Apollo 13: "The Launch” by James Horner (Score Reduction and Analysis) In-Depth cue analysis: jameshorner-fil... A full score reduction of the Launch scene from Apollo 13. I own nothing. Enjoy!
I saw that in the cinema. One of the most uplifting and awe inspiring movie moments I ever experienced. The score and the movie are perfectly cut together, Horner at the peak of his powers.
David, it amazes me that no matter how many times I see this scene, I still get that incredible euphoria of achievement. I think James Horner was a master at not just writing memorable themes, but working with directors who first and foremost, put emphasis on the story, not the special effects. As simple as this theme is, I still enjoy the hell out of it.
Interesting comparing Horner's scores to William's score reductions - Horner's seem to be a bit less orchestrally ornate, and complex but still carry the same emotional impact.
Excellent work! It might be pointed out that the theme heard at 8:33 is the same as the Colonial Marines theme from Combat Drop in Aliens (which also plays in similar orchestration - strings and woodwinds).
Thanks for this, as always. Not a snob at all, but man this is just so cookie cutter and simple. Some of the harmony/melody/bass movements are basically Titanic II. Same Instrumentation, same melody goes up, bass line goes down idea, same kind of sampled voices. Again we have the launching a human achievement situation, just with added marching snare drums, to add military precision to the list of ingredients. It works of course.
On another note the Aspiration Theme (at 6:18) sounds remarkably similar to the Jimmy Webb song ALL I NEED TO KNOW: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IaBjY-zm0sI.html Specifically the lyric "TOO EASILY. TOO EASILY TO LET IT SHOW". Gotta wonder if this song was rolling around James head while composing this great scene.
You ought to do analyses for the soundtrack to *Titanic* , a film directed by James Cameron. The same composer who composed for Apollo 13 also composed for *Titanic* .
Same. I never see anyone comment on that part, but it seems to perfectly capture that scene. The majestic Earth in the background with the awesomeness of humans being able to conquer all frontiers. Horner was a genius.
It could be. BUT...look at the orchestration. The cellos are scored to put importance on a single quarter note on the 3/4, followed by the two quarter notes of the 2/4 measure. In a 5/4 measure, it's usually strong emphasis with either ONE two three FOUR five, or ONE two THREE four five. In this section, though, if Horner orchestrated this as a 5/4, we would hear ONE two three FOUR FIVE. The fifth beat being accented is not common, so he changes it to a 3/4 + 2/4 feel. It's scored as 3/4 + 2/4 because the cellos play: ONE two three (3/4) ONE TWO (2/4). Am I making any sense? lol.
which is itself a variation of one of Jerry Goldsmith's motifs for Capricorn One. He also references it in Clear and Present Danger, and maybe another score or two. Similarly, the motif heard at 9:25 is from Glory, used again in Mighty Joe Young and maybe elsewhere. I know reuse can be polarizing but as a fan, it's hard to resist when it's so damn GOOD!
I think it was a genius move to cut to that reaction shot right after the liftoff shot. Brilliant performance by the actress as well. Cheesy, but never fails to create an emotional response in me.
Well, it was certainly portrayed that way in the movie, but I think in real life it was that guy "John," the engineer who said they needed to shut everything down who was the real hero.
Horner’s music is just so damn kitschy and simplistic, like he just finished College level Theory II and hasn’t heard of tasteful chromaticism, or even chromaticism at all.
October Phoenix over the years I’ve probably composed or began hundreds of pieces. I’m 21, and I have about 5-7 solid pieces down for massive orchestras, concert bands, and chamber ensembles alike. I mimick the styles of Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and post-modern and any hybrid of these. I use Finale. In other words, back the fuck off. Even if I composed nothing ever, my opinion would not be invalidated. That’s the same line of bullshit saying you can’t criticize movies if you’re not a director.
The point is, the man has credentials, you don't. And as an afterthought, if it's not about criticizing things that you are not professionally involved in, as you stated, then why are you listing all the things that you've composed then?
