Idea #47 - Why Harry Potter's Musical Score is Mesmerising

We are all aware that music is an integral part of performing arts. Without music, the most profound of profound performances can seem mundane.

Today we watched Why Prisoner of Azkaban’s Score is the Best in the Series, and analysed a little more in detail John William’s monumental score for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Williams’ approach of using longer, more expansive motifs seamlessly becomes a part of the performance instead of merely keeping it company.

Prisoner of Azkaban truly brings out John Williams’ genius and versatility. We learn about the reasoning and process behind the composition of the jazzy Knight Bus, the emotionally evoking Window to the Past, the almost unreal Patronus Light, and the exulting Buckbeak’s Flight. Clubbed with the theatrics of the movie, these scores rendered nothing but a stellar performance.

We know now that when a director and a composer work together so intimately to integrate visual and audio landscapes, they will only ever yield exceptional performance. John Williams alongside Alfonso Cuarón has neared perfection with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Written By: Arya Kastwar

Curated By: Hetvi Kamdar