> Horner has stolen the theme. The similarities are obvious. Holst or Parry,
> I really dont care. That doesn't make him less than a thief.

I wrote a violin sonata last year with this awesome subject (motif) in b minor that was premiered on front of a small audience of my peers and professors in November 2006. This theme was completely original, easy to manipulate contrapuntally, and it helped me win one of my two composition awards for my final year of studies. Imagine how distraught I was when this theme appeared in Hans Zimmer's score to The Simpsons movie. As a composer and appreciator of music, I just have to accept that sometimes things turn out to be a COMPLETE COINCIDENCE and to get upset over it is a waste of time.

Does Horner rip off other composers in addition to himself? Yes. Did he rip of Holst? Probably. Do other composers do this? Definitely. Could it just be a coincidence? Perhaps. Who cares? If it turns out Holst ripped off some folk tune (he did) is it any less great music? No, so why should Horner's be?

I have over 200 scores (95% are pre-2000) and Braveheart is my favourite of all time. I don't care how similar it is to Holst, Glory, The Perfect Storm, Bicentennial Man, Scottish traditional music, etc...