Sarah Shapiro- Theme Comparison

“Hedwig’s Theme” by John Williams, from the Harry Potter film series

Videos Comparing (from Youtube.com)

–Harry Potter Hedwig’s Theme, Piano (fesitolare)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLN6AU2WL8Y&feature=related

–Harry Potter Theme (harrythepiano) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwpBSHEHEek

–Harry Potter-Hedwig’s Theme (klaus195)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBxIJtkqiNg&feature=related

Both of these videos on Youtube present the famous “Hedwig’s Theme” from the Harry Potter movies, but in very different styles. The first video features a pianist playing the theme in a very simple manner, exactly as it appears in the movie series. Later, however, he makes the theme more complex and adds his own . He improvises on the left hand part and creates an intricate accompaniment that compliments the simple right hand treble part.

Meanwhile, in the second video, the pianist uses his creativity and musicality to center “Hedwig’s Theme” in many famous melodies such as Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean,” themes from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” and Beethoven’s “5^th Symphony” theme. He also plays the theme in a very classical style, a Gershwin style, Chopin style and a jazz style. The pianist’s ability to improvise while a cameraman yells composers and genres to him while playing the same underlying theme throughout the video is stunning.

In the third video, the pianist’s role is different because he is not the soloist but the accompanist. He states the melody in the simplest of ways and then continues to play the melody but in an accompanist style as he is playing with a violinist. He plays more simple foundation chords and incorporates less of his own creativity.