James Horner is one of the best-known names in the world of film music. His best-selling and critically acclaimed score for Titanic touched the hearts of millions worldwide, and his scores for Apollo 13, Braveheart, Field of Dreams, Aliens, and most recently A Beautiful Mind featuring vocals from Sony artist Charlotte Church, have all been nominated for Academy Awards. After scoring over 100 films, Horner continues to be one of the most sought-after composers in the world. His early interest in avant-garde musical techniques helped define his personal style, which often blends traditional harmonies and a conventional orchestral palette with the texture of ethnic instruments and even electronic sounds. "Films speak to me right away," he commented. "The atmosphere, the overall mood dictates the kind of orchestra I will use. Watching a film the first few times, I make a charcoal sketch; later I put the colors in." His recent score for the Miramax Film Iris, starring Judi Dench and Kate Winslet, is in stores now and features violin solos from the Grammy-winning violin virtuoso Joshua Bell
