable
score for Harry’s
5th—and darkest—year
yet. Left behind
(though certainly not
forgotten) are the
wonderous childhood
flourishes of
Williams’ score, and
the ponderous beauty
of Doyle’s
turning-of-age music,
and now a
mature-but-no-less-magical
score lifts and
propels “Order of the
Phoenix” through the
viewers imaginations.
“Fireworks”, a
jubilant and ethnic
romp opens the album
as the Weasley twins
embark upon their
ultimate Hogwarts
mischief, though the
album wastes no time
in moving directly to
the saccharinely
sweet, almost
ballet-like romp for
the conniving
Professor Umbridge,
Harry’s latest foil.
The album is infused
with charming and
memorable surges of
playful charm, such as
“The Room of
Requirements” (Track
7) that are never
overbearing, and
surprisingly catchy,
hinting at notes from
“Hedwig’s Theme” just
ever-so-lightly.
“Dumbledore’s Army”,
another of the album’s
Stand-out pieces
builds into a proud
melody (that
appropriately suggests
nothing militaristic
or bombastic.)
Some of the darker
moments in the score
build with wonderful
tension, often
punctuated with choir
vocals that signify
the dark forces of
Voldemort at work, on
screen.
Curiously, one of the
truly melancholy
moments “The Sacking
of Trelawney” (Track
16) is reserved for
the end of the album,
trumping what should
really be the score’s
emotional climax,
“Death of Sirius”
(Track 12). Likewise,
what should be a
powerful opener,
“Flight of the Order
of the Phoenix” is
reserved for the
penultimate track,
when it should,
chronologically, be
placed towards the
beginning…Which brings
me to the album’s
biggest criticism:
Track placement. The
music herein is
wonderful, no
question—But so
randomly placed—there
seems to be no method
to the madness. The
disc opens with a
strong piece, and
closes with the film’s
final piece….but
beyond that, it’s a
mishmash of (good)
music. You might do
well to program the
tracks in
chronological order,
allowing the tension
to build and unfold,
and resolve.
No word yet on who
will score the
upcoming “HARRY POTTER
AND THE HALF-BLOOD
PRINCE", but if
NICHOLAS HOOPER is
attached, I’ll be
pleased to look
forward to what he
brings to the story.
Rating: 8/10
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Track |
Track Title |
Track Time |
Rating |
|
1 |
Fireworks |
1:45 |
**** |
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2 |
Professor
Umbridge |
2:32 |
*** |
|
3 |
Another
Story |
2:37 |
** |
|
4 |
Dementors
in
the
Underpass |
1:43 |
** |
|
5 |
Dumbledore's
Army |
2:40 |
**** |
| 6 |
Hall of Prophecies |
4:25 |
*** |
| 7 |
Possession |
3:18 |
** |
| 8 |
Room of REquirements |
6:07 |
**** |
| 9 |
Kiss |
1:56 |
**** |
| 10 |
Journey to Hogwarts |
2:52 |
*** |
| 11 |
Sirius Deception |
2:34 |
** |
| 12 |
Death of Sirius |
3:56 |
*** |
| 13 |
Umbridge Spoils a Beautiful Morning |
2:38 |
** |
| 14 |
Darkness Takes Over |
2:57 |
** |
| 15 |
Ministry of Magic |
2:47 |
*** |
| 16 |
Sacking of Trelawny |
2:13 |
*** |
| 17 |
Fight of the Order of the Phoenix |
1:31 |
**** |
| 18 |
Loved Ones and Leaving |
3:15 |
**** |
| |
Total Running Time (Approx) |
52 minutes |
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