by Cookie N Screen
The film industry has lost a mastermind.
The magician musician James Horner, who crafted some of the biggest scores in the cinema, unfortunately passed away yesterday during a plane crash. The news of the death rippled across the industry as we came to terms with someone taken from us too soon. At the age of 61, James Horner left a legacy but it was still shocking for us to learn of his critical accident.
To honour the man who enhanced our films with his stunning music, we have a look back over an astonishing career.
The film industry has lost a mastermind.
The magician musician James Horner, who crafted some of the biggest scores in the cinema, unfortunately passed away yesterday during a plane crash. The news of the death rippled across the industry as we came to terms with someone taken from us too soon. At the age of 61, James Horner left a legacy but it was still shocking for us to learn of his critical accident.
To honour the man who enhanced our films with his stunning music, we have a look back over an astonishing career.
The music bug had caught him early on when he started playing the piano at the age of five. Flitting between London and Arizona, Horner attended prestigious schools to hone in his crafts such as the Royal College of Music and the University of Southern California. Working on several scoring projects with the American Film Institute, Horner would show his talent for putting music and emotion into different media projects - a skill that would progress into an amazing career.
His first work was the 1979 drama The Lady In Red and he’d continue to strive for composer greatness through the likes of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn and Star Trek II: The Search of Spock, showcasing his contributions to science fiction early on and thrilling geeks everywhere. Throughout the eighties, nineties and now, he’d continue this trend of sci-fi music with Aliens, Krull, Batteries’ Not Included and Cocoon.
Horner also captured our childhood with greatness. He’d score a whole heap of movie music that would be the soundtrack to our lives, especially those growing up in the nineties. From Jumanji to The Land Before Time, Mighty Joe Young to Casper, Pagemaster to How The Grinch Stole Christmas, the music is glorious - full of hope and danger, everything that encompasses childhood and filling our little hearts with tones of glee. As the crescendo rises, the strings collide and Horner’s powerful way of catching the poignancy in the films. His work on An American Tail, especially with Somewhere Out There, was a critical and commercial hit as he win a Grammy for Song of the Year and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture of Television. He’d be nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award too.
His first work was the 1979 drama The Lady In Red and he’d continue to strive for composer greatness through the likes of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn and Star Trek II: The Search of Spock, showcasing his contributions to science fiction early on and thrilling geeks everywhere. Throughout the eighties, nineties and now, he’d continue this trend of sci-fi music with Aliens, Krull, Batteries’ Not Included and Cocoon.
Horner also captured our childhood with greatness. He’d score a whole heap of movie music that would be the soundtrack to our lives, especially those growing up in the nineties. From Jumanji to The Land Before Time, Mighty Joe Young to Casper, Pagemaster to How The Grinch Stole Christmas, the music is glorious - full of hope and danger, everything that encompasses childhood and filling our little hearts with tones of glee. As the crescendo rises, the strings collide and Horner’s powerful way of catching the poignancy in the films. His work on An American Tail, especially with Somewhere Out There, was a critical and commercial hit as he win a Grammy for Song of the Year and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture of Television. He’d be nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award too.
Furthermore, Horner would become one of the greats in dramatic films too. Field of Dreams, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Enemy At The Gates and more, Horner would tell stories and emotions with his provocative and emotional compositions. Of course, his triumphant success was with the blockbuster Titanic. Working alongside friend James Cameron, his work on one of the biggest films of all time would, Horner would score two Oscars for My Heart Will Go On and the overall score. I can guarantee that just the mention of Titanic has the melodies swimming through your mind. He managed to capture the tragedy and the love with a seeming ease that will echo in generations after his death. He’d also continue working with Cameron in Avatar, earning more nominations for I See You.
In later years, he’d score the likes of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, The Amazing Spider-Man and Apocalypto. His final film score would be Southpaw, which comes out later this year. As tributes pour out for this powerhouse of a composer who was taken from us far too soon and under tragic circumstances, his body of work is testament to how truly remarkable James Horner was. For over thirty years, he has inspired us aurally and that is something that’ll echo through the ages.
Rest in Peace, James Horner. And thank you for the music.
Rest in Peace, James Horner. And thank you for the music.
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