Of Music and Magic: Macro and Micro Narrative Threads in the Music of the Harry Potter Series

Abstract

The Harry Potter series is a cultural phenomenon and has received much recognition for its unique and captivating storytelling. Its film music, however, has rarely been explored, particularly in terms of its contribution to the narrative. This thesis explores the role of music in shaping the narrative of the Harry Potter series, introducing the concept of micro and macro narrative structures. A micro narrative, or individual film, serves a purpose to the macro narrative, the series as a whole sum of its parts. When directors have varying perspectives and interpretations of a series, crucial narrative elements such as tonality, mood, and music change over the course of the series, disrupting continuity. The Harry Potter series is therefore relevant in exploring the threads of music that combine micro and macro narrative contexts.