Most fans found out about the news through his assistant, Sylvia Patrycia, who said the following on her Facebook page on Monday.
“We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart and unbelievable talent. He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road.”
James Horner was a two time Academy Award winner, a six-time Grammy Award winner. and an IFMCA Award winner. He is survived by his wife Sara and two daughters Emily and Becky.
James Horner was one of the very first composers I fell in love with along with two other greats‚ John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith. Horner had a knack for finding the emotional core of a film like no other composer in film music history. While themes came easy to the man, he was blessed with a gift of creating unique musical textures and colours like we had never heard before. He had a singular voice and sadly that voice is now gone.
On this very special four and a half hour program I’ll be sharing my love of Horner’s music with you by presenting music from 16 of my favourite Horner scores including STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, BRAINSTORM, FIELD OF DREAMS, BRAVEHEART, THE MASK OF ZORRO and many more.
I want to thank Cinematic Sound Radio composer, David Coscnia, for writing a short tribute piece to James Horner, which you will hear at the top of each part of the show. You can listen to the entire piece below.
After the program I highly recommend you take a few minutes and read the following tributes to James Horner written by some of film music’s most respected critics and journalists.
- James Horner: An Appreciation by John Burlingame
- James Horner 1953-2015: “There is no goodbye… only love” by James Southall
- On The Score with James Horner by Daniel Schweiger
- James Horner (1953-2015) by Jon Broxton
And with that… enjoy the show and please share you thoughts about James Horner below in the comments section.
PLAYLIST (PART I) • STAR TREK: II – THE WRATH OF KHAN • KRULL • BRAINSTORM
PLAYLIST (PART II) • ALIENS • FIELD OF DREAMS • SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER
PLAYLIST (PART III) • THE ROCKETEER • LEGENDS OF THE FALL • BRAVEHEART
PLAYLIST (PART IV) • TITANIC • THE SPITFIRE GRILL • THE MASK OF ZORRO • PROJECT X • ONCE UPON A FOREST • THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES • THE HORSEMAN
Many thanx Erik for the excellent James Horner memorial show. Will be missed. Taken from us too soon..
A truly beautiful show. Great music selections. Bravo!
Eric, definitely right up there with your tribute to Charles Gerhardt, but I think even more personal. Not just a collection of music from his films, but truly a journey with James Horner, and your narrative comments are so sincere and poignant as well. Thank You.
Eric,
Wow that was an incredible tribute to Mr Horner and his talent. All of the scores that you highlighted are amongst my favourites ( particularly Field of Dreams and A Beautiful Mind ). We have been blessed to have his presence and his legacy as a composer lives on in his scores. Thankyou both for the effort that you have put in for this amazing tribute for this talented composer who will be sorely missed
Thanks for putting this together Erik. I have always loved his ‘pastoral’ or Americana scores (Cocoon, Natty Gann, Field of Dreams, Bobby Fischer, Man Without A Face, Spitfire Grill). When I hear this music my heart aches.
Eric
Wonderful tributes you have done here. Listening to part 2 now. The Field of Dreams score always gets to me. Something about that score touches my soul. I’m sure the Maestro would love to hear that. As artists, thats what we are here for.
I can´t believe that he´s gone. His loss makes me very very sad. His music is a very close part of my life since the 80ths. Until to my end someday I will hear and love his music forever. In March and few days befor his tragic dead I was happy about the great WOLF TOTEM Score and the fantastic PAS DE DEUX concert piece. That he will compose Avatar 2,3 and 4 makes me jump up and now he´s gone. Alle the best for his famaly and friends. His music is unique. Nobody composed music like Horner. His music will go on and on and will hopefully play more in mpvie music concerts.
André from germany at Rhein and Mosel
I am unbelievably and unforgivably tardy in listening to this amazing tribute you’ve put together, Erik. Very nice work for a great artist.
Apart from John Williams, James Horner is the first film composer I ever paid attention to by name. I was 10 years old in 1982, and when HBO was running “Star Trek II,” I watched and was immediately taken with the music. I loved the way the End Credits piece switches from a smooth and flowing tempo to a more martial one a few minutes before the end – not sure why, but it really struck my 5th-grade self as something very special. Since then, I’ve only ever had great appreciation for Horner’s music. Thank you for showcasing so much of it here.
Thank you,thank you,thank you.I only discovered you recently,but I have never seen any better not just film music site,but music site,period. James Horner,what can I say? His music will keep his spirit alive here on earth.
Wow, Pete! WOW!!!!! Thank you very much for your post. I’m humbled! I don’t know how I can follow up a comment like that. 😉 I’m honoured that you have discovered the site and are enjoying the programming.