Ennio Morricone was an incredible composer.

He is without question the composer who's music I've listened to the most. His collaborations with Sergio Leone are legendary. The scores he composed were truly spectacular. They elevated the movies during which they were played. A lot of movie's nowadays have forgettable music, which is a shame.

Morricone's scores were varied and ranged from very cinematic, such as his famous Ecstasy of Gold to slower paced, such as the theme for A Fistful of Dynamite. He was also a master when it came to creating music that built tension. The standoff at the end of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a scene where the tension is constantly building for a long period of time until it finally reaches its crescendo. It is one of the most epic scenes of all time. Additionally, the opening scene from The Thing immediately grabs your attention, in great part due to the eerie score (I still cannot believe that it was nominated for a Razzie Award). It really feels otherworldly.

His music was also sometimes directly linked to the story. A diegetic instrument that was in the movie would be used in the music. Examples of that would be the harmonica in Once Upon a Time in the West and the music box in For a Few Dollars More. I still remember the first time I saw the ending of OUATITW when you see how Harmonica got his harmonica. It is such a powerful and sad scene.

One aspect of his work that is unique and works very well is his frequent inclusion of background vocals. The combination of a large orchestra with hums/singing of melodies created a style which is instantly recognizable.

I was able to see The Good, the Bad and the Ugly on a cinema screen and would love to see one of his scores performed live with the movie playing at the same time.

Submitted May 18, 2021 at 09:19AM by Schnitzel129 https://ift.tt/3orVaMF