#4384, Ennio Morricone, A Tribute

In this hour, sample some of the wide variety of influential music by the late Italian composer Ennio Morricone, and music from some of the folks who were influenced by him. There’s a lot of twangy guitar, some jaw harp, a bit of the ocarina and harmonica, (along with orchestra) suggesting the wide-open expanses of the American West and elsewhere. Hear music from The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, along with music featuring a chorus from The Mission, and something from the French gangster film, Il Clan Dei Siciliani.

"Few composers, let alone film composers, achieved the widespread artistic admiration and commercial success of Ennio Morricone. He had scored over 500 movies and television series, written songs for Pet Shop Boys and Sting and developed a "non-commercial" oeuvre that spans free jazz, funk, electronic music [and even concert works.] His music has been covered and/or sampled by John Zorn, Metallica, Coolio, LL Cool J and RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.

The Italian composer's most iconic and recognizable work, however, remains his music for the Spaghetti Westerns of director Sergio Leone. His scores expanded the sonic palette of film scoring with surf guitars, trumpets, bull whips and whistled melodies and even crossed over onto the pop charts (the instantly-recognizable theme from 1966's The Good, The Bad and the Ugly stayed on the Billboard 200 album chart for over a year)." -David Garland, 2015

Listen also to music in tribute to Morricone, as arranged by American composer and saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist John Zorn, from The Big Gundown: John Zorn Plays the Music of Ennio Morricone. Also, hear the post-country, ambient Americana, boot-gazing, psychedelic group Suss who “might be the missing link between Brian Eno and Ennio Morricone.” (Schaefer.) Then, from Tin Hat Trio, listen to “O.N.E.O.” a tribute to Morricone, from their record The Rodeo Eroded. There’s an homage to Morricone by Ireland-based Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu and Irish composer/keyboardist/producer Roger Doyle. Plus, the Twin Peaks Main Title music from composer Angelo Badalamenti. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4384, Ennio Morricone, In Memoriam (First aired 7/07/2020)

ARTIST: Ennio Morricone
WORK: The Good, the Bad &The Ugly Theme [2:39] 
RECORDING: The Good, The Bad & the Ugly [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
SOURCE: Capitol Records 4701889 
INFO: Available at Amazon.com, Spotify, or Apple Music

ARTIST: Ennio Morricone
WORK: The Man with the Harmonica [3:31] 
RECORDING: Once Upon A Time in the West: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
SOURCE: BMG 4736
INFO: Available at Amazon.com, Spotify, or Apple Music

ARTIST: Tin Hat Trio 
WORK: O.N.E.O. [3:40] 
RECORDING: The Rodeo Eroded
SOURCE: Ropeadope #93134
INFO: ropeadope.com

ARTIST: Ennio Morricone
WORK: Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo [2:43] 
RECORDING: The Good, The Bad & the Ugly [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
SOURCE: Capitol Records 4701889 
INFO: Available at Amazon.com, Spotify, or Apple Music

ARTIST: John Zorn, et al.
WORK: Giu La Testa (Duck You Sucker!) [6:06] 
RECORDING: The Big Gundown: John Zorn plays the music of Ennio Morricone
SOURCE: Tzadik 7328
INFO: tzadik.com

ARTIST: Ennio Morricone
WORK: On Earth As It Is In Heaven [3:51] 
RECORDING: The Mission (Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture)
SOURCE: Virgin VK72402
INFO: Available at Amazon.com, Spotify, or Apple Music

ARTIST: Ennio Morricone
WORK: Il Clan Dei Siciliani [3:38] 
RECORDING: The Complete Edition - Music For Cinema (CD15)
SOURCE: GDM ‎– 0194392ERE / Edel ‎– 0194392ERE
INFO: Try Discogs or Auction sites

ARTIST: Roger Doyle & Niwel Tsumbu
WORK: Enniode [5:43]
RECORDING: Homemade Ivory Dreams
SOURCE: Silverdore  SIDO 016 
INFO: rogerdoyle1.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Ennio Morricone
WORK: Chi Mai (whoever) [4:59]
RECORDING: Come Maddalena
SOURCE: EMI Records Italy
INFO: Available at Amazon.com, Spotify, and Apple Music

ARTIST: SUSS
WORK: Laredo [4:47]
RECORDING: Ghost Box expanded
SOURCE: Northern Spy NS 105
INFO: northernspyrecs.com

ARTIST: Angelo Badalamenti
WORK: Twin Peaks Theme [5:10]
RECORDING: Twin Peaks Soundtrack
SOURCE: Warner Bros. #26316
INFO: Available for purchase at Amazon.com