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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone John Williams Warner Sunset 83491-2 John Williams' particular brand of romantic symphonic lyricism lends itself perfectly to the child-like wonder and innocence of J.K. Rowlings' fantasy. The score is large in scope, blending orchestra with chorus. In style, Williams follows the tradition of Tchaikovsky (with a prominent use of sparkly celeste) as well as Ravel, to create the main theme of the soundtrack: a macabre, spiraling waltz which transports the listener into an enchanted and mysterious realm. A chorus of recorders and solo fiddle furnishes the atmosphere of the industrious "Diagon Alley and the Gringots Vault" while "The Quidditch Match" is a fabulous eight-minute track with brassy fanfares reminiscent of the ones Williams wrote for the Olympics. The CD then moves into a suspenseful roller-coaster ride of high-speed frenzy. "Christmas at Hogwarts" is a wonderfully ghostly Christmas carol, while the breathy synthesizer of "The Invisibility Cloak and The Library Scene" chills the listener like a cold, damp wind. The final track, "Hedwig's Theme," is an arrangement of the main waltz, and conjures up feelings of windy autumn nights, full moons, and enchanted forests. And these are just a few of the copious gems in this recording's 19 tracks. The soundtrack for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is spooky, wondrous, and rife with new suprises around each corner, which should keep any listener hooked from first to last. — Paul Andrew MacLean

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