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Ennio Morricone, Requiescat in Pace
Musician, composer, and soundtrack master Ennio Morricone died Monday at the age of 91 in his beloved hometown of Rome. He was in the hospital to treat a broken femur and passed away during the night.
After years spent in Italian radio and TV, Morricone introduced himself to the wider world with his iconic soundtracks for Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns. The low-budget flicks didn’t have the budget for a full orchestra, so Morricone employed whipcracks, gunshots, whistling, the newfangled electric guitar.
Critics sniffed at the Fistful of Dollars trilogy as campy, overly violent, with a “flat dead soundtrack.” Audiences disagreed and, over the decades, critics began heralding Leone’s and Morricone’s work as indispensable classics.
Morricone was amazingly prolific across his life, composing more than 400 scores and 100 classical works, along with a rigorous schedule of live performances. Tributes to “the maestro” poured in.
“The first note I ever heard of his grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let me go. I never decided to become a film composer. Ennio and Sergio Leone did that for me, letting me experience their magic. Ennio taught me that the simplest, purest and honest melody is the hardest to write.” — Film composer Hans Zimmer
“We will always remember, with infinite gratitude, the artistic genius of the Maestro Ennio Morricone. It made us dream, feel excited, reflect, writing memorable notes that will remain indelible in the history of music and cinema.” — Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte
“With great sadness, we say goodbye to a big master of cinema. His music will keep playing in our memories.” — Antonio Banderas
“He was just wonderful to work with. He was the kindest, he was the kindest man, and very, very collaborative. Did not show him the film [The Thing]. We weren’t done yet, so I just talked to him about it. Discussed it with him. And the film came later.” — Director John Carpenter
“Only a composer like Ennio Morricone could bring the beauty, culture and the lingering romance of Italy to your senses in the pre-virtual reality and pre-internet era… All we can do is celebrate the master’s work and learn!” — Film composer A.R. Rahman
“He could make an average movie into a must see, a good movie into art, and a great movie into legend. He hasn’t been off my stereo my entire life. What a legacy of work he leaves behind. RIP.” — Director Edgar Wright
“The day we first played ‘The Ecstasy of Gold’ as our new intro in 1983 it was magic! It has become a part of our blood flow, deep breathing, fist bumping, prayers and band huddle pre-show ritual ever since. I have sang that melody thousands of times to warm up my throat before hitting the stage. Thank you Ennio for pumping us up, being a big part of our inspiration, and a bonding between band, crew, and fan. I will forever think of you as part of the Metallica family.” — James Hetfield of Metallica
My personal favorite, perhaps because of the title, is his work for 1986 film The Mission with the appropriately heart-rending “Gabriel’s Oboe.”
Rest in peace, Maestro.
Published in General
Yup. I have all his soundtracks.
The Dollars Trilogy would not be the same without Morricone’s score. Love those movies.
Gabriel’s Oboe is simply one of the great modern masterpieces.
Gabriel’s Oboe took my breath away from the moment I heard it. It still makes me tear up!
Here is Morricone conducting the orchestral version of Gabriel’s Oboe and the theme of “The Mission” in concert. One of the most moving pieces of music ever written.
My dad had so many scores of his on LP. He used to like to wake us up for chores on Saturdays by blasting The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I don’t really remember a “first time” hearing his music — because it feels like it has always and ever been there, in my head and in my heart.
I don’t need to hear it. It is seared in my memory.
A great composer. Italian orchestra music of the 20th century is him and Respighi, Side note:
Two years ago I was sitting in the yard of a friend’s house in England, having an ale before we went to the evening’s concert in the ruins of a medieval church, as is typical in the Sceptered Isle, I guess. My friend is a pianist and composer; he had a bassist and a marvelous singer and a percussionist, and they were going to perform some show tunes from my friend’s musicals. I asked the percussionist what he did when he wasn’t doing this, and he said he travelled with Hans Zimmer as his percussionist, doing concerts and soundtracks. Short guy, broad round face, big grin.
Hans Zummer’s percussionist. Best job in the world.
If you ever were curious how some of the sounds are made for The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, this performance by The Danish National Symphony Orchestra sheds some light.
For a Few Dollars More
Sarah Brightman badgered him into writing an arrangement of the Gabriel’s Oboe theme to sing as a single song. Took a year of convincing, but he finally agreed. Someone wrote some lyrics, and we have the incomparable Nella Fantasia – (Our Dream).
Russell Watson does the first version I heard – one of my favorite songs since.