tharpdevenport 4 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 "Willow":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PaezvZR-YY"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAgx8f2wQEs"The Journey of Natty Gann":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iC1bwAogfc"Something Wicked This Way Comes": "Titanic": "The Rocketeet": "Rascals and Robbers":youtube.com/watch?v=XXsv9Fax_XI (poor quality TV rip done before Film Score Monthly released it not too long ago)
Luke Skywalker 2,386 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 James, this is Alexander.Alexander, this is James.*Handshake*damn i was going to post the same! I like Aliens, Willow, the two Zorro movies, Avatar. and of course the land before time.
Maurizio 6,913 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Star Trek IIKrullBrainstormJourney of Natty GannThat's all you need to introduce yourself to James Horner.
tharpdevenport 4 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Now, if you hear bits of classical music plagarized in his scores, rest assured it's purely coincidental, according to him. Never mind that's it's often note-for-note and practically Xeroxing the orchestration. You're just hearing things.Oh, and I hope you like the four note danger motif, 'cause you'll be hearing that a few times.....
Jay 46,245 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Surprised to see Natty Gann mentioned so many times. I'll have to give that one another listen.I highly recommend Aliens, but you gotta get the Varese Deluxe Edition
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,391 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Jason I disagree. While Aliens is a good score, it's really not great if you wanna introduce someone to Horner. Too many non-thematic stinger and suspense music.My first 2 were TWOK and Willow. Braveheart is good too, and Titanic.
Jay 46,245 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Jason I disagree. While Aliens is a good score, it's really not great if you wanna introduce someone to Horner. Too many non-thematic stinger and suspense music.So? It's still great music. I'd recommend Alien to someone starting to get into Goldsmith as well, even though thats not a typical Goldsmith score. It's just great music.
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,391 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 It's not really great music. It's a good score, but that's it.Certainly not top drawer Horner.
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,391 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 It's not the best introduction to Horner!
King Mark 3,975 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 KrullThe Wrath of KhanSpitfire GrillCocoonRocketeerThe Land Before TimeProject XAn American Tail
Incanus 5,890 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Some good scores to start with would be in my opinionRocketeerWillowApollo 13Brave HeartLegends of the FallTitanicJourney of Natty Gann (yes it is excellent)Star Trek IIGloryKrullA very basic lineup of Horner's bigger hits.
Thor 9,362 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 As you may have gathered by now, this will always be influenced by the poster's subjective taste. If I were to make a list of some 'must-haves' from a SLIGHTLY more objective viewpoint (although these things will never be entirely objective, of course), I would say you'd need:STAR TREK II and IIIBRAINSTORMALIENSKRULL or WILLOW (the former is more horror-oriented than the latter)BRAVEHEARTTITANICAVATARThen I also have some others that may not be quite as 'essential', but that are still personal favourites of mine:ROCKETEERLEGENDS OF THE FALLAPOLLO 13MASK OF ZORROBOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMASBe careful not to overdo it on the big, rambunctious, adventure things, as he's often brilliant in the softer, calmer material as well.
Sharkissimo 1,978 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 It's not really great music. It's a good score, but that's it.Nope. ALIEN is great music, and one of the finest film scores ever written, despite being butchered by Scott and Rawlings in the editing suite.
tharpdevenport 4 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 I don't think that score would make it on a list of the 50 greatest film scores ever written. Heck, I don't think I could fit it into 75.
KK 3,313 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 The Land Before TimeLegends of the FallGlory (may not be the most original theme, but its beautiful)Apollo 13Star Trek IIWillowKrullMask of Zorro/Legend of ZorroThose are the big must haves you could start off with.I personally think Aliens ranks among his weaker scores (although its still good), and Titanic is overrated in my opinion. So I wouldn't rank those amongst his best.If you want a summary of all of Horner's trademark 'Hornerisms' and stylistic choices, then just listen to Avatar (if you're already familiar with Horner, you'll hear almost every major idea of his career put into that score, just shown differently through unique instrumentation). Its a good score (despite its lack of originality) and its one the best packages of of his previous compositional ideas that he's put forth. If I were to make a list of Hornerisms, it could go on forever, so I'll save that for another time Horner is one of my favourite composers, but if you're very picky on originality, you might not be so fond of some of his scores (I say some because he's had some great scores that are very original as well).- KK
Sharkissimo 1,978 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 I don't think that score would make it on a list of the 50 greatest film scores ever written. Heck, I don't think I could fit it into 75.You're right, because most film score lists are complete and utter bollocks.
