Brass Section for Harry Potter 3 with John Williams

Composers of music scores for Troy: Gabriel Yared
Shrek 2: Harry Gregson-Williams
Harry Potter 3: John Williams

It’s a tough old life! The music for Troy, composed by Gabriel Yared, seemed to be going smoothly. A great orchestra, a professional choir, an old sage of film music, Harry Rabinowitz , conducting and all in situ in one of the great recording studios of the world, EMI Studio 1. The film seemed to consist of one punch-up after another with Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom looking suitably macho all togged up in Greek body armour. Gabriel had just won an oscar for his music for ‘Cold Mountain’ so nothing could go wrong! Wrong! The producers of the film didn’t like his music so weeks of hard work by composer, orchestrators, technical staff, orchestra and chorus were scrapped and tapes duly put in the Hollywood dustbin! Hundreds of thousands of pounds used up and nothing to show for it! Ah well, I’m sure Mr and Mrs Grimsdyke at Mablethorpe Odeon, as they munch their popcorn along with Winkelberger family resident at Winston Salem, South Carolina ploughing through their McDonald’s burgers at the drive-in movie will appreciate the input of the new composer, James Horner instead of Gadbriel Yared.

Shrek 2 was altogether a different proposition. Harry Gregson-Williams the mega-talented Englishman of ‘Chicken Run’ fame put together an innovative and hugely amusing score for the follow up movie to Shrek. The sessions were all very relaxed and professionally organised at Air Lyndhurst Studios, Hampstead with the brass mostly overdubbing their parts on to a pre-laid string and woodwind tracks. The big band numbers with Steve Sidwell on lead trumpet are worth hearing even if you don’t like the film!

Back to EMI to record the music for the latest version of the Harry Potter saga with that consummate musician John Williams at the helm. As meticulous a conductor as he is a composer the music was inspirational and enhances the film superbly. The score was recorded over a two week period and is a credit to the composer that very few changed were made to his original conception for the score. The orchestra used for the three films were put together by Isobel Griffiths Ltd and consist mostly of freelance musicians based in London

Paul Archibald