I got back from vacation last night and am settling into the drudgery of work again. I had some scores waiting for me when I arrived home and thought I would be playing them as I worked today. Instead I reached for "Titanic" and am playing it as I write this.
I am not a maudlin person by nature. However as I I listen to each note and nuance of this score, I cannot help but ache at the beauty and essence of that which is the music of James Horner. After reading all that was written here last week by those who knew first hand of the joy that composing and performing brought him, not only am I sad at we have lost but it further saddens me that a man who so loved his life's profession can no longer pursue that passion.
I hope I do not appear selfish. That is not my intent.
Never had such a sad reaction over a celebrities death than I have his. I was never into vocalist so in comparison he was my "Elvis Presley" or "Michale Jackson".
Like many others I lost interest in his work over the last decade, along with my other favorites from the 70's thru the 90's. I just figured they were tired, lazy, or burnt out of ideas. Not until recently I've learned the Hollywood clone machine was forcing our favorite composers to write down, and crush their creativity and skill.
His passing though sad is also ironic, because Wolf Totem made me realize all the potential he still had in him.
While I don't really like risky hobbies like flying, I respect the fact he left this Earth doing exactly what he loved to do. For all we know he was composing in his mind, while flying high in the sky.
While I don't really like risky hobbies like flying, I respect the fact he left this Earth doing exactly what he loved to do. For all we know he was composing in his mind, while flying high in the sky.
What a beautiful observation solium. After I wrote this, I actually thought that he probably loved flying just as much, maybe more. How sad that he is unable to pursue both.
There is a wonderful scene in The Man Without A Face when, as a reward for the kid passing the test, the title character/tutor puts him on a small private plane for a euphoric sky trek along the Maine coastline. Mr. H composed a lovely, refreshing piece that evoked "soaring" both in flight and spirit. It had to have sprung from a heart that knew.
There is a wonderful scene in The Man Without A Face when, as a reward for the kid passing the test, the title character/tutor puts him on a small private plane for a euphoric sky trek along the Maine coastline. Mr. H composed a lovely, refreshing piece that evoked "soaring" both in flight and spirit. It had to have sprung from a heart that knew.
Yes! "Flying" - a stunning cue, my favorite from that score (which itself is pretty strong) and something I've returned to in listening over the years. Delightful performance from the LSO on this - love the first more gentle statement of the theme from 1:17-1:41 emphasizing viola, then from 1:43-2:11 it is given a much fuller treatment where it soars/blossoms with violin section. Listen closely for a gentle acoustic guitar in the mix there, too.
I, too, hope that Horner felt this same soaring, exuberant feeling each time he flew as what he was able to so well convey through music.
