James Horner Dies in Crash

relm1 · July 08, 2015, 01:17:04 AM

His death is a huge loss. He was one of two of the great melodists left. Now, it's really just John Williams and he's an old man. Truly a shame that Horner died while he was experiencing a bit of a renaissance under such an awful accident.

Bogey · July 08, 2015, 03:36:23 AM

Quote from: relm1 on July 08, 2015, 01:17:04 AM
His death is a huge loss. He was one of two of the great melodists left. Now, it's really just John Williams and he's an old man. Truly a shame that Horner died while he was experiencing a bit of a renaissance under such an awful accident.

Excellent post and point.

Karl Henning · July 08, 2015, 04:08:23 AM

Quote from: relm1 on July 08, 2015, 01:17:04 AM
His death is a huge loss. He was one of two of the great melodists left.

As someone with at least a degree of melodic talent, I resent this remark.

And its implication: Oh, dear! Melody is forever dying out of the world!

relm1 · July 08, 2015, 06:51:16 AM

Quote from: karlhenning on July 08, 2015, 04:08:23 AM
As someone with at least a degree of melodic talent, I resent this remark.

And its implication: Oh, dear! Melody is forever dying out of the world!

Well, I'm a melodist too but these guys had a profound melodic talent that encapsulated the dramatic/emotional need of a character or scene so perfectly and immediately.

Karl Henning · July 08, 2015, 07:00:33 AM

By all means, mourn the loss, and praise his talents. The musical art did not die even with JS Bach, of course.

relm1 · July 08, 2015, 07:04:14 AM

Quote from: karlhenning on July 08, 2015, 07:00:33 AM
By all means, mourn the loss, and praise his talents. The musical art did not die even with JS Bach, of course.

...True...but musical art was in good hands with those revolutionaries and talent to come and was not a dying art at that time. My opinion.

Karl Henning · July 08, 2015, 07:47:55 AM

Opinion noted. You do understand, though, that telling a composer that "music is a dying art in our time" is a hostile opinion?

relm1 · July 08, 2015, 08:23:43 AM

Quote from: karlhenning on July 08, 2015, 07:47:55 AM
Opinion noted. You do understand, though, that telling a composer that "music is a dying art in our time" is a hostile opinion?

Obviously we are hitting each others buttons on this topic but I note your remark is a misstatement of what I said so if you are going to quote me, please do so accurately. What I said was "melody" is a dying art form especially in film. Melody and music are not equal. Horner was one of the great melodists and there are few around who still care about that especially in movies. It is just not that important to film makers.

Karl Henning · July 08, 2015, 08:32:07 AM

Thanks for the clarification; sorry if I have misstated.

relm1 · July 08, 2015, 08:33:16 AM

Quote from: karlhenning on July 08, 2015, 08:32:07 AM
Thanks for the clarification; sorry if I have misstated.

Now I feel like an ass for being overly sensitive so my apologies.

Karl Henning · July 08, 2015, 08:34:30 AM

It's all right!

Monsieur Croche · January 10, 2016, 09:16:26 PM

'Melody,' so often really thought about more as 'catchytune' than having anything to do with good or great composing, whatever the genre.

Well, Paul McCartney, master melodist, is still with us, and so are Beat Furrer, John Adams, Georg Friedrich Haas, and many many others. Apollo be praised.

But, there is an up side to this loss; the tens of thousands of decent tune-smiths of this world have all "moved up one."