Since his sabbatical in 2013, we knew that James Horner had a new impetus: the projects are linked at a crazy speed, he took an interest in composing once again for the concert hall and enjoyed a newfound adoration.
After our previous article where we revealed that James Horner had already embarked on several projects, today new information confirms that his career took a new start. Indeed, Southpaw director Antoine Fuqua, with whom James Horner recorded his final film score scheduled for release on July 24 by Sony Classical, has told the NPR radio:
"I just found out a couple days ago his team (James Horner's team) flew out here to Baton Rouge, and they brought me all the music from Magnificent Seven – he had already wrote it for me based on the script. And he did it all off the script because he wanted to surprise me. And I thought it was a gift or something. And they all came out here and they said, "Antoine, James wrote the music for Magnificent Seven already", and it's just glorious. »
In addition, we knew confidentially that the budget for Southpaw was minimal. Today the director confirmed this information, indicating that James Horner fully funded writing and recording Southpaw:
"He called me on a Saturday, after he watched the movie, and I said I don't have any money because it wasn't a big budget movie. And he said to me, I love the movie. I love the father-daughter relationship. Don't worry about the money. I'm just going to do it. And he did it for nothing. He paid his crew out of his own pocket."
On April 29, 2015 during an interview with Tommy Pearson at the Royal Albert Hall, the composer had declared his admiration for Elmer Bernstein:
"I used to hang out at all the sessions (Jerry Goldsmith) as well as those for John Williams and Elmer Bernstein. They were Gods."
It is easy to imagine that the famous score by Elmer Bernstein composed for the film The Magnificent Seven back in 1960 could have made an impact on James Horner who was only 7 years old at the time.
The nascent friendship with Antoine Fuqua, the idea of being able to turn to this western music largely inspired by the film of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, had likely boosted the creativity of James Horner when reading the script.
Time will tell if the music of James Horner will be retained and recorded for the film by Antoine Fuqua, whose release is scheduled January 13, 2017.
Give it to John Debney to interpret and conduct!!!!
I am in shock! I became so emotional reading this! Such an amazing thing to look forward to. I agree with Andre, they should definitely allow someone like Bruce Broughton, David Newman or John Debney or one of Horner’s orchestrators to adapt the music for the picture. I am beyond thrilled at this news and I pray that Fuqua will use the score. This is truly amazing news and answers the plea for that one last joyous, orchestral Horner score!
I agree with the replies you have had so far. It is amazing, and wonderful to hear Mr. Fuqua speaking about James in such a sincere way. How lovely of James to have provided his own funding. There must be so much music, over the years, he hasn’t used that members of his team may be able to publish later on. It is very early yet as films are still to be released, such as 33, not forgetting the recorded Romeo and Juliet and possible Collage. I am looking forward very much to Southpaw as a gift for my birthday next week, but I know it will bring much sadness to me. I still can’t get over seeing him and feeling so elated at those two events and then the most tragic event of all four weeks ago. Keep up the good work JHFM, it’s marvellous what you are all doing. Pamela Read.