Independently of what we may think about him as a composer, of his sometimes excessive self-mimicry, or of his, also sometimes, excessive tendency to absorb outside sounds and modes, it is not less true that James Horner has been transformed into one of the capital figures on the actual film music panorama, and that his name is already written with golden letters on the Film History. Far away is his first work for the Corman Factory with Up from the Dephts (1979), and on his close to 100 movies it is difficult not to find the record edition of any of them; when is not a revised and expanded edition, like in the excellent Krull (1983), it is private editions of forgotten works which recover part of his filmography -see the editions of Wolfen (1981) and Deadly Blessing (1981), or Uncommon Valor (1983) as a token-, or editions of doubtful origin, like it happens with Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983). Now, in a mysterious romanian (!!!!) edition comes a double with two of his more representative works of his intimate facet, that which unveil, undoubtely, the best of his hability and genius as composer. Testament (1983), the first on the record and on time, is distributed on eleven cues of extreme simplicity, supported on a theme announced by a solo horn, and developed with an enviable elegance and solidity. Now forgotten, this sensible movie about the horrors of nuclear war seen through family eyes, and one of the scarce jobs of director Lynne Littman, was benefit by the terrific and now recovered Horner score, about which we recommended the wise study published on issue 16/17/18 of The Horner Letter. In Country (1989) also speaks about the war effects on people, this time with Vietnam as background. Horner uses all his emotional resorts, with certain military touches so of his taste, as well a more overloaded and elaborate orchestration than the presented on Testament. Regrettably, on his time, the wretched commercial career of Norman Jewison's film sunk in the ostracism this stupendous music now recovered. The record sound is acceptable, better on In Country, and the cover and cue titles are written on romanian. Now we must wish the recuperation of some of his works still pending of edition, and we allow us to suggest two titles: Volunteers (1985) and I Love You to Death (1990). A.L.
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VIVO MUSIC VMCD607 / 56'