Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (soundtrack)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
General information
Released	30 October 2001
Recorded	August – September 2001
Label	Warner/Sunset Nonesuch Atlantic
Artist	John Williams

The soundtrack to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States) was released on 30 October 2001. The film's score was composed and conducted by John Williams. The soundtrack was nominated for Best Original Score at the 74th Academy Awards. The film introduces many character-specific themes (leitmotifs) that are used in at least one sequel as well, although most of the themes are only used again in Chamber of Secrets. These themes include two themes for Voldemort, two themes for Hogwarts, a Diagon Alley theme, a Quidditch theme, a flying theme, two friendship themes, and the main theme ("Hedwig's Theme"). This main theme was reprised and developed in all eight of the main Harry Potter films, as well as the spinoff films Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and its sequels, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

The soundtrack was certified gold in Canada (50,000 units) by the Canadian Recording Industry Association on 14 December 2001. It was also certified gold in Japan for 100,000 units by the RIAJ. In 2002, the soundtrack was nominated for Best Original Score at the 74th Academy Awards in which Williams took part in conducting the ceremony. However, Williams lost to Howard Shore's score of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The score was performed by a 102-piece of the London Session Orchestra at AIR Lyndhurst Studios and Abbey Road Studios in London with orchestrations provided by Williams, Alexander Courage, Conrad Pope, John Neufeld, Eddie Karam, Pete Anthony, Benjamin Wallfisch and Larry Rench. It entered the Billboard 200 at No. 48 and also charted at No. 2 on the Top Soundtracks Chart. In UK, the album charted at number 19. In 2018, the soundtrack was released by La-La-Land Records as a 3-Disc CD set encompassing the complete score of the film as part of a limited edition box set featuring the scores for the first three Harry Potter films.

Composition

Hedwig's Theme

Main article: Hedwig's Theme

Template:Listen "Hedwig's Theme" is the leitmotif for the film series. Often labelled as the series's main theme, it first appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the track "Prologue". A concert arrangement of the same name is included in the end credits. "Hedwig's Theme" has been interpolated in the fourth through eighth Harry Potter film scores, including in those by Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Hooper, and Alexandre Desplat and the spin-off Fantastic Beasts scores by James Newton Howard. It also appears in the scores to the last four Harry Potter video games, all composed by James Hannigan. "Hedwig's Theme" has achieved significant pop culture status, being featured as ring tones, trailer music, and other forms of multimedia.

Track listing

Original release

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Prologue (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:12
2.	"Harry's Wondrous World (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	5:21
3.	"The Arrival of Baby Harry (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	4:25
4.	"Visit to the Zoo and Letters from Hogwarts (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)""	3:23
5.	"Diagon Alley and The Gringotts Vault"	4:06
6.	"Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters and The Journey to Hogwarts (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)""	3:14
7.	"Entry into the Great Hall and The Banquet"	3:42
8.	"Mr. Longbottom Flies"	3:35
9.	"Hogwarts Forever! and The Moving Stairs (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)""	3:47
10.	"The Norwegian Ridgeback and A Change of Season"	2:47
11.	"The Quidditch Match (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)""	8:29
12.	"Christmas at Hogwarts"	2:56
13.	"The Invisibility Cloak and The Library Scene (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	3:16
14.	"Fluffy's Harp"	2:39
15.	"In the Devil's Snare and The Flying Keys"	2:21
16.	"The Chess Game"	3:49
17.	"The Face of Voldemort"	6:10
18.	"Leaving Hogwarts (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)""	2:14
19.	"Hedwig's Theme"	5:11
Total length:		73:28

Harry Potter - The John Williams Soundtrack Collection: Disc 1

The Film Score
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Prologue – Privet Drive (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	4:33
2.	"Visit to the Zoo (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	3:01
3.	"Don’t Burn My Letter (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:08
4.	"Letters From Hogwarts (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	1:43
5.	"Harry’s Wish and Hagrid’s Entrance (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	1:24
6.	"You’re a Wizard, Harry (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	3:34
7.	"Diagon Alley and The Gringotts Vault [Extended Version] (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	4:50
8.	"Harry Gets His Wand"	2:08
9.	"Hagrid’s Flashback (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:53
10.	"Platform Nine and Three Quarters (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:43
11.	"Chocolate Frog Escapes"	0:52
12.	"The Journey to Hogwarts (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:07
13.	"Through the Doors"	2:01
14.	"House Selection (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	3:31
15.	"Entry Into the Great Hall and The Banquet"	3:44
16.	"Lonely First Night"	1:08
17.	"The Daily Prophet (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	1:41
18.	"Mr. Longbottom Flies"	3:37
19.	"The Moving Stairs (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:01
20.	"Introduction to Quidditch"	1:35
21.	"Hermione’s Feather"	0:37
22.	"Fighting the Troll (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	3:49
23.	"Owl Delivers Nimbus 2000 (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	1:16
24.	"The Quidditch Match (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	8:29

