Ennio Morricone Biography

Ennio Morricone is probably the most famous film composer of the 20th century. He is also one of the most prolific composers working in any medium. No exact figure is available, but he's scored several hundred films over the past several decades, perhaps as many as 500. While these have been in almost every imaginable musical style (and for almost every imaginable kind of movie), he is most identified with the "spaghetti Western" style of soundtracks, which he pioneered when providing the musical backdrop for the films of director Sergio Leone. Morricone's palette is extraordinarily diverse, drawing from classical, jazz, pop, rock, electronic, avant-garde, and Italian music, among other styles. Esteemed by such important figures in modern music as John Zorn (not to mention contemporary directors like Martin Scorsese), he is increasingly placed among not just the finest soundtrack composers, but the most important contemporary composers of any sort.

Morricone began studying music at Rome's Conservatory of Santa Cecilia at the age of 12. Urged to concentrate on composition by his instructors, he supported himself by playing trumpet in jazz bands, and then worked for Italy's national radio network after graduating from the conservatory. He didn't begin scoring films until the early '60s, and didn't begin attracting international notice until he began collaborating with Leone, starting with A Fistful of Dollars in the mid-'60s. (Morricone had previously worked on other Italian Westerns with other directors.)

The spaghetti Westerns only comprised a phase of Morricone's career, but for many his work in this field remains his best and most innovative. Morricone amplified the film's plots and drama through ingenious use of diverse arrangements and instrumentation. Jew's harps, dissonant harmonicas, dancing piccolos, bombastic church organs, eerie whistling, thundering trumpets, oddly sung gunfighter ballads, and ghostly vocal choruses - all became trademarks of the Morricone-Leone productions, then of the spaghetti Western genre as a whole. The influence of rock & roll was felt in the low, ominous twanging guitars, which reflected (intentionally or unintentionally) the sound of contemporary recordings by the Ventures, Duane Eddy, the Shadows, and John Barry. Morricone's most famous composition, the theme to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, made number two in the U.S. when it was covered by Hugo Montenegro.

Even while he was busy with collaborations with Leone, Morricone found time for various other film projects, such as the agitprop classic Battle of Algiers and Burn! By the 1970s, Morricone was winding down his involvement with both Leone and the spaghetti Western, working with numerous other directors all over the world. Grand orchestration and memorable motifs were commonplace in Morricone's work; Warren Beatty, for instance, once told the Los Angeles Times that "there's nobody better than Ennio to create a haunting theme". His scores also began to utilize more contemporary electronic influences, with mixed results.

Age has not slowed Morricone in the least. In fact, the 1980s, '90s, and 2000s saw his commercial success and widespread recognition at an all-time peak. He garnered an Academy Award nomination for The Mission in 1986. Since then he's worked for such top directors as Pedro Almodovar, Brian DePalma, Roman Polanski, Mike Nichols, Oliver Stone, and Barry Levinson. Cinema Paradiso is probably the most renowned of his recent scores.

With such an abundance of recordings, collecting Morricone remains a daunting proposition. It's doubtful that anyone will collect all of his soundtracks under one roof; after all, the composer himself doesn't even remember how many films he's worked on. RCA's The Legendary Italian Westerns, Virgin's two Film Music volumes, and Rhino's Anthology are useful collections, and the DRG label has reissued other noteworthy compilations of his work.

