You probably heard the music of James Horner, because this incredible wizard from the world of music created soundtracks for the highest grossing films in the world. Scores for high-budget paintings such as Avatar, Titanic, Braveheart - this is exclusively his merit.
His music is consciously and subconsciously known and loved by millions of people around the globe, although many of them do not even know his name ...
Biography
The future genius composer James Roy Horner was born on August 14, 1953 in the creative family of Joan and Harry. James's father, Harry Horner, worked in film production, creating mock-ups of scenes, directing individual scenes, and also acting as director and financial manager of some films.
In part, this influenced the future of his very young son, James, who from a young age expressed a desire to learn to play the keyboard. He was sent to London's Royal College of Music, where he graduated with honors in piano and composing.
Later, James Horner, whose music will shock the world in the future, defends his doctorate at the University of Southern California, and also temporarily stays there to teach academic theory and the art of arranging.
During his teaching career, James Horner tries to write academic works, but quickly becomes disillusioned with traditional forms of music and begins to actively experiment with the synthesis of various musical genres, building the main melody of the work in a classical style, as well as adding elements of folk and electronic music.
Film Composer Career
James Horner never consciously planned to become a composer. Looking for work in the late 70s, he decided to write several works for films at the request of students of the American Film Institute and began to create music for trial and low-budget films. His first composing success was the musical series for the movie Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, released in 1982.
After this talented composer, the creative community noticed, and Horner began to receive advantageous offers from representatives of the Hollywood bohemia.
James Horner's films, whose music fascinated people, are still relevant both in terms of the storyline and in terms of combining what is happening in the frame with the soundtrack.
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In 1986, James Cameron invites Horner to the creative team working on the film Aliens. Thanks to his non-standard vision and ability to synthesize incompatible sounds, the composer creates a unique soundtrack, and in 1997 Cameron already understands who will have to write music for his new film “Titanic”. Despite the fact that Cameron did not expect commercial success from the film and was afraid of a complete failure in showing the picture in movie theaters, attention was paid to every detail, including music. Horner presented the director with the perfect sound canvas, noted in 1998 by the Oscar for "Best Music". In addition to this award, the film became the leader of distribution and ceded this place only in 2009 to Avatar of the same Cameron.
Characteristically, James Horner also wrote music for Avatar, attracting linguists and music theorists to collaborate to create a complete cultural code for the races and peoples of the Cameron universe.
However, in spite of everything, “Titanic” and the music of James Horner, which he created for the film, became an incredible anthem of true love for all time.
Style
James Horner's composer style was based on a synthesis of traditional academic orchestral music with folk and electronic instruments. The composer widely used whistle, bagpipe, harp, flute, MOOG synthesizers in his works, combining the musical harmonies of these instruments with orchestral passages.
The style he received became incredibly popular; he inspired many talented composers around the world, having become widespread both as a musical genre and as a special school for writing soundtracks in film production.
Personal life
James Horner led a rather secluded life in California with his family consisting of a wife and two daughters. The composer did not like secular society, almost did not appear at premiere shows, conferences and festivals, preferring work or relaxation in the family circle over all this.
Death
On June 22, 2015, James Horner was returning home on his personal plane. The 61-year-old composer was an avid amateur, he had his own fleet of five cars.
The plane crashed, as a result of which the legendary composer died. The cause of death has not been reliably established.
Debris was found above the Los Padros National Reserve.