Harry Potter - The John Williams Soundtrack Collection: Disc 2

The Film Score (continued)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hagrid’s Christmas Tree"	0:59
2.	"Cast a Christmas Spell"	2:41
3.	"Christmas Morning and The Invisibility Cloak (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	7:22
4.	"The Mirror of Erised and A Change of Season"	3:35
5.	"Hermione’s Reading"	1:11
6.	"The Norwegian Ridgeback"	1:41
7.	"Filch’s Fond Remembrance"	1:31
8.	"The Dark Forest"	5:17
9.	"The Stone"	3:41
10.	"Running to McGonagall (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:16
11.	"Neville Stiffens (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	0:57
12.	"Fluffy’s Harp Lullaby"	2:30
13.	"In the Devil’s Snare"	2:29
14.	"The Flying Keys"	2:01
15.	"The Chess Game [Extended Version] (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	7:27
16.	"The Face of Voldemort (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	6:13
17.	"Love, Harry (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	1:47
18.	"Gryffindor Wins the House Cup"	2:40
19.	"Leaving Hogwarts (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:18
20.	"Harry’s Wondrous World [Extended Version] (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	5:26
21.	"Hedwig’s Theme"	5:07

Harry Potter - The John Williams Soundtrack Collection: Disc 3

Children's Suite for Orchestra
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Prologue (Hedwig’s Flight) (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:15
2.	"Hogwarts Forever"	1:55
3.	"Voldemort"	2:16
4.	"Nimbus 2000"	2:28
5.	"Fluffy’s Harp"	2:42
6.	"Quidditch"	1:53
7.	"Family Portrait"	3:26
8.	"Diagon Alley"	2:53
9.	"Harry’s Wondrous World (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	5:05

Additional Music
No.	Title	Length
10.	"Hagrid’s Flute (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	0:58
11.	"The Leaky Cauldron"	1:15
12.	"Hedwig’s Theme for Harp (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:06
13.	"Teaser (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:34
14.	"Hogwarts Forever [Vocal Version]"	0:48
15.	"Logo (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	0:24
16.	"Owl’s Flight"	1:08
17.	"Television Commercial (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	1:06
18.	"Trailer (Contains "Hedwigs Theme" by John Williams)"	2:27

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Filmtracks
Movie Wave	File:Star half.svg
Tracksounds

Whilst the score received mostly positive reviews from outlets such as AllMusic and Filmtracks, some reviewers were unimpressed; USA Today reviewer Claudia Puig stated the "overly insistent score lacks subtlety and bludgeons us with crescendos." Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter deemed the score "a great clanging, banging music box that simply will not shut up."

Behind the scenes

James Horner was approached to compose the score for the film but he turned it down.

Track No. 18 is also included in the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 as a tribute to Williams and the series' end.^{[citation needed]}

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)	25

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)	Gold	35,000^
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

