Busy composer known for Titanic and Star Trek II and III.
Story by Matt Cummings
Television and film composers don't always get the credit they deserve. Sure, there's a Best Score section at each year's self-congratulatory Oscars; but in many ways music serves as a film's heartbeat, setting the tone that the DP, Cinematographer, or Director establish with their visuals. One of those 'heartbeats' left us tragically on Monday, as we learned of the death of Composer James Horner. The 61 year-old was killed when the single-engine plane he was piloting crashed 60 miles outside of Santa Barbara.
Horner composed some of Hollywood's most popular films over the last 30 years - over 100 in all - from Braveheart to Avatar, to Troy and 2012's The Amazing Spider-man. He crafted the memorable score for 1986's Aliens, giving it a militaristic beat which helped elevate that film into every geek's 'Best Ever' list. He took musical themes behind Jerry Goldmsith's Star Trek: The Motion Picture and The Original Series into new directions, granting us new music for Khan's attack as well as a touching theme as Captain Kirk confronted Spock's impending death at the end of ST: II.
His score for Apollo 13 made the launch of a giant rocket an even more impressive feat, and it was 1987's Field of Dreams that helped strengthen the story of baseball's impact on American society, with Horner delivering a powerful but relatively simple score. Average moviegoers will most likely remember his music for Titanic, featuring the theme My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. That sold more than 27 million copies.
Born on August 14, 1953 in Los Angeles, Horner was the son of production designer Harry Horner (The Hustler). His formative years were spent in London, attending the Royal College of Music, but he later returned to The States to seek a bachelor's in music from USC and later his post-grad at UCLA. After starting on smaller films like Roger Corman's Lady in Red and Battle Beyond the Stars, he quickly moved into much larger projects including Star Trek. "I had no idea who Jerry Goldsmith or John Williams were before I did The Hand (1981). I'm sure that I was influenced by Goldsmith's large orchestral scores when I started out, and that was because the people who employed me wanted that kind of sound. I wasn't in a position to say, 'Go to Hell!'"
The 80's were very good for Horner, as he also composed scores for 48 Hrs, Cocoon, and Willow. He eventually won two Oscars as well as song and score awards for James Cameron's Titanic, and took home four Grammys including 1989's Glory.
Lately, Horner had walked away from doing bigger projects, but he was still incredibly busy. At the time of his death, he had completed the Jake Gyllenhaal/Rachel McAdams Southpaw, as well as Jean-Jacques Annaud's Wolf Totem and The 33. It is unclear whether these last two scores were actually finished.
Horner's unique style of pushing trumpets early and often in his music made his 'resume' instantly recognizable to those who listen to and appreciate soundtracks. But he also used strings and piano (perhaps his favorite instrument) to great effect, moving fans to place him among the world's finest which include John Williams, John Barry, and Jerry Goldsmith.
James Horner is survived by his wife Sarah.
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