Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone was born in Rome in 1928. From his early years his interest in all things musical was enormous. It was natural that he should study music and eventually he took up the trumpet and studied compositions before embarking on a career as a composer of music for radio, television and stage. He graduated in music from the Conservatorio di Santo Cecilia, and spent the Fifties writing classical and experimental pieces. By the time he was in his twenties he was writing songs and arrangements for Gianni Morandi, later arranging Paul Anka's Italian hit "Ogni Volta".
At the age of thirty three, in 1961, he commenced work on the first, of what was to be many Italian film scores. Within three years he was hired by the genius film director Sergio Leone, to compose music for "A Fistful Of Dollars" (1964). The film was actually shot in Spain and revolutionised cinema's most hoary genre. The music altered forever our ideas of what a soundtrack should do. Previously even the good ones (Dimitri Tiompkin, Bernard Hermann, Leonard Berstein), had puncuated and dramatised the story; Morricone's instead projected the individual personalities that populated the film as well as colouring the landscapes and locations in which the action took place. Ennio's natural musical inventiveness led him to create a score from "Shouts, Cries and Whistles"... Spaghetti Western music had been born.
During the next few years they worked together, with films like "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly", "For A Few Dollars More" and "Once Upon A Time In The West", Morricone's style -fractured bursts of Flamenco, gnawing orchestrations and primitive, often hilarious, vocal arrangements - was honed to the point where it was both a huge cult and immensely commercial, a fantastic double triumph. Sergio and Ennio formed a musical alliance that would last until Leone's death in 1989.
Ennio Morricone is no stranger to the world of recordings, in 1981 he scored an enormous success with his music to the popular BBC TV series "Chi Mai" (The Life And Times of David Lloyd George). Once again his simple yet effective treatment of his music, with the spacious single use of the string section, caught the imagination of the British public and it became an instant success on the showing of the television series.
In the 1970's he started to compose for American films, such as "Exorcist II" (1977), "Days Of Heaven" (1978), "The Untouchables" (1987). His greatest success, however, was to come in 1986 when he was nominated for an Oscar for his stunning work on "The Mission". The score won a "Golden Globe" and a "BAFTA Film Award", but failed to get the Oscar it deserved. Six years later he recieved a further Oscar nomination for his music for "Bugsy". To date he has scored the music to well over 200 films. It is his spaghetti western soundscapes that will however, always remain the first thing people will remember when Morricone's name is mentioned.
He has, uniquely, changed not just his own chosen field (the film/TV soundtrack) but most other areas of popular music as well. Take film; before Morricone, people bought and listened to the scores of musicals; after him, the soundtrack itself became not just an adjunct (however excellent and crucial) to a film, but a work of art in itself. He has been described as "one of the greatest writers of film music of this generation". Perhaps that says it all, for the world of films and television would have surely been all the poorer were it not for the great musical talents of Ennio Morricone.
Included below are hundreds of film titles Morricone worked on.