v - e - d

Media Harry Potter films: The Philosopher's Stone (soundtrack, "Hedwig's Theme") • The Chamber of Secrets (soundtrack) • The Prisoner of Azkaban (soundtrack) • The Goblet of Fire (soundtrack) • The Order of the Phoenix (soundtrack) • The Half-Blood Prince (soundtrack) • The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (production • soundtrack) • The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (production • soundtrack) Fantastic Beasts films: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (soundtrack) • The Crimes of Grindelwald (soundtrack) •The Secrets of Dumbledore Harry Potter novels: Philosopher's Stone • Chamber of Secrets • Prisoner of Azkaban • Goblet of Fire • Order of the Phoenix • Half-Blood Prince • Deathly Hallows Fantastic Beasts novels: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them • Quidditch Through the Ages • The Tales of Beedle the Bard Video games: Philosopher's Stone • Chamber of Secrets • Prisoner of Azkaban • Goblet of Fire • Order of the Phoenix • Half-Blood Prince • Deathly Hallows (Part 1 / Part 2) • Quidditch World Cup Lego Video games: Lego Creator: Harry Potter • Lego Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets • Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 / Years 5–7 Home video: Video Characters Harry Potter characters: Harry Potter • Ron Weasley • Hermione Granger • Albus Dumbledore • Minerva McGonagall • Rubeus Hagrid • Fred Weasley • George Weasley • Angelina Johnson • Alicia Spinnet • Gilderoy Lockhart • Remus Lupin • Alastor Moody • Quirinus Quirrell • Horace Slughorn • Percy Weasley • Cho Chang • Colin Creevey • Cedric Diggory • Fleur Delacour • Viktor Krum • Gabrielle Delacour • Ginevra Weasley • Neville Longbottom • Luna Lovegood • Sirius Black • Dursley family • Lord Voldemort • Draco Malfoy • Lucius Malfoy • Narcissa Malfoy • Cornelius Fudge • Dolores Umbridge • Alecto Carrow • Amycus Carrow • Vincent Crabbe • Gregory Goyle • Argus Filch • Severus Snape • Bellatrix Lestrange • Bartemius Crouch Sr. • Bartemius Crouch Jr. • Regulus Black • Pius Thicknesse • Godric Gryffindor • Helga Hufflepuff • Rowena Ravenclaw • Salazar Slytherin • Antonin Dolohov • Bloody Baron • Dean Thomas • Dobby • Edgar Cloggs • Fat Lady • Fenrir Greyback • Filius Flitwick • Garrick Ollivander • James Potter I • Lily J. Potter • Igor Karkaroff • Kingsley Shacklebolt • Lavender Brown • Moaning Myrtle • Nymphadora Tonks • Padma Patil • Parvati Patil • Seamus Finnigan • Sir Cadogan • Snatchers • Pomona Sprout • Poppy Pomfrey • Sybill Trelawney • Walden Macnair • Oliver Wood • Katie Bell • Lee Jordan • Blaise Zabini Fantastic Beasts characters: Newton Scamander • Tina Goldstein • Jacob Kowalski • Queenie Goldstein • Percival Graves • Seraphina Picquery • Credence Barebone • Mary Lou Barebon • Gnarlack • Henry Shaw Sr. • Langdon Shaw • Henry Shaw Jr. • Modesty Barebone • Chastity Barebone • Gellert Grindelwald • Leta Lestrange • Nicolas Flamel Deleted characters: Ludovic Bagman Video game characters: Peeves Creatures Cerberus • The Basilisk • The Mountain Troll • The Hungarian Horntail • Fire crab Mascots/Pets Crookshanks • Aragog • Nagini • Hedwig • Fawkes • Buckbeak • Fang • Mrs. Norris Mystical Animals Locations Hogwarts Castle: • Grand Staircase Tower • Great Hall • Gryffindor Tower • Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch • The Forbidden Forest • Forbidden Third Floor Corridor • Underground Chambers • Hospital Wing • Slytherin Dungeon • The Chamber of Secrets • Topmost Tower • Platform 9¾ Diagon Alley: • Gringotts Wizarding Bank • Ollivander's Residences: 4 Privet Drive • The Burrow • Godric's Hallow • Potter's Cottage Other Locations: Limbo • England • Azkaban • British Ministry of Magic • Department of Mysteries Objects Weapons: Godric Gryffindor's Sword Brooms/Nimbus: Nimbus 2000 • Nimbus 2001 • The Firebolt Wands: Harry's Wand • Ron's Wand • Hermione's Wand • Voldemort's Wand • Elder Wand Others: Winged Keys • The Remembrall • The Invisibility Cloak • The Philosopher's Stone • Mirror of Erised • The Sorting Hat • The Basilisk Fang • Tom Riddle's Diary • The Marauder's Map • Goblet of Fire • Deluminator • The Monster Book of Monsters Transports Powders: Floo Powder • Floo Network Vehicles: Flying Ford Anglia • Flying Motorcycle • Hogwarts Express Organizations/Groups Dementor • Order of the Phoenix • Dumbledore's Army • Death Eaters See also J.K. Rowling • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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