The Soundtrack Space: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

John Williams is one of the most famous composers of all time; he is the mastermind behind renowned soundtracks such as Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Indiana Jones. I think his compositions for the Harry Potter films are wonderful, especially the soundtrack for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).

The film opens with Williams’ masterpiece – ‘Hedwig’s Theme’. This is the main theme of the Harry Potter films. Each occurrence of the theme is slightly altered; for instance, in this opening the theme is slower. The Prisoner of Azkaban soundtrack frequently uses musical motifs. For instance, ‘Secrets of the Castle’ employs the melody first used in ‘Double Trouble’, which becomes a common motif throughout the film. This track also uses a slowed version of ‘Hedwig’s Theme’. These aspects combine to make for a whimsical piece that reflect the mysteries of Hogwarts Castle.

The pace of the music for the travelling sequences reflects how uncontrollable the Knight Bus is; the melody itself feels out of control, using jazz influences to make the piece unpredictable

A memorable scene from The Prisoner of Azkaban is Aunt Marge’s visit to the Dursleys. The title names it a ‘Waltz’, which reflects the bouncing nature of the melody. It begins as quite a traditional piece of music that nevertheless dissolves into chaos. Strings are introduced as Aunt Marge begins to transform, and then the music crescendos as she takes flight. The upbeat rhythm of the piece reflects the humorous nature of the scene.

‘The Knight Bus’ encapsulates the whimsy of The Prisoner of Azkaban. This entertaining scene is brought to life through Williams’ score. The pace of the music for the travelling sequences reflects how uncontrollable the Knight Bus is; the melody itself feels out of control, using jazz influences to make the piece unpredictable. Williams employs a variety of sounds to convey this, whether through the harsh horn, the screeching whistle, or the use of percussion instruments. There is, unusually, an accordion used in the moments where the bus has stopped, which juxtaposes these pauses with the fast pace of the action. The chaos is broken up by a suspenseful section of the piece, in which high-pitched strings are introduced to represent danger as Harry is first introduced to the ‘criminal’ Sirius Black.

Speaking of using strings to portray danger, nowhere is this more prevalent than in ‘Apparition on the Train’. These uncomfortable sounds are used to soundtrack the dementors, the threatening guards of Azkaban prison. The piece crescendos as the dementor gets closer to Harry. The use of disjointed piano notes furthers this tension, as it provides a haunting effect. Williams’ motif for the dementors is later used again in the track ‘The Dementors Converge’. As well as harsh strings, there is a threatening brass sound in the background. This crescendos to a tumbling melody with clashing instruments. This scene is made even more dramatic as choral sounds are introduced and it seems as if all hope is lost for Harry.

Williams’ soundtrack for The Prisoner of Azkaban is a true embodiment of the interconnectedness of music and film

‘Buckbeak’s Flight’ is distinctive right from the opening. It begins with strong drums that reflect Buckbeak’s galloping before he takes off and Harry’s apprehension in trusting this creature. This transitions into a sweeping melody that beautifully captures the moment of flight. It uses the key motif of the film to dramatic effect.

My favourite track from Williams’ The Prisoner of Azkaban soundtrack is ‘Forward to Time Past’. This piece perfectly reflects the time-travel aspect of the film. A ticking noise opens the piece, which gets louder or quieter depending on the moment. This reflects the literal time-travel that is happening on screen, but also the sense of urgency as Sirius Black’s life is ticking away. The use of distorted strings creates the sound of travelling through time, as the past unfurls before our eyes when Hermione uses the Time-Turner. The sound of gongs in this piece reflects the presence of the clock tower throughout the film, which has been used as a sound-effect previously but is now part of the soundtrack itself. The theme of time in The Prisoner of Azkaban is conveyed through Williams’ soundtrack.

Williams’ soundtrack for The Prisoner of Azkaban is a true embodiment of the interconnectedness of music and film. Through a mixture of experimental styles and classic Williams style, this soundtrack sonically represents the key motifs of the film.