Top 8 movie tracks from Harry Potter

There are dozens of musical moments across the eight Harry Potter films,, whether the wistful "Leaving Hogwarts" from harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone or the hopeful "Neville's Waltz" from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The composers of the series have given us music for every mood and we're here to pick one track from each film to appreciate. Feel free to listen to the soundtracks and decide for yourself if you agree.

1. "Hedwig's Theme," Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

In a recent documentary, John Williams gave some background for the music that we now know as "Hedwig's Theme." He was contracted to write music for a trailer and did not know at first the effect of the film for which it was written. Those of us who were waiting with bated breath for a first glimpse of the wizarding world were often equally curious about the music for each of ou characters. The music for the trailer is a very simple introduction to the mysterious and accompanies a view of Diagon Alley, owls, Ollivander's wand shop, and the goblins at Gringotts.

"Hedwig's Theme," meanwhile, is played on a celeste and builds from a chime beating time underneath the motif. It then gets more complicated, but it really takes flight if you'll pardon the pun when the strings are added. You can hear in the music Hedwig soaring over the countryside or exploring the grounds of Hogwarts while the horns take over that melody. There is more to expore in the music's quieter moments. A friend heard this performed for the first time and was so excited by the theme that she wrote me a postcard after the concert. I don't blame her for hearing excitement and intrigue in the music.

2. "Reunion of Friends," Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I think we can all remember the anxiety that fills the second film. Not only is the Heir o Slytherin running amok, but students and specters and even a cat are in danger. All might seem lost when the cleverest witch at Hogwarts is temporarily taken out of commission.

"Reunion of Friends" always gets to me because it accompanies the scene where things are put right. Whether it's Hermione running through the Great Hall with bushy hair flying to reunite with Harry and Ron, Professor Dumbledore paying tribute to the women who healed the students,, or Hagrid being freed from Azkaban, it's a scene that gets to me every time.

3. "A Window to the Past," Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

This theme, which can be heard in not only "A Window to the Past," but the finale and "Mischief Managed," is a tie-in for Harry's sense of family. It has melancholy as it should for an orphan reckoning with the truth of his parents' demise.

It begins with a solo recorder and contemplative music and while it builds into something more, it returns towards its end to that recorder theme. In fact, it sounds as if it's played on the flute that Harry is given in the first book by Hagrid the first member of his found family.. As it is, the music plays while Harry is hearing his parents' friend, Remus Lupin, talk about his memories of the family Harry never knew. It's appropriate that it's used again when Sirius Black is recognized as another such figure.

4. "Another Year Ends," Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

I don't mean to pick a depressing moment for each of the films, but this is a track that is oddly uplifting in the midst of great uncertainty. New friends are parting at the end of the Triwizard Tournament that dividd loyalties and resulted in the death of a student. Harry has witnessed the rebirth of the most powerful dark wizard in the world and is only beginning to come to terms with what happened to him in the graveyard. Harry can be seen walking the perimeter of a happy scene, but isn't able to really join in it.

What makes this track full of mixed feelings poignant is a line that is a turning point. Hermione leans for support against a pillar and observes "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?" She is in a class of witches and wizards who have historically been targeted. SHe has just witnessed the failure of the Ministry to respond to a life-changing peril. And whatever happens next, there are hard choices ahead. But when she says with a note of trepidation that everything will change, Harry is there to promise her that it will. This gives her heart and purpose as the three friends go to watch the departure of their new allies.

5. "Dumbledore's Army," Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

This track starts out slowly,, as there plans are still being made. Students have recognized the need to band together, but we still don't have an in at the Room of Requirement and no one has disarmed another member of te Army.

Just over a minute into the music, though, the strings begin a frenetic and excited accompaniment and we know that that things are about to get interesting. There are themes coming in at different tempos and with different levels of intensity and we can almost hear each one representing a student who has decided to take up arms against evil.

6. "In Noctem," Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

This music is only partially heard in the film itself as an accompaniment to Dumbledore's speech, but it is played in the end credits as well. In a deleted scene, we can see Professor Flitwick conduct the choir as they sing what sounds like a plea to a higher power:

"Carry my soul into the night/May the stars light my way/I glory in the sight/As darkness takes the day...Sing a song, a song of life/Lived without regret/Tell the ones/The Ones I loved/I never will forget"

- Nicholas Hooper

It is sung over scenes of the people of Hogwarts seeing the gathering storm. In the book, this leads to the chapter of "The Lightning-Struck Tower." But Professor McGonagall protects the students. Ron and Hermione are shown in anticipation of a battle that is going to come. And Professor Snape is deeply conflicted as he recognizes that the time is about to present itself for him to commit Dumbledore's murder. It's a haunting song of hope as well as fear and exquisitely shot.

7. "Ron's Speech," Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

One of the most heartbreaking moments of division in the harry Potter series is that of Ron's departue. There's a Greek term, hamartia, that means "to miss the mark." Ron isn't to be faulted for worrying about his family or letting the Horcrux affect him. He's not in his right mind when wearing the locket and the stress of living life on the run only makes things exponentially worse. In the book, we see Ron come to realize what his departure has cost his friends.

This music is a theme of repentance and humility in place of the humiliation that Ron sometimes has problems with. There is nothing ostentatious about it and he doesn't need validation, but tells his story in the hopes of having his changed heart make a difference again.

8. "Severus and Lily," Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

I remember getting the seventh book and settling down to read it. My friend almost immediately squealed for joy because she saw a chapter called "The Prine's Tale" in the table of contents and was excited to see what that meant. "Severus and Lily" is the music set to the lifelong friendship that should have existed between a boy from Spinner's End and a Muggle-born witch named Lily Evans.

There is a sinister tone to the music beneath much of the music, as this is the story of irreconcilable differences that eventually cmae to be. From the first time the children meet to the moment when Snape comes to grieve Lily Potter at Godric's Hollow, it is a harrowing piece of music.

Hope you've enjoyed this trip through the films and are inspired to listen to your own favorites as well.