James Horner
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The AVATAR score for me was kind of THE LION KING in space, full of that ethnic Kitsch that I dislike so much.
Let’s not forget the large amounts of traditional, orchestral action music. But yes, the “ethnic kitch” element is where our roads diverge. Can’t get enough of that.
In 3 days, it will be 10 years since James Horner died.
Would be great if we used this time to reminisce a bit.
OK, I indulge you.
How did you discover Horner?
It was a two punch in the early 1980s. I saw WOLFEN (on VHS with a few friends) and was very impressed with the music by this for me “new” name. A friend of mine had just bought the LP for STAR TREK II (a movie I’d soon see in the theater), which was also composed by this “James Horner” guy. I thought both scores were very good. The music was exciting, fresh… Horner had a clear, distinct voice.
So I had to get STAR TREK II, and I also got soon after BRAINSTORM and GORKY PARK (on LP.) I looked for WOLFEN, but could not find it (that was before the Internet could have told me that no such soundtrack release existed then).What’s your general take on his work?
I very much like his work. Horner is an interesting case; no other film composer I know has been accused more of recycling his own material or “lifting” from others, yet, and that is the decisive factor for me, his music always sounds like Horner. He incorporates elements and makes them his own. Famous example: WILLOW. Did he “lift” or “steal” from Schumann’s Symphony No. 3? I don’t know, fact is, there is definitely a melodic similarity. However, I didn’t even notice that before the Internet years ago pointed it out. Despite the fact that I knew of course Schumann’s symphony. Because the way he used the material, it sounds like Horner, not like Schumann. I have no trouble with composers recycling material, melodies or whatever, from others or themselves. Classical composers do this all the time. Does the opening of ALIENS sound like Khachaturian Adagio from Gayaneh was incorporated? Sure, but does ALIENS sound like Gayaneh? No, not at all. And even the way Horner used the Adagio puts quite a spin on it… the percussion and echoplex makes it sound dark and threatening.
How do you rank him among your favourite composers?
I’m not big on “ranking”… he is definitely a favorite composer of mine. When he started out, I was very excited about his music. In later years, he became more mellow and “romantic”, I think I tend to prefer some of his more aggressive, or experimental stuff, though I certainly admit that I love the epic sweep he brought to LEGENDS OF THE FALL and BRAVEHEART… two more favorites of mine. ALIENS is for me one of my favorite Horner scores, it’s a bit like a musical nightmare.
Do you remember where you were when you got the news about his death?
Yes, I remember very well where I was and what I did. I was in my car on my way to work. I just turned on the news on the radio when they said something about a plane crash and that James Horner may have been in that plane. It was really like in the movies…. you turn on the radio and it immediately starts spouting the important news you are interested in. I didn’t catch the beginning of the news, so I thought: “What? Plane crash? James Horner?” At first I thought he may have been a passenger in a commercial flight. Then over the day I realized the sad news that James Horner had died in a plane crash. Was a sad day, I always enjoyed his music.
And – of course – more top 5 lists are welcome.
Did one. Could do another one. 🙂
I don’t know his output well enough to set up a list of top scores, nor am I into making lists, but I recently bought Star Trek 2 and 3 and look forward to checking those out.
Maybe worth mentioning, that I found Horner’s concert work tha I listened to rather boring.
I think, the only Horner score left that I would aim to get (at a reasonable price) would be Brainstorm.
What I have
Krull (Expanded)
Aliens (Deluxe)
Willow
Casper
Braveheart
Legends of the Fall
Sneakers
Patriot Games
Clear and Present Danger
Glory
Windtalkers
A Beautiful Mind
Iris
Titanic
The Mask of Zorro
The Legend of ZorroAnd some for me there seems to be nothing essential missing.
About the Star Trek scores, I am not a fan of Horner’s main theme, neither of Goldsmith’s I must confess. Still I have all the Goldsmith albums. And I hardly listen. Somehow, ìn my youth I used to be a huge science fiction fan and watched everything that I could get. And after all I would call the Star Trek movies from the 80s and 90s the least interesting of it all, including the music. With the exception of First Contact. That one I liked, movie and music.
Anyway, even though Horner’s Star Trek scores didn’t manage to wake my interest, I am curious on your impression from them, Sigbjørn.
By the way, I never considered Horner good at sequel scores to his own scores because these are even more repetetive than his usual scores. But Clear and Present Danger is a noble exception in my view.
I do like Horner’s Star Trek (and Goldsmith’s theme ;-)) but I find his Star Trek 2 (I have the Retrograde/FSM edition) superior to Star Trek 3 (only know the old album).
Horner’s STAR TREK II score is on CD a more exciting, interesting score than STAR TREK III if you only have the original album of III.
My view of III changed when I got the expanded edition. Whereas STAR TREK II was a great album in any incarnation, (I think it’s even better expanded, but it’s just the same a bit fleshed out), the OST of III shortchanged the score. In the expanded edition, it becomes a worthy counterpart. I like them about the same, perhaps even with a slight edge for STAR TREK III.Anyway, even though Horner’s Star Trek scores didn’t manage to wake my interest, I am curious on your impression from them, Sigbjørn.
Well, after reading your “glowing” review I’ll probably keep them shrinkwrapped. 😉
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