Academy Award-winning composer James Horner is making a return to the concert stage and is composing a double concerto for violin and cello to be performed by Norwegian violinist Mari Samuelsen and cellist Håkon Samuelsen. The duo has been working with the composer on the double concerto since last year even before Horner completed his score for this summer’s The Amazing Spider-Man. The concert is set to premiere in the fall of 2013. More details about the piece and the concert location will be posted on this site within the next couple of months. Apart from rearranging his Titanic score for this year’s 3D world premiere in London, the project marks Horner’s first concert work since A Forest Passage, which was commissioned by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra more than a decade ago. Horner has also composed a couple of concert pieces before his film career started to take off, including Spectral Shimmers in 1977.
James Horner to Compose Double Concerto for Violin and Cello
Posted: September 10, 2012 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music NewsTags: Double Concerto, Hakon Samuelsen, James Horner, Mari Samuelsen
Any idea on if there will be a recording made available? I’ve also searched high and low for the other pieces that you mentioned, “A Forest Passage” and “Spectral Shimmers”. I’ve always wanted to hear his concert music, but have never had the opportunity.
Thank you for your awesome website.
There’s an error in this posting, in that “A Forest Passage” was actually commissioned by the Cleveland Orchestra (in 2000, for the 25th anniversary of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreational Area, in Ohio), not the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as written. They did, however, perform the mentioned “Spectral Shimmers” at a festival in 1977.
It’d be great to get a recording. Someone of John Williams’ profile does for his new pieces, so we’ll have to see if it’ll happen in Horner’s case. I hope for at least a downloadable iTunes version even if they don’t want to opt for manufacturing costs on a physical product.
Right, thanks for pointing that out!
Probably too early to tell about a recording, but I’m guessing chances are good.
Okay, James, no Benjamin Britten, or classical composer lifts. No matter how obscure.