Medley Improv of Perennial Musical Devices of James Horner

[loopedrope]

your hands look like moon walking spiders :D

[timdb85]

@loopedrope hahaha you're right--I actually agree :)

[fecalacid55]

Can't forget The Rocketeer or Titanic though! :) But good job!

[JoeSnyderwalk]

I bought the Avatar score.

Holy. Fucking. WOW! This is probably my new favorite Horner score (well, after Glory, which is a masterpiece of unparalleled beauty and which Avatar, by the way, lifts quite a bit). I take back everything I said about Horner not packing enough of a punch into his action music...the cue "War" forced me to eat my own words, and I was very happy to do so! Damn, that choral work is just supremely awesome!

If JH doesn't take home the Oscar, there's no justice left.

[timdb85]

@JoeSnyderwalk :) I agree with all of that! Unfortunately, he didn't win the Golden Globe--the score for "Up" won... Let's hope "the academy" has better taste. :P

[JoeSnyderwalk]

Ah yes, James Horner, the only composer who self-references more than Hans Zimmer. That four-note turn...

I do like some of Horner's work, especially his 80s stuff (Khan, Krull, Willow) or his lighter piano-based scores (I find A Beautiful Mind to be Horner's best 2000s score). But he simply doesn't pack quite as much punch into his large-scale orchestral scores as my two favorite composers, Hans Zimmer and Alan Silvestri.

You are very talented, BTW! Great listening-out of Horner's style!

[timdb85]

Hey, thanks for the compliment and nice response! I think you may be surprised by the Avatar soundtrack in its epicness (although, the four-note turn comes into play, along with some Four Feathers material; other than that, it's actually pretty "original"). Also, I have to say that I find Horner to always be original; I think his "self-referencing" is really a way to just "build on" previous works, and to build on devices that are rock-solid.

[JoeSnyderwalk]

You're right! The aforementioned four-note turn is actually an extremely clever little device, as it can be used as a trill, a motif, an entire theme or as a way to change key (such as about a minute into "Elora Danan" in Willow). But the way it's pounded in some of Horner's later action scores (Enemy at the Gates and Troy come to mind) does tend to give me headaches.

As for Avatar, I'm licking my chops. I've vowed not to go looking for clips online - I want to experience it in the film.

[judasishmael]

@timdb85 I like to think that his is a song that is never complete. Reprised, reinvented, the renewed along side the brand new. An epic song that can lend indivituality to the films at hand, but also has a deep ancestry in and of itself.

ps-you sounded beautiful

[timdb85]

@judasishmael Hi, I completely agree. And it makes for much more interesting listening that way. And I think Horner almost feels an obligation (and rightly so) to continue this over-arching epic film score; it is something that makes him stand out, creating such a large work that I'm sure he'll be remembered for in the history of film music.

[jpckrd]

You spoke of going back and forth between the first and the second, but with the forth raised. Isn't this the same as the forth and fifth with nothing raised in another key (but never going to the tonic)?

[timdb85]

It might seem so on paper. But, to state it how I did suggests that the "first" I speak of is simply "felt" as the tonic. From either of those two chords (say, C major and D major) once the "feel" of the mode/key has been established, it would be impossible to pass off an immediate insertion of the tonic of the key where there would exist no accidentals (G major, of G major) as if it were the tonic in the actually-established mode/key (C).

[timdb85]

...The ear (at least most Western-ized ears) disallows it, based on the established context.

[heartofsnow23]

this is simply gorgeous, Horner is my fave composer, i simply adore his style, everything he does always has such an emotional intensity. Kills me every time.

Do you have any mp3's of your music? x

[timdb85]

Thank you for the compliment and I agree with your words about Horner's music. I have music on my myspace page, myspace com/timothyballan, and on a page of my personal (simple and unprofessional) website timothyballan 110mb com

Tim

[heartofsnow23]

thanks very much, i will check it out, x

[thewritingwriterof89]

No matter how many times Horner seems to re-use his signature elements, he has produced some truly classic music. I will always hold his music in high esteem.

Nice vid.

[AntiCitizenOne1]

you should do more videos of you playing

[timdb85]

I took your advice to heart and just made a new such one!

[slimjim4911]

Ah, I see. Well, feel free to post anytime. Any Hornerphile is a friend of mine.

[slimjim4911]

Simply beautiful. Horner is my favorite composer, too, and your piano transcription of his devices is nothing short of amazing. Do you post on Filmtracks on occasion? Your picture looks familiar.

[timdb85]

Thank you! And, yes I do post on filmtracks once in a while as Timmy B. I used to post far more often.

[slimjim4911]

Not a problem :-). And, I KNEW I recognized it. Why don't you post as much anymore?

[timdb85]

Just out of the habit I guess.

[Tedsuzan]

You're the real deal!...I'm a Randy Newman fan myself...Other than his stuf, some soundtracks I like are from Fight Club, Cemetary Man, and the second Matrx Movie...Check out my top 9 favorites if you'd like to hear some other great youtube musicians; they aren't performing scores, of course, but...

[niculeesgooz]

Turn the fan off behind you. Might get a better sound.

[timdb85]

If only I could go back in time and do that... :)

[Werelion2367]

Nice video. Did you ever listen to his Natty Gann score, its beautiful and very mysterious.

[timdb85]

Thank you. I do like that score; I don't listen to his 80's scores as much as I probably should, though.

[jeremyfrancis]

nice! i love horner's music for pretty much the same reasons you do. I'm surprised I have not heard or discovered you before... Ever been to the Horner Shrine (.com)?

I kind of compose the same way. Using Horner's "devices" as you call them. He's definitely got a beautiful and unique style.

[timdb85]

Thank you! We certainly seem to have similar musical sensibilities, from your web page.

[timdb85]

And yes, I am also timdb85 on that site!

[c84216]

Absolutely splendid work. You capture Horner's ideas within your own musical voice--you really make his ideas your own.

Absolutely fantastic. Keep up the great work!

[timdb85]

Thank you very much.