Now, something one would look for in film scores and soundtracks is whether the music works well, or is worth listening to on its own. Does the music need the visuals to accompany it - there is the music which you hear with the visuals and it all meshes and works fluently and fits the mood the scene is trying to convey. Then there is the music which is overly incidental that it is really difficult to listen to without visuals. I think the better of the film soundtracks, are those which work in both areas, something you enjoy listening to with the film, and something you can also enjoy listening to for your own leisure.
This soundtrack works both ways and really translates the the themes composed by Desplát for the first part of Deathly Hallows score well. This heroic theme heard in Polyjuice Potion is reprised in the opening of 'Neville', so there is some continuity between the scores of parts 1 and 2 . One thing to mention is that Desplát will not rely heavily on a Leitmotif, but develop a fluid and evolving score, which is cleverly woven through the tracks. A great detail with this soundtrack is Desplát's references to John Williams' themes from the first three films. A close listener will hear the enigmatic 3-note theme representative of Voldemort in Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets in the track 'Underworld' on this soundtrack. Desplát deftly weaves this heavily resembling theme with that of one of his earlier creations in the first part. This reprisal of themes continues with hints of 'Buckbeak's Flight' from Williams' score for Prisoner Of Azkaban, in the track 'Neville the Hero'. Befitting the nature of the film and the fact that this is the last film in the series, Desplát's reference of John Williams' material is welcoming and rather nostalgic, bringing Williams' original intent to bring the music 'full-circle' as so to say.
Originality is something which is surprising when heard in the last of the soundtracks of a series and Desplát really was this saviour for the series. If it was not going to be John Williams composing the finale of this rollercoaster ride of a series of disjointed and noncontinuous scores, then Desplát would have to make do. And he does more than simply make do, he brings this whole thematic dough and kneads the best bits until a rather firm and convincing score is created. A track like 'Statues' and 'Courtyard Apocalypse' stand magnificently high on their own, really making them stand-out themes of the soundtrack, not boasting of their brilliance, but allowing the tracks to strengthen and illuminate the other tracks. Lily's Theme and the character of Severus Snape are highly intertwined and particular in their structure. This theme solidifies the dark foundations of 'Snape's Demise' and 'Severus and Lily' forming this incredibly emotional and tangible theme, which, when paired with the visuals, dances in delight, splendour and unrelenting pity cementing the idea of Snape as the film's Tragic Hero.
Where one can listen to action music in a film score, they don't just expect it to add to a scenes pace and to make good connections with the visuals, they expect to be hurled through this magical experience of orchestral sound, to not be drifted by the score, but be lifted away and twisting and turning with the action and still have a crisp and reasonable idea of where they stand, and Desplát handles this with ease. incorporating both turbulent and at some points, whimsical and swirling strings. The whimsical side is generously balanced with regal and quite dark horn progressions which really stand as a staple of Alexandre Desplát's music especiall the horns used in his work on the Twilight soundtrack, blending rhythm with the complex navigation that John Williams explores.
There is not much to nitpick on this particular score, other than the fact that unlike Williams whose soundtrack delights a new and different theme on almost all the tracks, Desplát will only highlight certain points of themes, though this does not detract heavily from the success of the score overall.
I would recommend anyone who has enjoyed the music from the film and the music through the entire series of films, should get this soundtrack.
