> I don't think more complicated instrumentation is necessary here, but I am
> curious as to why you think that a more prominent melody would take away
> anything from the moment.

I guess I'm not really sure, I guess it has to do with something psychological for me. More concrete melodies for me usually tend to define something known. Obviously there are melodies that give the feeling of the exact opposite, but I don't know. The whole scene of Harry and Dumbly alone in the middle of the water approaching the cave, was beautifully shot(or well, CGI'd =P), and the music compliments the visuals perfectly as is. A more prominent melody I think shifts the focus a bit from a moment that was so visual. And the duo has no clue as to what awaits them, so I felt the more subdued melody helped that feel. Oh well, i can't explain it too accurately lol. But watching that scene over ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xhagLXwKhg ), I can't really see it done too much better, though I'd love to hear William's take on it. I guess we'll see that in the 7th, which is overall much more "epic" than the probably all the other books put together lol.

> Well, I think you could argue that back in PoA, the sense of tangible
> danger wasn't as present as it is by HBP. Back then, people didn't take
> the story AS seriously, and I certainly get the feeling that John Williams
> was being a little tongue-in-cheek with his action. But, yeah, it is
> over-the-top, but possibly intentionally so. That's one of the reasons I
> like it; it's playful. And I can definitely see why some people would
> think the past music has been too epic, as Williams's use of large choirs
> and a full orchestra doesn't leave much room for the musical aspect of the
> series to grow.

*Spoilarzzz*
Very true, that's a good point. Which is why it's nice to hear he's likely coming back for the final two installments, because if theres any time to be epic with a full orchestra, it's definitely in deathly hallows. The track for the "Godric's Hallow" and "The Battle of Hogwarts" and a whole bunch of other large action set pieces should be very interesting to hear from Williams. Especially because of the contrast between him creating the cheeriest and most playful music of the series and creating the darkest and grandest ones for the 7th movie.

> I remember thinking the same thing. That theme has been used in the some
> of the weirdest moments in this series, though I do think Williams
> employed it best (even though it was massively overdone in the first half
> of Sorcerer's Stone).

Williams definitely used it best. Which makes sense, since it's his theme and all.

> By the way, the only thing in these scores I think has really been missing
> is the use of a piano. I know Hooper used it a little bit in
> "Malfoy's Mission", but its so fleeting and distant that it
> barely registers with the score as a whole.

Ahh definitely! I thought the same thing. I really wasn't a big fan of Hoopers work for Order of the Phoenix, because both I didn't feel it complimented the visuals very much, nor was it up to the same snuff as Williams' work. But one thing I did like was his implementation of the piano in "Another Story", even if it was only for a short time there. But it highlighted the piece perfectly.

With Williams back for the Final two movies though, I think theres something every one can look forward too ^_^