Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Music in the Wizarding World====== =====Introduction===== Music is an integral part of life in the [[Wizarding world]], much as it is for [[Muggles]]. It serves as a form of entertainment, a tool for celebration, a method of communication, and even as a potent form of [[magic]]. From the formal school song of [[Hogwarts]] to the enchanted lullabies used to subdue magical beasts, music is woven into the fabric of wizarding culture, reflecting its whimsy, its traditions, and its dangers. It is broadcast over the [[Wizarding Wireless Network]], performed by magical beings, and created by popular wizarding artists. =====Magical Music and Performances===== Music in the [[Wizarding world]] is often produced by magical means or by magical beings, giving it unique properties not found in [[Muggle]] music. * **Creature Songs:** * **Phoenix Song:** The song of a [[Phoenix]] is deeply magical. It can increase courage in the good and strike fear into the hearts of the evil. After the death of [[Albus Dumbledore]], his [[phoenix]], [[Fawkes]], sang a beautiful and heartbreaking lament that was heard all over the grounds of [[Hogwarts]]. * **Merpeople Song:** The [[Merpeople]] who inhabit the [[Great Lake]] at [[Hogwarts]] sing in a language called [[Mermish]]. Above water, their song sounds like a screeching noise, but underwater, the lyrics become clear. Their song was used as a clue for the [[Second Task]] of the [[Triwizard Tournament]]. * **Augurey Song:** The mournful cry of the [[Augurey]] was once believed to foretell death, but it is now known to simply presage rain (Pottermore). * **Performances by Magical Beings:** * **The Sorting Hat:** At the start of each school year, the [[Sorting Hat]] sings a new song that it has composed over the summer. The song typically describes the four [[Hogwarts Houses]] and often includes warnings or advice for the school, as seen before [[Harry Potter]]'s fifth year when it urged the houses to unite. * **Peeves:** The [[Hogwarts]] [[poltergeist]], [[Peeves]], frequently composed and sang rude, taunting songs about students and staff, most notably his "Oh, Potter, you rotter" ditty and the triumphant "We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter's the one" song after [[Fred Weasley|Fred]] and [[George Weasley]]'s departure from the school. * **House-Elves:** The [[House-Elves]] in the [[Hogwarts Kitchens]] were heard singing when [[Dobby]] was given socks by [[Ron Weasley]]. * **Wizarding Artists and Groups:** * **Celestina Warbeck:** A very popular singer known as the "Singing Sorceress," often featured on the [[Wizarding Wireless Network]] show, //The Witching Hour//. She is a favourite of [[Molly Weasley]]. Her famous songs include "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love" and "You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me." * **The Weird Sisters:** A popular wizarding band that performed at the [[Yule Ball]] during the [[Triwizard Tournament]]. The band consists of members playing instruments such as guitars, drums, lutes, cellos, and bagpipes. Their hit songs include "Do the Hippogriff" and "Magic Works." * **The Frog Choir:** A [[Hogwarts]] choir conducted by [[Professor Filius Flitwick]], composed of students who sing while holding large, croaking frogs that provide the bass notes. They performed for the welcoming feast in [[Harry Potter]]'s third and fourth years. =====Magical Instruments and Objects===== Certain magical objects and instruments are specifically designed to produce or interact with music. * **Enchanted Harp:** An enchanted [[harp]] was placed by [[Professor Quirrell]] near the trapdoor guarding the [[Philosopher's Stone]] to lull the three-headed dog, [[Fluffy]], to sleep. The [[harp]] continued to play on its own after being started. * **Music Box:** In the [[Department of Mysteries]], a [[music box]] in the [[Time Room]] played a tinkling, dreamlike tune that, if listened to for too long, caused the listener to become confused and regress in age (or get trapped in a time loop). * **Wizarding Wireless Network (WWN):** The primary radio broadcaster for the wizarding community in Britain. It features a variety of musical programs, including shows hosted by [[Celestina Warbeck]]. * **Self-Knitting Needles:** [[Albus Dumbledore]] mentioned possessing a pair of knitting needles that would knit patterns of their own accord while humming a tune. =====Notable Songs===== * **Hogwarts School Song:** Titled //Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts//, the school song is sung at the end of the start-of-term feast. [[Albus Dumbledore]] encourages everyone to pick their favourite tune, resulting in a chaotic but enthusiastic performance. * **Weasley is Our King:** A derisive song invented by the [[Slytherin]]s to mock [[Ron Weasley]]'s poor performance as the [[Gryffindor]] [[Quidditch]] team's [[Keeper]]. The [[Gryffindor]]s later adopted and rewrote the song to celebrate Ron's match-winning performance. * **The Merpeople's Riddle Song:** The song containing the clue for the [[Second Task]] of the [[Triwizard Tournament]], which had to be heard underwater to be understood. =====Role in the Narrative===== Music serves several key functions throughout the series. It acts as a direct plot device, such as the [[Merpeople]]'s song providing the clue for the [[Second Task]] or the enchanted [[harp]] being a key to getting past [[Fluffy]]. It is also a powerful tool for world-building, adding depth and culture to the [[Wizarding world]] through entities like [[The Weird Sisters]] and the [[WWN]]. Furthermore, music is used for characterization, revealing [[Albus Dumbledore]]'s eccentric and inclusive nature through his love for the school song, and [[Molly Weasley]]'s personality through her fondness for [[Celestina Warbeck]]. Finally, it sets the tone, from the joyful chaos of the [[Yule Ball]] to the profound grief of [[Fawkes]]'s lament. =====Behind the Scenes===== * In the film adaptation of //[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]//, the band [[The Weird Sisters]] is visually represented. The songs "Do the Hippogriff," "This Is the Night," and "Magic Works" were written and performed for the film by the [[Muggle]] musicians Jarvis Cocker (of the band Pulp) and Jason Buckle. * The iconic "Hedwig's Theme," composed by [[John Williams]] for the film series, has become synonymous with the *Harry Potter* franchise, but it does not originate from the books. * J.K. Rowling has written an extensive backstory for [[Celestina Warbeck]] on Pottermore (now WizardingWorld.com), including her half-blood status, her famous Gringotts-themed wedding, and a discography.
