Thank You, James Horner
by Me. @FilmScoreFans
My wife, sister-in-law, and I were enjoying my son's first trip to see Mickey. On our third day at the resort, we took our first of two trips to Hollywood Studios. This park's theme is centered around the movie making process. Love it. I was tweeting all of the fantastic film music being used in the parks.
My wife, sister-in-law, and I were enjoying my son's first trip to see Mickey. On our third day at the resort, we took our first of two trips to Hollywood Studios. This park's theme is centered around the movie making process. Love it. I was tweeting all of the fantastic film music being used in the parks.
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It is an odd experience, hearing what I consider to be classics blaring to 50,000 visitors... and having to wonder if anyone else even realizes that it is being played. Both of Horner's Trek scores and Willow were huge influences in my childhood listening. Stealing the Enterprise is probably still one of my favorite cues of all time. And here I am walking around Disney to my favorites. It might be the only place on Earth where I can have this experience. It's special, and Horner's music was at the center of it all.
My phone died a little after tweeting about Star Trek III on the bus. So, when I returned to our hotel late that night, I was surprised to see my phone notifying me that James Horner was trending on Twitter. I thought perhaps it was news about an upcoming score.
When I finally opened up the links, I was shocked. Initially, I really believed it was one of those horrible hoaxes/rumors that people spread around the internet. Then I found it confirmed by the major news agencies.
Tears.
It's odd to be so devastated by the death of a man I've never met. I know nothing of him personally. But I know what his music has meant to me. I like to think I know him through it. Horner's standard of borrowing from himself was always a blessing to his fans. Each time I came to one of his new scores, it felt like he and I were just continuing a conversation from the past. More than any other composer, he was familiar and new all at the same time. It was soothing to be reunited with each new release.
My phone died a little after tweeting about Star Trek III on the bus. So, when I returned to our hotel late that night, I was surprised to see my phone notifying me that James Horner was trending on Twitter. I thought perhaps it was news about an upcoming score.
When I finally opened up the links, I was shocked. Initially, I really believed it was one of those horrible hoaxes/rumors that people spread around the internet. Then I found it confirmed by the major news agencies.
Tears.
It's odd to be so devastated by the death of a man I've never met. I know nothing of him personally. But I know what his music has meant to me. I like to think I know him through it. Horner's standard of borrowing from himself was always a blessing to his fans. Each time I came to one of his new scores, it felt like he and I were just continuing a conversation from the past. More than any other composer, he was familiar and new all at the same time. It was soothing to be reunited with each new release.
The EXHILARATING Finale
Why not start at the ending?
Ransom (6:20), Star Trek, Rocketeer
The Danger Motif
It is perhaps the most well-known part of his vocabulary. Four simple notes that can mean nothing other than doom. It is the James Horner danger motif. And it comes directly from Rachmaninoff's first symphony. I have always called this "paying homage to" instead of "borrowing from." Composers do this all the time, and Horner's ear was amazing at applying lessons learned from masters of the past.
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