JAMES HORNER COLLECTION Paperback – Import, 1 December 2016

This book features a great selection of Horner's music (although there is slight overlap with the more recent "Ultimate James Horner Film Score Collection" book, which ALSO features "My Heart Will Go On" (standard), "The Ludlows", "Somewhere Out There" and "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". However, if you can overlook that, you can appreciate the diverse range of music scores Horner composed for the movies. He is by no means MY favourite composer, however I can see why he was so popular with a lot of movie enthusiasts. Nestling amongst the favourite scores such as the multi-award winning "My Heart Will Go On" from THAT movie, there are some lesser-known pieces such as "The Ludlows" from "Legends of the Fall" and the themes from two very different movies, "Cocoon" and "Courage Under Fire". All have earned their place in this book of 20 scores. For the Horner fan, it is a must. My only regret is that excellent score from "Sneakers" is not featured in this book.

I purchased this book because I couldn't find anywhere else to buy the sheet music for Casper's Lullaby. I'm so glad I did. I have been disappointed by so many books because the sheet music sounds very little like the actual music. This is not the case here, of course. I had forgotten how beautiful the piece from Legends of the Fall is. I am an experienced musician/note reader (background in cello, clarinet, guitar, and vocals) but I am not a great pianist. At a glance, I didn't find any of the pieces to be overwhelming. Yes, there are some tricky signatures here and there, but that's the music! For the first time in a long time, I feel inspired to sit down and practice to be fluid in many of the selections in this book. I'm so happy with my purchase.

I got this book mainly for two songs - the one from Casper and the one from The Land Before Time. I took piano lessons as a kid and played clarinet in middle and high school, but for the next 15 years my piano sat at my parents' house while I went to college, moved around, etc. until I finally got a place where I could bring it and begin playing again. So I can read music and learn to play songs, but I'm rusty and by no means an advanced musician. This books is the perfect level for that. It helps of course that I know how the songs are supposed to sound already. Enjoying playing again with these compositions. Once I get the two I most like down, I am looking forward to playing the others in the book that I'm familiar with.

I have admired James Horner for decades and his catalog of musical scores are worthy of any accolades given. My piano prowess doesn't give his work justice, but I love to play his works nontheless especially The Ludlows. It has to be one of the most beautiful melodies ever composed. These are not simple, but they are beautiful.

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