… Then came two superb Academy Award nominated soundtracks - for Braveheart and Apollo 13 – all in all an exceptional achievement. As with all tales of political corruption, the story is dark and so is Horner’s music. Hmmm… never notice it before.I’m not familiar with all of Horner’s scores, but a personal favorite, not previously mentioned, is “The Spitfire Grill.”The merits of James Horner’s scores–or any film composers scores–can be debated ad nauseum.

The score soars in the main trumpet theme, while Horner captures the haunting loneliness of outer space and dashed dreams in the quiet moments.

Without a doubt, though, it is as frightening and as atmospheric as the film and shows off Horner's mastery of orchestral forces.Glory tells the tragic story of the first black regiment in America and Horner's score is one of his most brilliant. The album became the best-selling primarily orchestral soundtrack in history, making sells of over 27 million copies internationally.The movie "Alien" brought him his first Academy Award nomination. Composer James Horner working on the score to "Braveheart" at Abbey Road Studios in 1995.Yes, it seems odd to put the score for a children's film on this list, but Horner's score for Don Bluth's story of a Russian-Jewish immigrant mouse references everything from Using jungle percussion and Old West flourishes to make the world of While Horner's sci-fi scores are surprisingly earthy, his music for a movie about baseball set in a cornfield (how American is that?) It's not the catchiest score but it's monumental nonetheless - and Horner certainly threw in everything he has learned in 20 years at the top of his game. When they sing the wordless main title, you could almost believe you're hearing the voices of ghosts from the past who need to tell their story.Certainly his best-selling soundtrack (it's one of the best-selling albums of all time), They always sound nice, but there’s something about their over-simplicity that irks me. Any suggestions?No idea. 30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA The faux Renaissance trappings of the music don’t work particularly well, but the score has energy; a rousing, heroic main theme; and crackerjack action cues.Nuclear holocaust is usually portrayed on film as the horror it is. That’s why I like his score for The Land Before Time so much – it befits a kids’ film.And, yes, check out, The Spitfire Grill. It just missed being on the list.I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to the Horner canon. This is one of those films I hated on sight and, because of that, have trashed Horner’s score ever since. Billboard is part of MRC Media and Info, a division of MRC. Horner’s music is solid, and if one aspect does stand out, his scores successfully stand on their own merits sans film.Also, let’s not forget Horner’s Spitfire Grill…now that was one of his most original scores.Also, let’s not forget Horner’s Spitfire Grill…now that was one of his most original scores.It’s easy for us all to sit back and be a critic but lets not forget that creativity is subjective and therefore should never question the effort put forth with each of his works.

I also rate Aliens and Star Trek II, but Name of the Rose is atypical for him, and my favourite – which admittedly sounds a lot like Commando and Red Heat – is Gorky Park. All the scores on your list are great, I love them all, but my top 9 is definitely different:I liked Horner’s score to Where the River Runs Black, and also a tune from Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, called A Win, Finally!, but he’s not a favorite of mine.Scores like “Unlawful Entry”, “Jade” and “Ransom” are really awful. I just love his music so much and in a perfect world I would have had a lot more time devoted to the man’s music. I now publicly eat crow in my praise of the music, which I may have continued trashing if it weren’t for this post. He later completed his Ph.D. in Music Composition … ABOUT; Reviews. Civil War drums, trumpets, and piccolos are all present but its the choral and orchestral sweep that packs the real emotional punch.Braveheart is the story of William Wallace's quest to overthrow English rule of Scotland and Horner's score is filled with traditional Celtic and Scottish influences - whistles and pipes galore - paired with the modern orchestra. | Film Score Click Track I believe his music will live on for many many years to come.I was giddy recently when the trailer for ‘Super 8’ was released and the first few bars of ‘Cocoon’ (easily one of his best scores) were heard over the opening shots.Here are a few of his scores I will always come back to time and time again.I miss my 1980’s Horner! James Horner, Music Department: Titanic. The stirring score for Apollo 13 evokes both the heroism and sacrifice of the Apollo astronauts.

Cocoon marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between Horner and director Ron Howard. There are Irish pipes, whistles and fiddles a-plenty; but there are also unashamedly 1990s synthesiser sounds and ethereal vocals from Norwgian performer Sissel Kyrkjebø floating out over the icy north Atlantic.