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Movies Music

Movie Composer James Horner Dies In Plane Crash 66

necro81 writes: James Horner, the Oscar-winning composer for the soundtracks of dozens of movies, died Monday while piloting his aircraft in California. Horner, who had a long collaboration with directors James Cameron and Ron Howard, was behind the music for major blockbusters like Avatar, Titanic, Braveheart, Apollo 13, and A Beautiful Mind. Other scores notable to the /. crowd include Star Trek II, Sneakers, Deep Impact, Aliens, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Willow, and *Batteries Not Included.
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Movie Composer James Horner Dies In Plane Crash

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  • by Anonymous Coward

    Deep Impact > Armageddon

  • wtf people (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @09:30AM (#49969857)

    The content link is a google search?

    • by necro81 ( 917438 )
      It's a developing story. By linking to a Google News search, readers will be able to see (what google's algorithms think are) the most important and relevant news articles related to the topic.

      Bonus: if it turns out to all be a hoax, the linked-to Google search will, months or years from now, reflect that.
      • Apparently google's algorithm thinks that the most relevant stories are the ones that say that he is "feared dead". There are a few on the front page that say he is dead, but most of them say he is feared dead.
    • The content link is a google search?

      It beats the usual link to a add-supported blog badly rehashing the rehash of a news story, that also manages to distort the facts so they fit the views of the editor.

  • Too soon? Am I going to hell for that remark? :(

  • Music for Krull [wikipedia.org] was also composed by Horner. Given the fantasy theme I think this is also "notable to the ./ crowd".

  • >> Other scores notable to the /. crowd include ...Willow...

    Um...what are you trying to say, exactly?

  • Can't believe they keep ignoring his first score. Sure it wasn't a popular movie but his soundtrack work there has some of the basic themes heard in Star Trek 2, 3 and Aliens.

    Also, some of his Aliens work that didn't make Aliens ended up in Die Hard (near the end where Karl shows up and gets gunned down)l

  • Gone too soon (Score:4, Interesting)

    by PhrostyMcByte ( 589271 ) <phrosty@gmail.com> on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @09:51AM (#49970025) Homepage

    I was very upset to hear this last night. My favorite composition from him was Casper's Lullaby [youtube.com] -- beautiful, haunting, and simple. They are what inspired me to learn piano in my 20s.

    • by shubus ( 1382007 )
      Horner will be missed by all lovers of film music. He was one of the very best Hollywood had to offer and left us with a vast array of memorable scores.
    • Michael's Gift To Karen [youtube.com] from Brainstorm one of my favorite sounds tracks as a kid. Like John Williams, it's not a coincidence that the movies he scored are the highest grossing of all time.
  • I generally don't pay much attention to the music (of course I'm aware it's there) when I'm watching a film.

    But seeing as he's done the tunes for a few that a I really like I might try digging out a few soundtracks, or watching with the picture off.

    • by Anonymous Coward

      A good film score does not distract from the film, it adds to it. You should only notice if it is not there. In film score class I watched Jaws without the music and it would not have been a good movie without the background music to set the mood.

    • >> Does anyone pay attention to the music in the films

      I certainly do. In fact, I often "watch" my favorite movies with the video OFF so I can just concentrate on the audio. If you've never tried this, a starter list might be: Once Upon a Time in the West (Morricone), 2001 (various classical), Conan the Barbarian (Poledouris) and The New World (one of Horner's scores).

    • by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      I generally don't pay much attention to the music (of course I'm aware it's there) when I'm watching a film.

      But seeing as he's done the tunes for a few that a I really like I might try digging out a few soundtracks, or watching with the picture off.

      You might think you don't, but you actually do. Even if you're not aware of it.

      Sound is actually a critical part of a motion picture - more so than the picture itself! Many studies have been conducted (and you can do it yourself, too) - with the sound muted (turn

    • I'm sure his music was competent but it wasn't memorable. The masters can make them both. I could hum the tune of Jurassic Park, Superman, or Indiana Jones any day, but Avatar, Krull, or Wrath of Khan? No, sorry - no recall. I have a handful of movie soundtracks in my collection and Horner isn't on any of the labels. Sad news, still.

  • ... working on a score for a Harrison Ford movie at the time.

    • by SeaFox ( 739806 )

      That's kinda ironic considering Horner died piloting his own plane and Harrison Ford recently had that minor crash in his own plane.

  • Now they'll have to get some guy to just recycle Horner's previous themes ... ;)
  • Very sad. He's composed some of my favorite film scores over the years, but the score that I always loved was for "The Rocketeer [youtube.com]" (Main Title). I asked my parents to buy it for me on cassette tape, but could never find it in a local store. (Oh pre-internet days!)

    RIP Mr. Horner.

  • by MobileTatsu-NJG ( 946591 ) on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @12:19PM (#49971171)

    I cannot even begin to measure how much impact this man's work has had on my life. Last night I went through Youtube and found a bunch of sound tracks he did and I just cannot believe how many distinctive themes he has burned into my mind. Listening to some of these I could almost see the movie playing in my mind. Truly iconic work.

    Farewell Mr. Horner.

  • Maybe I'm the only one that actually liked it

    • Riding the Fire Mares was always (since I was a kid) one of my favourite pieces by Horner. I am truly saddened by his passing and I'll always keep celebrating his life's work. Good bye Maestro.
  • I'm still in mourning over Jerry Goldsmith passing back in 2004.
  • My personal favorite James Horner soundtrack was that for the first Land Before Time movie. The movie itself was good, not great, but the music was absolutely amazing. The CD is well worth buying. He will be missed.
  • While my friends listened to "Smells Like Teen Spirit," I listened to the soundtrack to Glory.

  • A story on CNN [cnn.com] merely says he is feared dead, apparently because it is not known for certain that he was on the plane. (He owns it.)

    The Hollywood Reporter cites Horner's assistant Sylvia Patrycja, as confirmation of his death.

    Obviously this doesn't look good, but let's not say we're sure until we actually are sure.

  • May his soul rest in peace.

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