Koray Savas 2,260 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 I'm pretty sure Alien was high up on AFI's best original scores list.
King Mark 3,975 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 I'm the only one with Project X on the list?
Jay 46,245 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 The earlier Horners I can remember owning were Star Trek 2 & 3, Willow, Aliens, and The Rocketeer.I remember having to import Willow cause it was already OOP in the US at the time. It and Krull were two of the first soundtrack CDs I bought to films I hadn't seen, going on the word of others that they were similar to other scores of his I liked
crocodile 9,724 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 I've never seen Krull, but it's a fun album.Karol
Incanus 5,890 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 I've never seen Krull, but it's a fun album.KarolYou should never see it. It might ruin the score, so awful it is.I never want to see Krull.A correct decision.
Charlie Brigden 7 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 Start at the beginning: BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS, WOLFEN and KHAN. Then maybe something like HONEY! I SHRUNK THE KIDS.
tharpdevenport 4 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 I remember seeing a sealed copy of "Willow" for like $11.00, but I skipped out, because of money issues, and I thought for sure we'd get a limited edition one day. That day has not come to pass you stupid Daikini's!
indy4 160 Posted January 4, 2012 Posted January 4, 2012 If you want to become familiar with James Horner, I suggest the following works:Rachaminov's 1st SymphonyHolst's The Planets (specifically "Jupiter")Copland's Our Town...Seriously speaking, my favorite Horner scores are Star Trek II, Titanic, Avatar, Field of Dreams, and A Beautiful Mind.
Jilal 681 Posted January 4, 2012 Author Posted January 4, 2012 Now, if you hear bits of classical music plagarized in his scores, rest assured it's purely coincidental, according to him. Never mind that's it's often note-for-note and practically Xeroxing the orchestration. You're just hearing things.Oh, and I hope you like the four note danger motif, 'cause you'll be hearing that a few times.....
Xander Harris 9,677 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 I hear he can be a real dick in person.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfBrvokaQ6k
tharpdevenport 4 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 And if you ever get a chance to meet him in person, he loves to be called "Jamie".
Quintus 6,499 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Hmm, Aliens is probably my most listened to Horner score after Titanic. Fantastic music and supremely effective as score - it's one of Horner's finest (made back when his balls were full of spunk) and a great introduction to the man's work.
OneBuckFilms 517 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Some of his smaller scores, such as Searching for Bobby Fischer and The Spitfire Grill are nice also.
Naïve Old Fart 13,026 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Start at the top, with "Brainstorm" ("Michael's Gift To Karen" is absolutely beautiful!), and "The Name Of The Rose". You really don't need to go any further, but should you wish to, I recommend "ST II", "ST III", "Coccoon", (avoid "Coccoon: The Return" at all costs!!!) "Aliens", "The Rocketeer", and "Gorky Park".
Incanus 5,890 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Start at the top, with "Brainstorm" ("Michael's Gift To Karen" is absolutely beautiful!), and "The Name Of The Rose".Name of the Rose? That is like saying Images is a good place to start with Williams since it represents the classic JW sound and style. But I understand that it is no good patronizing new listeners. Give them taste of the hard core and obscure stuff instead of main stream fluff.
Matt C 605 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 I'm surprised more people aren't recommending Something Wicked This Way Comes. The main theme and end titles are just wonderful.As for Krull, it's a cheesy movie but the score makes it enjoyable. Especially "Ride of the Firemares."
Jilal 681 Posted January 24, 2012 Author Posted January 24, 2012 Can anyone post an example of the danger motif?
Jay 46,245 Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 It's the very first thing you hear in "Suprise Attack" from Star Trek 2.
Rachael Foley 10,164 Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 nahlahnanah bahm!here is Suprise Attack Alexander:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR2v62mfdX4
Jay 46,245 Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 We also have an entire thread about it here:http://www.jwfan.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10591
crocodile 9,724 Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 So anybody got a favourite statement? Is that even possible?Karol
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