Hooper and the oversized shadow - a pleasant surprise!

Nicholas who? This question is not unjustified when one considers the Nicholas Hooper is not exactly a well-known film composer. Documentaries and TV productions in England, no great business cards for such a production as the Harry Potter series. Virtually every composer would probably apply for this job if he would get the opportunity. Hooper got it as a house composer by the director and succeeds John Williams and Patrick Doyle. Willams supplied with Part 1-3 soundtracks at an extremely high level and gave the Harry Potter brand their sound that is associated with it until today. Doyle gave a very convincing work even though he did not have the class of the predecessor.

So now is Hooper's turn. What we must not do is compare this score 1 to 1 with its predecessors, since then he has already lost. For purely technical reasons Nicholas Hooper can not keep up with Williams, let alone to compose out of style. It would be unfair if you look at the music in the direct context of the series and try to find this level too. It is primarily a completely different soundtrack and a very different kind of film music. Hooper said in interviews he has tried very respond to feelings and that's what you will find here. An atmospheric score that goes in a completely different direction than their predecessors.

Apart from the known Hedwig topic can be found here almost nothing of its predecessors again, the extravagant fluffy sound of Part 1-2 is completely gone, very atmospheric related passages and pieces here are clearly in the majority. Started the album "Fireworks" is a quick piece that is somewhat reminiscent of the Quittitsch piece from the predecessor before it comes with an electric guitar to Stilbruch, you can very controversial disskutieren whether it is appropriate or not. I for one think it is good although I would have liked a little more subtle album opening.

"Proffesor Umbridge" is the theme of the album. Busybodies, crafty, a bit angry but also cuddly, so can this issue which really worked out well and is composed describe. It fits perfectly with the character of Umbridge and is a really strong title.
In several pieces, for example, "Umbrigte Spoils a Beautiful Morning" there is perceived again. "Another Story" begins with the topic Hedwig and is redirected to a sad piano melody. This change is reflected for me exactly the direction the music again, one must be able to engage in it and let it act. "Dumbledore's Army" brings another issue. This very sweet melody is well suited and will be introduced again in the course of the album, always slightly different. In these passages, the music is the strongest, showing the Hooper despite all the critique is very capable.

Strings dominate the orchestra and shine especially in fast or sad passages "The Sirius Deception" is a good example. Also nice small pieces such as "The Kiss" show that it is very good film music in parts. The Action shares are very small, atmospheric pieces make a big part of the music. Here also lies the weakness of the album, but it has barely the Harry Potter identity. As much as I try it as a single piece to evaluate film music, so it's part of a series and as such totally breaks the context of other works. There is simply too much underscoring and atmospherically to leave on a permanent impression, especially when you know what you will find in this universe of music.

The great anger and disappointment from some I can not understand. It was clear that you do not get the slips Williams and the music in a completely new role. This fills out very well and is a nice mix of cheerful and thoughtful. The connections to the rest of the Hogwarts music are very small and the pieces (with 2-3 exceptions) no large compositions. However you achieve the desired effect and have a certain level which makes them very clearly audible, for me personally, the album has fallen, partly because I have not seen it in the wider context of the Potter universe. In this context, seen it can not keep up and goes in a completely different direction.