Harry Potter and the Dune Sound-Alike
As you may have gathered if you read my post “Take My Hand” a month ago, I am a fan of the soundtrack to the 1984 film Dune. I’m also a fan of the Harry Potter film soundtracks, and I think they’ve gotten progressively better as the films have proceeded. Indeed, after buying and listening the the soundtrack to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, I think it’s the best of the seven soundtracks. However, when I got to track 22, which is called the “Deathly Hallows,” about two-thirds of the way through the song, it sounded very, very recognizably familiar. Namely, there is a four-note progression that sounds just like the Main Title from Dune. Take a listen above. In the first clip, go to about the 2:29 mark for the four-note progression. Then, in the second clip, go to about the 1:49 mark for the progression. Do they sound the same to you as well?
I noticed this sequence during the film many times. I’m such a fan of the Dune soundtrack that it took me out of the film and I found it a bit annoying. When I got home from the theatre I did a Google search to see if anyone else noticed it, but I couldn’t find anything. I just watched a bit on TV now, and it sparked me to search again. I’m glad I’m not the only one who hears it.
Scott,
Thanks for the comment and for coming to our site. The music from Dune is some of my favorite music I’ve ever heard–both the stuff from Toto and the stuff from Brian Eno. I have another post on Tunesmate about “Take My Hand” from the Dune soundtrack. I absolutely love that piece.
When I posted this about the similarity between the Dune and Harry Potter pieces, a friend of mine who has a Masters degree in Music and teaches music in elementary school confirmed exactly what you and I both have heard. He noted that the voicing is a little different, but it’s the same progression.
Thanks again for the comment. 🙂
Ray
yes!!! im not a fan of dune, but my husband is making me watch it. all of a sudden i hear the same soundtrack as a harry potter tune!!! i just googled it now, and saw this post! ha! im so glad others noticed it too!!!!!
Thanks for the comment and for visiting Tunesmate. Glad you noticed the connection as well. 🙂
I’m not into Potter, and have only seen the first three films with my daughter. However, I immediately recognized a recurring theme in the Chamber of Secrets (the “scary” theme) as being pulled (note wise) from Dune. I googled it and here I am. 🙂
Thanks for the comment. I noticed it most with the seventh film, but I’ll have to go back and listen to the scores from the first few films as well to see the connections.
Old thread, I know, but the four note progression in the 7th movie I believe is more of a reference to the second film as was mentioned. The particular track is called “Meeting Tom Riddle” the end craciendo of that track is repeated for interactions with the memory Tom Riddle through the movie and it may make sense that John Williams may have drawn inspiration from the ominous main theme of Dune for that track because of the connection with Tom and the Basilisk (giant snake, kinda like Giant Worm)
I just saw Dune and was really surprised as well to hear this very recognisable tune from Harry Potter.
me too, i just watched dune for the first time and i thought this is very similar to the hp soundtrack, i was like “so hp soundtrack was based on this one for some reason????” but idk why i thought of the first couple of the harry potter movies no the deathly hallow one
I can hear my father watching Dune right now (I’ve never seen the film), and everytime this progression comes up I can only think of the similarity with the HP score