Click on a decade to see the films from that period:Selected Discography
2000+
Gli Intoccabile (2001)
Malèna (2000)
Mission to Mars (2000)
La Tour Secrète (2000)
Vatel (2000)1990's
Canone Inverso (1999)
Esther (1999)
The Legend of 1900 (1998)
Bulworth (1998)
The Phantom of the Opera (1998)
Ultimo (1998)
Cartoni Animati (1997)
La Casa Bruciata (1997)
Con Rabbia E Con Amore (1997)
David (1997)
In Fondo Al Cuore (1997)
Lolita (1997)
Naissance Des Stéréoscopages (1997)
Solomon (1997)
U Turn (1997)
Samson and Delilah (1996)
La Lupa (1996)
Vite Strozzate (1996)
Moses (1996)
The Stendhal Syndrome (1996)
Nostromo (1996)
Pereira Declares (1996)
I Magi Randagi (1996)
Marianna Ucrìa (1996)
Ninfa Plebea (1996)
The Star Maker (1995)
Pasolini, Un Delitto Italiano (1995)
Joseph (1995)
L'Uomo Proiettile (1995)
Disclosure (1994)
Jacob (1994)
Love Affair (1994)
A Pure Formality (1994)
Abraham (1994)
La Piovra 7 (1994)
Genesis: The Creation and the Flood (1994)
Night and the Moment, The (1994)
Wolf (1994)
La Scorta (1993)
In the Line of Fire (1993)
Il Lungo Silenzio (1993)
Jonah Who Lived in the Whale (1993)
La Villa del Venerdì (1992)
Beyond Justice (1992)
City of Joy (1992)
Rapture of Deceit (1992)
Ilona und Kurti (1991)
La Domenica Specialmente (1991)
Mio Caro Dottor Gräsler (1991)
Only One Survived (1990)
Stanno Tutti Bene (1990)
Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair (1990)
Dimenticare Palermo (1990)
Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990)
Crossing the Line (1990)
Hamlet (1990)
Money (1990)
State of Grace (1990)
Tempo Di Uccidere (1990)
Tre Colonne In Cronaca (1990)1980's
Casualties of War (1989)
The Secret of the Sahara (1989)
Fat Man and Little Boy (1989)
Rampage (1988)
C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988)
Camillo Castiglioni oder die Moral der Haifische (1988)
Il Cuore di Mamma (1988)
Frantic (1988)
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
A Time of Destiny (1988)
The Untouchables (1987)
Il Giorno Prima (1987)
Mosca Addio (1987)
Gli Occhiali D'oro (1987)
Quartiere (1987)
The Mission (1986)
C.A.T. Squad (1986)
La Gabbia (1986)
La Venexiana (1986)
Il Pentito (1985)
Red Sonja (1985)
Partir, Revenir (1985)
Via Mala (1985)
La Cage Aux Folles 3 (1985)
Kommando Leopard (1985)
Dario Argento's World of Horror (1985)
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
La Piovra (1984)
Le Voleurs de la Nuit (1984)
Code Name: Wild Geese (1984)
Hundra (1984)
Wer war Edgar Allan? (1984)
Sahara (1983)
Le Marginal (1983)
The Scarlet and the Black (1983)
Le Ruffian (1983)
La Chiave (1983)
Copkiller (1983)
A Time to Die (1983)
Maja Plisetskaja (1982)
The Thing (1982)
Blood Link (1982)
White Dog (1982)
Marco Polo (1982)
Il Bandito Dagli Occhi Azzurri (1982)
Nana (1982)
El Tesoro de las Cuatro Coronas (1982)
La Tragedia di un Uomo Ridicolo (1982)
La Disubbidienza (1981)
Occhio Alla Penna (1981)
La Dame Aux Camélias (1981)
Bianco Rosso e Verdone (1981)
Butterfly (1981)
Espion, Lève-toi (1981)
Le Professionnel (1981)
So Fine (1981)
La Cage Aux Folles II (1980)
L'Oeil (1980)
The Island (1980)
Nouvelles Rencontres (1980)
La Banquière (1980)
Bugie Bianche (1980)
The Fantastic World of M.C. Escher (1980)
