Translator's Note
Preface
Introduction Where These Conversations Come From
Chapter One Playing (Chess) with Mephisto
Chapter Two A Composer Lent to Cinema
Chapter Three Music and Images
Chapter Four Mystery and Mastery
Chapter Five An Absolute Music?
Chapter Six Looking Ahead: A Silent Nod towards the Future
Chronological List of the Absolute Music
Chronological List of the Applied Music
Acknowledgments
Index
Ennio Morricone graduated in trumpet and composition from the
Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Throughout his career, he
mastered a wide range of musical expressions, first as an
orchestrator and conductor in the recording industry, then as a
composer for theater, radio, television, and cinema. He has
composed over four hundred and fifty film scores and over a hundred
absolute music works. He received an Academy Honorary Award in 2007
and
won an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2016, for The
Hateful Eight by Quentin Tarantino.
Alessandro De Rosa undertook his study of music composition
following Ennio Morricone's advice. He studied with Boris Porena in
Rome and then graduated from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague,
Netherlands. As a composer and arranger, he collaborated with Jon
Anderson of the band Yes. He currently works as a freelance
musician and collaborates with the RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana)
and the RSI (Radiotelevisione Svizzera di lingua italiana).
"The book is set up in an interview style, so the conversation is
easy to follow. Each section focuses on the directors Morricone
worked with for a particular period of his life, the major films of
the period, and his compositional style during that time period. In
discussing his evolving style Morricone also references his work
outside the cinema world. Summing up: Recommended." -- CHOICE
"Enlightening and frequently charming." -- Library Journal
"Among the pages of this skilfully translated and annotated book
the readers find a wealth of first-hand insights into the work and
life of the world's most prolific and recognisable soundtrack
composer ... Morricone calls this 'the most authentic, detailed and
trust book' about himself. We wholeheartedly agree, and highly
recommend this read to any cinema enthusiast, musician, and
filmmaker." -- Cinema Heritage Group
"This book is a "must" for anyone who admires the music of
Morricone." -- Chris Green, Suffolk & Norfolk Life
"De Rosa's intelligent questions pave the way for an in-depth
analysis of a decade-long oeuvre that does not stop at the most
famous film music, but ultimately immerses in the metaphysics of
the "musica assoluta" and thus makes Morricone's "creative process"
comprehensible..." -- Anatol Holzbauer, 6 Strings 24 Frames
(translation)
"Throughout his long and distinguished career, Ennio Morricone has
consistently proven to be one of the most imaginative and
idiosyncratic composers in the history of cinema. This book reveals
the powerful personality behind his brilliant work and will be
rewarding reading for anyone interested in the magic of music in
film." -- John Williams
"Maestro Morricone has moved my soul to places I could not go
alone. An inspiration like no other." -- James 'Papa Het' Hetfield,
Singer/Songwriter of Metallica
"I feel so fortunate to be alive at a time where I can say that I
have witnessed the work of a genius as he weaves his magic in
unlimited ways, in infinite settings, with that rare quality of
being distinctive and innovative while always being instantly
identifiable, and doing all of this in the service of the film at
hand, honoring and enhancing it in ways that are indescribably
detailed, vivid and perfect. Maestro Morricone is one of my major
heroes." -- Pat
Metheny
"I have the absolute highest amount of respect for my brother Ennio
and I will always be one of his greatest admirers. When I was
studying in France, my teacher Nadia Boulanger used to tell me that
'your music can never be more or less than you are as a human
being,' and I truly believe that is why Ennio's music is so
special: he is simply a great human being! Ennio is the definition
of 'original' and his compositions are like a window into his mind:
incredibly
beautiful and genius!" -- Quincy Jones
Ask a Question About this Product More... |