Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The score for the sixth Harry Potter movie was composed by Nicholas Hooper.  He continues his sparse use of Hedwig's Theme, using it in only three very specific situations.  The sixth movie continues the trajectory of the fifth, as the mood grows perpetually darker.  In response, Hedwig's theme no longer references the joy and excitement of magic.  It seems all magic is sinister rather than enticing.  The theme instead signals moments of friendship and safety for Harry, recalling his special moments of his childhood.

The first occurs within the first minute of the opening credits, right as the HP appears on the screen.  Though the reference is brief, only a brief statement of the initial melody, its use effectively establishes the Harry Potter-ness of the movie.  The tempo is slower than the original, introducing the movie's somber tone.  Its instrumentation contrasts the surrounding material.  The melody is played high in the strings, accompanied by bell-like percussion.  This quickly gives way to a slow choral.  Though short, this use of the theme quickly reminds the audience of what has come before and sets up the action to follow.


The second use of the theme occurs at 13:02 as Harry arrives at the Wesley's home for the end of summer.

   

This is the first happy moment of the movie.  Before, Harry has been alone or on business with Dumbledore.  Now he is with his friends.  The theme emerges from very active melodic material as the Wesley's realize that Harry has arrived.  This time the melody is quick and soft, under the dialogue as the characters are reunited.  The string section plays two statements of the theme accompanied by ascending runs by the harp before a transition into the a french horn melody.  The use of the theme aids in lightening the mood.  

The theme appears for the last time as camera sweeps across the Hogwarts Express before finding Harry and his friends, at 22:40.    

Here the theme is presented by the french horns with string and harp ascending runs.  The theme features the most melodic deviations from the original version in the first movie.  Its use establishes the light, happy mood of the students returning to school, but abruptly changes to the standard dark tones as the scene returns to Harry and his friends.  

This is the last appearance of Hedwig's Theme in the sixth movie.  From this point on, the mood is significantly darker than that of previous movies.  Though the film ends with Harry's peaceful realization of the beauty of Hogwarts, he and his companions have been forever changed.  The score ends with a serene theme that has not been heard before.  This leads us out of the darkness that dominated most of the film but does not take us back to the brief moments of happiness and innocence experienced at the beginning.  This omission of the theme seems to signal that Harry's life is on a new course.