Professione Figlio (1980)
Si Salvi Chi Vuole (1980)
Stark System (1980)
Uomini e No (1980)
Windows (1980)1970's
La Luna (1979)
Bloodline (1979)
Le Buone Notizie (1979)
Dedicato Al Mare Egeo (1979)
Il Giocattolo (1979)
I Comme Icare (1979)
Il Ladrone (1979)
Ogro (1979)
Il Prato (1979)
Un Sacco Bello (1979)
Ten to Survive (1979)
L'Umanoide (1979)
Viaggio con Anita (1979)
Autostop Rosso Sangue (1978)
La Cage Aux Folles (1978)
The Chosen (1978)
Così Come Sei (1978)
Days of Heaven (1978)
Forza Italia! (1978)
L'Immoralità (1978)
Orca (1977)
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Corleone (1977)
Il Gatto (1977)
Il Mostro (1977)
Il Prefetto di Ferro (1977)
Le Ricain (1977)
Stato Interessante (1977)
L'Eredità Ferramonti (1976)
1900 (1976)
Attenti al Buffone (1976)
Il Deserto dei Tartari (1976)
Divina Creatura (1976)
la Donna Della Domenica (1976)
Drammi Gotichi (1976)
Per Amore (1976)
René la Canne (1976)
Der Richter und sein Henker (1976)
San Babila ore 20 un Delitto Inutile (1976)
Todo Modo (1976)
Una Vita Venduta (1976)
The Genius (1975)
Moses the Lawgiver (1975)
Peur Sur la Ville (1975)
Der Dritte Grad (1975)
Gente di Rispetto (1975)
The Human Factor (1975)
Leonor (1975)
Macchie Solari (1975)
Per le Antiche Scale (1975)
Salò o le 120 Giornate di Sodoma (1975)
The Devil Is a Woman (1975)
Storie di Vita e Malavita (1975)
L'Ultimo Treno Della Notte (1975)
Il Fiore Delle Mille e una Notte (1974)
L'Anticristo (1974)
La Cugina (1974)
Fatti Di Gente Per Bene (1974)
Almost Human (1980)
The Last Days of Mussolini (1974)
Le Secret (1974)
Spasmo (1974)
Le Trio Infernal, Le (1974)
My Name Is Nobody (1974)
Ci Risiamo Vero Provvidenza? (1973)
Allonsanfan (1973)
Che C'entriamo Noi Con La Rivoluzione? (1973)
Giordano Bruno (1973)
Libera, My Love (1973)
La Proprietà Non È Più Un Furto (1973)
Quando L'amore È Sensualità (1973)
Rappresaglia (1973)
Revolver (1973)
Sepolta Viva (1973)
La Vita A Volte È Molto Dura Vero Provvidenza? (1972)
Un Uomo da Rispettare (1972)
La Tarantola dal Ventre Nero (1972)
Le Tueur (1972), Bluebeard (1972)
Le Casse (1972), Sans Mobile Apparent (1972)
What Have They Done to Solange? (1972)
Anche Se Volessi Lavorare, Che Faccio? (1972)
L'Attentat (1972)
Chi l'ha vista morire (1972)
La Cosa Buffa (1972)
Crescete e Moltiplicatevi (1972)
D'amore si Muore (1972)
Les Deux Saisons de la Vie (1972)
Il Diavolo nel Cervello (1972)
Fiorina la Vacca (1972)
Giù la Testa (1972)
Imputazione Di Omicidio Per Uno Studente (1972)
Bandera Bandits (1972)
Lui per Lei (1972)
Il Maestro e Margherita (1972)
Le Moine (1972)
Perché? (1972)
Quando La Preda È L'uomo (1972)
Questa Specie D'amore (1972)
Le Serpent (1972)
L'Ultimo Uomo di Sara (1972)
L'Uomo e la Magia (1972)
La Violenza: Quinto Potere (1972)
Don't Turn the Other Cheek (1972)
Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971)
La Tenda Rossa (1971)
The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971)
The Working Class Goes to Heaven (1971)
Correva L'anno Di Grazia 1870 (1971)
Forza 'G' (1971)
Giornata Nera Per L'ariete (1971)
Il Giorno Del Giudizio (1971)
Incontro (1971)
L'Istruttoria e Chiusa Dimentichi (1971)
Una Lucertola Con La Pelle Di Donna (1971)
Maddalena (1971)
Malastrana (1971)
