If asked you to name a composer who evokes the American spirit, you’d mention Aaron Copland, but could you come up with another? I could name a bunch — and all of them have worked in Hollywood.
There is a particular style of movie score that’s big and bold and sweeps you away. It sounds like America.
One of those scores is the one James Horner did for Rocketeer.
I have a long history with the movie.
Horner died in a plane crash this week. It’s telling that he escaped to the sky, a very American pursuit, which you can hear in his music. And you can certainly hear it in that title theme to Rocketeer, titled “Takeoff.”