History Music / EnnioMorricone

* SingleStanzaSong: "Here's to You" from ''Sacco e Vanzetti'', which was later featured in the game ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4''.

Even if the name's unfamiliar, you'll have heard the man's music. No, seriously. Go to [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001553/ IMDB]]. Just perform a cursory scan of the ridiculously long list of films he's been attached to. You will have watched one of those films, if only by accident.

Even if the name's unfamiliar, you'll have heard the man's music.

No, seriously. Go to [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001553/ IMDB]]. Just perform a cursory scan of the ridiculously long list of films he's been attached to. You will have watched one of those films, if only by accident.

Ennio Morricone (10 November 1928 -- 6 July 2020) was an UsefulNotes/{{Ital|y}}ian composer, musician, and conductor. His prolific output stems from the fact that when it comes to genre he was not particularly picky (although he's best-known for his contribution to the SpaghettiWestern and many collaborations with Creator/SergioLeone). Rather than list people he's influenced, it would just be quicker to list people he hasn't. He's been sampled and covered by artists ranging from Music/JohnZorn to Music/JayZ. Everybody tends to form an orderly line in order to heap superlatives on him.

* BraggingThemeTune: His theme song to the Franchise/JamesBond knock-off ''OK Connery'' aka ''Film/OperationDouble007''.

* CultSoundtrack: His music for Creator/SergioLeone's {{spaghetti western}}s has sold millions of copies throughout the decades and is appreciated and recognized even by people who haven't seen the movies. And perhaps even truer to the spirit of this trope, as a prolific and indiscriminate composer, he also penned music for a lot of less popular and at times just plain bad movies. His music is often the only reason why those are still remembered.
* DescentIntoDarknessSong: His [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uowmo_tFH8s main theme]] for Creator/AdrianLyne's 1997 adaptation of ''Literature/{{Lolita}}'' starts off sounding like a standard soundtrack for a romantic drama, but the notes become increasingly downbeat and off-key as the music goes on. It does the job of contrasting Humbert's fantasies about Lolita with the twisted reality of their relationship.
* DroneOfDread: His score to ''Film/TheThing1982'' makes heavy use of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu8wT_pd4So minimalist drones]] to evoke apocalyptic dread.

* {{Ghostwriter}}: He claimed to have gotten his start in the business ghosting for other composers.

* OneWomanWail: He really loved doing this:

* RealMenLoveJesus: He was a devout Catholic, [[https://m.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/an-interview-with-ennio-morricone something he discussed in this interview]]. A friend also described him as a man [[https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/39963 "comforted by faith."]]
* RecycledSoundtrack: His iconic piece "Chi Mai" has been used several times:

* ''Film/TheBurbs'' (1988)

* AttentionDeficitCreatorDisorder: During the 1960's he would average over twenty film scores a year. Even though he did fewer scores each year since then, he still kept himself busy with conducting and concert projects (even in his eighties).

* DroneOfDread: His score to ''Film/TheThing1982'', which was co-composed by the film's director Creator/JohnCarpenter, makes heavy use of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu8wT_pd4So minimalist drones]] to evoke apocalyptic dread.

* AssociatedComposer: With Creator/SergioLeone, Creator/DarioArgento, PierPaoloPasolini, and Giuseppe Tornatore.

A lifelong UsefulNotes/{{Rome}} resident and classically trained musician, Morricone began studying at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia at age 12. Advised to study composition, Morricone also specialized in playing trumpet and supported himself by playing in a jazz band and working as an arranger for Italian radio and TV after he graduated. Morricone subsequently became a top studio arranger at Creator/RCARecords, working with such stars as Mario Lanza and Chet Baker. Well-versed in a variety of musical idioms from his RCA experience, Morricone began composing film scores in the early '60s. Though his first films were undistinguished, Morricone's arrangement of an American folk song intrigued director (and former schoolmate) Creator/SergioLeone. Leone hired Morricone and together they created a distinctive score to accompany Leone's different version of the Western, ''A Fistful of Dollars'' (1964). Rather than orchestral arrangements of Western standards à la John Ford -- budget strictures limited Morricone's access to a full orchestra regardless -- Morricone used gunshots, cracking whips, voices, Sicilian folk instruments, trumpets, and the new Fender electric guitar to punctuate and comically tweak the action, cluing in the audience to the taciturn man's ironic stance. Though sonically bizarre for a movie score, Morricone's music was viscerally true to Leone's vision. As memorable as Leone's close-ups, harsh violence, and black comedy, Morricone's work helped to expand the musical possibilities of film scoring.

Ennio Morricone (10 November 1928 -- 6 July 2020) was an Italian composer, musician, and conductor. His prolific output stems from the fact that when it comes to genre he was not particularly picky (although he's best-known for his contribution to the SpaghettiWestern and many collaborations with Creator/SergioLeone). Rather than list people he's influenced, it would just be quicker to list people he hasn't. He's been sampled and covered by artists ranging from Music/JohnZorn to Music/JayZ. Everybody tends to form an orderly line in order to heap superlatives on him.

* ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'' (2009). Morricone originally agreed to do the score, but had to bow out, due to conflicts with his workload; Creator/QuentinTarantino wound up filling the soundtrack with Morricone pieces, originally written for other films.

* ''Film/TheHatefulEight'' (2015). His first western score in 34 years, and one of the few times Quentin Tarantino has trusted one of his films to be scored with original music. Some of the unused tracks he did for ''Film/TheThing1982'' also show up. He won a Golden Globe and UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for it.

Astoundingly, Morricone had no issues scoring films and touring the world in his late 80s, even conducting his music live. Unfortunately, Morricone suffered a fall which broke his femur, and he died at age 91 shortly after being hospitalized.

Ennio Morricone (10 November 1928 -- 6 July 2020) was an Italian composer, musician, and conductor. His prolific output stems from the fact that when it comes to genre he's not particularly picky (although he's best-known for his contribution to the SpaghettiWestern and many collaborations with Creator/SergioLeone). Rather than list people he's influenced, it would just be quicker to list people he hasn't. He's been sampled and covered by artists ranging from Music/JohnZorn to Music/JayZ. Everybody tends to form an orderly line in order to heap superlatives on him.

A lifelong Rome resident and classically trained musician, Morricone began studying at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia at age 12. Advised to study composition, Morricone also specialized in playing trumpet and supported himself by playing in a jazz band and working as an arranger for Italian radio and TV after he graduated. Morricone subsequently became a top studio arranger at Creator/RCARecords, working with such stars as Mario Lanza and Chet Baker. Well-versed in a variety of musical idioms from his RCA experience, Morricone began composing film scores in the early '60s. Though his first films were undistinguished, Morricone's arrangement of an American folk song intrigued director (and former schoolmate) Creator/SergioLeone. Leone hired Morricone and together they created a distinctive score to accompany Leone's different version of the Western, ''A Fistful of Dollars'' (1964). Rather than orchestral arrangements of Western standards à la John Ford -- budget strictures limited Morricone's access to a full orchestra regardless -- Morricone used gunshots, cracking whips, voices, Sicilian folk instruments, trumpets, and the new Fender electric guitar to punctuate and comically tweak the action, cluing in the audience to the taciturn man's ironic stance. Though sonically bizarre for a movie score, Morricone's music was viscerally true to Leone's vision. As memorable as Leone's close-ups, harsh violence, and black comedy, Morricone's work helped to expand the musical possibilities of film scoring.

Astoundingly, Morricone lived to be 91, and had no issues scoring films and touring the world, even conducting his music live. Unfortunately, Morricone suffered a fall which broke his femur, and he died shortly after being hospitalized.

And what's even more astounding is that he's almost ''90'' and STILL scoring films.

* ''Film/AFistfulOfDynamite'' (1971). This is Ennio Morricone at his most "trippy" -- complete with an EarWorm about "Sean" which may or may not, cause you to try and tear your hair out...

* ''Film/TheHatefulEight'' (2015). His first western score in 34 years, and one of the few times Quentin Tarantino has trusted one of his films to be scored with original music. Some of the unused tracks he did for ''Film/TheThing'' also show up. He won a Golden Globe and UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for it.

His prolific output stems from the fact that when it comes to genre he's not particularly picky (although he's best-known for his contribution to the SpaghettiWestern and many collaborations with Creator/SergioLeone). Rather than list people he's influenced, it would just be quicker to list people he hasn't. He's been sampled and covered by artists ranging from Music/JohnZorn to Music/JayZ. Everybody tends to form an orderly line in order to heap superlatives on him.

Born in Rome in 1928, a lifelong Rome resident and classically trained musician, Morricone began studying at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia at age 12. Advised to study composition, Morricone also specialized in playing trumpet and supported himself by playing in a jazz band and working as an arranger for Italian radio and TV after he graduated. Morricone subsequently became a top studio arranger at Creator/RCARecords, working with such stars as Mario Lanza and Chet Baker. Well-versed in a variety of musical idioms from his RCA experience, Morricone began composing film scores in the early '60s. Though his first films were undistinguished, Morricone's arrangement of an American folk song intrigued director (and former schoolmate) Creator/SergioLeone. Leone hired Morricone and together they created a distinctive score to accompany Leone's different version of the Western, ''A Fistful of Dollars'' (1964). Rather than orchestral arrangements of Western standards à la John Ford -- budget strictures limited Morricone's access to a full orchestra regardless -- Morricone used gunshots, cracking whips, voices, Sicilian folk instruments, trumpets, and the new Fender electric guitar to punctuate and comically tweak the action, cluing in the audience to the taciturn man's ironic stance. Though sonically bizarre for a movie score, Morricone's music was viscerally true to Leone's vision. As memorable as Leone's close-ups, harsh violence, and black comedy, Morricone's work helped to expand the musical possibilities of film scoring.

* ''Film/TheHatefulEight'' (2015). His first western score in 34 years, and one of the few times Quentin Tarantino has trusted one of his films to be scored with original music. Some of the unused tracks he did for ''The Thing'' also show up. He won a Golden Globe and UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for it.

* ''Film/AFistfulOfDollars'' (1964)