Mio Caro Assassino (1971)
Gli Occhi Freddi Della Paura (1971)
Oceano (1971)
Quando Le Donne Persero La Coda (1971)
The Canterbury Tales (1971)
Sacco and Vanzetti (1971)
Tre Nel Mille (1971)
Veruschka (1971)
La Foto Proibite Di Una Signora Per Bene (1970)
Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970)
La Moglie Più Bella (1970)
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
'Tis a Pity She's a Whore (1970)
La Califfa (1970)
I Cannibali (1970)
Violent City (1970)
Il Decameron (1970)
Giochi Particolari (1970)
Hornet's Nest (1970)
Metello (1970)
Quando Le Donne Avevano La Coda (1970)
Uccidete Il Vitello Grasso E Arrostitelo (1970)
Los Compañeros (1970)1960's
Le Clan des Siciliens (1969)
Ruba Al Prossimo Tuo (1969)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1969)
Fräulein Doktor (1969)
Stamboul Quest (1969)
Un Esercito Di Cinque Uomini (1969)
L'Alibi (1969), L'Assoluto Naturale (1969)
Una Breve Stagione, La Donna Invisibile (1969)
Crime of Defeat (1969)
Metti Una Sera A Cena (1969)
La Monaca di Monza (1969)
Quemada! (1969)
Un Tranquillo Posto Di Campagna (1969)
Two Mules for Sister Sara (1969)
Vergogna Schifosi (1969)
Zenabel (1969)
Gli Intoccabili (1968)
Teorema (1968)
La Bataille de San Sebastian (1968)
Ad Ogni Costo (1968)
Da Uomo a Uomo (1968)
H2S (1968)
And for a Roof a Sky Full of Stars (1968)
Un Bellissimo Novembre (1968)
Comandamenti per un Gangster (1968)
Diabolik (1968)
Ecce Homo (1968)
Escalation (1968)
Galileo (1968)
Il Grande Silenzio (1968)
Grazie, Zia (1968)
L'Harem (1968)
Italia Vista Dal Cielo (1968)
Mangiala (1968)
Il Mercenario (1968)
Roma Come Chicago (1968)
Sai Cosa Faceva Stalin Alle Donne? (1968)
La Stagione dei Sensi (1968)
Tepepa (1968)
Faccia a Faccia (1967)
Fort Yuma Gold (1967)
Arabella (1967)
L'Avventuriero (1967)
la Cina è Vicina (1967)
Dalle Ardenne All'inferno (1967)
Gentleman Jo (1967)
Il Giardino Delle Delizie (1967)
Operation Kid Brother (1967)
Pedro Páramo (1967)
La Ragazza e Il Generale (1967)
Scusi Facciamo L'amore (1967)
Sette Donne Per I Macgregor (1967)
La Resa Dei Conti (1966)
Uccellacci e Uccellini (1966)
The Good the Bad and the Ugly (1967)
I Crudeli (1966)
Un Fiume di Dollari (1966)
How I Learned to Love Women (1966)
I Lunghi Giorni Della Vendetta (1966)
Matchless (1966)
Navajo Joe (1966)
The Return of Ringo (1966)
Le Streghe (1966)
Svegliati e Uccidi (1966)
For a Few Dollars More (1967)
Agent 505 - Todesfalle Beirut (1965)
Altissima Pressione (1965)
Amanti D'oltre Tomba (1965)
The Battle of Algiers (1965)
Centomila Dollari Per Ringo (1965)
Idoli Controluce (1965)
Menage All'italiana (1965)
A Pistol for Ringo (1965)
Fist in His Pocket (1965)
Seven Guns for the MacGregors (1965)
Slalom (1965)
Thrilling (1965)
Un Uomo a Metà (1965)
E La Donna Creò L'uomo (1964)
I Due Evasi Di Sing Sing (1964)
Malamondo (1964), I Maniaci (1964)
I Marziani Hanno Dodici Mani (1964)
Fistful of Dollars (1964)
Le Pistole non Discutono, La Scoperta dell'America (1964)
Duello nel Texas (1963)
I Basilischi (1963)
El Greco (1963)
Le Monachine (1963)
Il Successo (1963)
The Virginian (1962)
La Cuccagna (1962)
Diciottenni Al Sole (1962)
I Motorizzati (1962)
Before the Revolution (1962)
La Voglia Matta (1962)
Il Federale (1961)