Biography by allmusic.com

All abums by Ennio Morricone

Cover	Album title	Year	Tracks	User rating	Preview
	The Platinum Collection CD2	2007	20	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Platinum Collection CD2 by Ennio Morricone
	We All Love Ennio Morricone	2007	1	0,0 / 0 votes	View album We All Love Ennio Morricone by Ennio Morricone
	Love Themes	2006	19	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Love Themes by Ennio Morricone
	50 Movie Themes Hits (cd1)	2005	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 50 Movie Themes Hits (cd1) by Ennio Morricone
	50 Movie Themes Hits (cd2)	2005	17	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 50 Movie Themes Hits (cd2) by Ennio Morricone
	50 Movie Themes Hits (cd3)	2005	17	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 50 Movie Themes Hits (cd3) by Ennio Morricone
	Crime and Dissonance (CD 1)	2005	18	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Crime and Dissonance (CD 1) by Ennio Morricone
	Crime and Dissonance (CD 2)	2005	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Crime and Dissonance (CD 2) by Ennio Morricone
	Fateless	2005	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Fateless by Ennio Morricone
	Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo	2005	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo by Ennio Morricone
	Marco Polo	2004	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Marco Polo by Ennio Morricone
	Movie Masterpieces	2004	22	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Movie Masterpieces by Ennio Morricone
	Voci Dal Silenzio	2004	10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Voci Dal Silenzio by Ennio Morricone
	A Gun For Ringo and The Return Of Ringo	2003	19	0,0 / 0 votes	View album A Gun For Ringo and The Return Of Ringo by Ennio Morricone
	Bianco Rosso - E. Morricone	2003	33	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Bianco Rosso - E. Morricone by Ennio Morricone
	Death Rides A Horse	2003	10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Death Rides A Horse by Ennio Morricone
	Gente Di Rispetto and Spasmo	2003	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Gente Di Rispetto and Spasmo by Ennio Morricone
	La Piovra	2003	17	0,0 / 0 votes	View album La Piovra by Ennio Morricone
	Man With No Name Trilogy	2003	31	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Man With No Name Trilogy by Ennio Morricone
	Musashi	2003	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Musashi by Ennio Morricone
	Svegliati E Uccidi and Sacco E Vanzetti	2003	20	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Svegliati E Uccidi and Sacco E Vanzetti by Ennio Morricone
	Cafe Morricone	2002	22	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Cafe Morricone by Ennio Morricone
	Cinema Paradiso Special Limited Edition	2001	17	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Cinema Paradiso Special Limited Edition by Ennio Morricone
	Ennio Morricone Remixes	2001	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Ennio Morricone Remixes by Ennio Morricone
	Italian Pops Collection Cd1	2001	25	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Italian Pops Collection Cd1 by Ennio Morricone
	Italian Pops Collection Cd2	2001	27	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Italian Pops Collection Cd2 by Ennio Morricone
	Psycho Morricone	2001	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Psycho Morricone by Ennio Morricone
	Romantic Colection (Cd1)	2001	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Romantic Colection (Cd1) by Ennio Morricone
	Romantic Collection Cd1	2001	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Romantic Collection Cd1 by Ennio Morricone
	Scusi Facciamo Lamore	2001	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Scusi Facciamo Lamore by Ennio Morricone
	The Very Best Of Vol. 1-2	2001	32	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Very Best Of Vol. 1-2 by Ennio Morricone
	The Very Best Of Vol. 1-2	2001	32	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Very Best Of Vol. 1-2 by Ennio Morricone
	Ultimate Mood Music Collection	2001	25	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Ultimate Mood Music Collection by Ennio Morricone
	A Fistful of Sounds (cd1)	2000	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album A Fistful of Sounds (cd1) by Ennio Morricone
	Cinema Concerto	2000	17	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Cinema Concerto by Ennio Morricone
	Malena	2000	18	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Malena by Ennio Morricone
	Mission To Mars	2000	11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Mission To Mars by Ennio Morricone
	A Fistful Of Sounds Cd2	1999	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album A Fistful Of Sounds Cd2 by Ennio Morricone
	C'Era Una Volta il West	1999	20	0,0 / 0 votes	View album C'Era Una Volta il West by Ennio Morricone
	Cinema 70	1999	24	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Cinema 70 by Ennio Morricone
	Fogli Sparsi	1999	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Fogli Sparsi by Ennio Morricone
	Main Titles, Vol. 1	1999	40	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Main Titles, Vol. 1 by Ennio Morricone
	Main Titles, Vol. 2	1999	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Main Titles, Vol. 2 by Ennio Morricone
	Main Titles, Vol. 3	1999	24	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Main Titles, Vol. 3 by Ennio Morricone
	Metti Una Sera A Cena	1999	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Metti Una Sera A Cena by Ennio Morricone
	Phantom Of The Opera	1999	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Phantom Of The Opera by Ennio Morricone
	The Legend Of 1900	1999	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Legend Of 1900 by Ennio Morricone
	The Stendhal Syndrome	1999	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Stendhal Syndrome by Ennio Morricone
	The Stendhal Syndrome: Original Soundtrack Recording	1999	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Stendhal Syndrome: Original Soundtrack Recording by Ennio Morricone
	With Love - Volume Two	1999	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album With Love - Volume Two by Ennio Morricone
	Il fantasma dell'opera	1998	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Il fantasma dell'opera by Ennio Morricone
	L'assoluto Naturale	1998	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album L'assoluto Naturale by Ennio Morricone
	La Leggenda Del Pianista Sull' Oceano	1998	29	0,0 / 0 votes	View album La Leggenda Del Pianista Sull' Oceano by Ennio Morricone
	Lolita	1998	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Lolita by Ennio Morricone
	What Dreams May Come - Rejected	1998	11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album What Dreams May Come - Rejected by Ennio Morricone
	D'Amore Si Muore/Le Due Stagioni Della Vita	1997	1	0,0 / 0 votes	View album D'Amore Si Muore/Le Due Stagioni Della Vita by Ennio Morricone
	Golden Film Themes	1997	17	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Golden Film Themes by Ennio Morricone
	Mon Nom Est Morricone	1997	18	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Mon Nom Est Morricone by Ennio Morricone
	The Fear According To Ennio Morricone (La Paura Secondo Ennio Morricone	1997	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Fear According To Ennio Morricone (La Paura Secondo Ennio Morricone by Ennio Morricone
	The Very Best Of (Cd 1)	1997	32	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Very Best Of (Cd 1) by Ennio Morricone
	Forza G-Mussolini Ultimo Atto	1996	13	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Forza G-Mussolini Ultimo Atto by Ennio Morricone
	La sindrome di Stendhal	1996	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album La sindrome di Stendhal by Ennio Morricone
	Nostromo Cd1	1996	11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Nostromo Cd1 by Ennio Morricone
	Nostromo Cd2	1996	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Nostromo Cd2 by Ennio Morricone
	Time For Suspense	1996	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Time For Suspense by Ennio Morricone
	A Fistful Of Film Music: Anthology (CD 1)	1995	24	0,0 / 0 votes	View album A Fistful Of Film Music: Anthology (CD 1) by Ennio Morricone
	A Fistful Of Film Music: Anthology (CD 2)	1995	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album A Fistful Of Film Music: Anthology (CD 2) by Ennio Morricone
	Dario Argento Trilogy	1995	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Dario Argento Trilogy by Ennio Morricone
	L'uomo Delle Stelle	1995	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album L'uomo Delle Stelle by Ennio Morricone
	Spaghetti Western	1995	28	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Spaghetti Western by Ennio Morricone
	A Pure Formality	1994	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album A Pure Formality by Ennio Morricone
	Disclosure	1994	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Disclosure by Ennio Morricone
	93 Movie Sounds	1993	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album 93 Movie Sounds by Ennio Morricone
	A Fistful of Dollars	1993	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album A Fistful of Dollars by Ennio Morricone
	Enni Morricone - The Very Best	1993	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Enni Morricone - The Very Best by Ennio Morricone
	In the Line of Fire	1993	23	0,0 / 0 votes	View album In the Line of Fire by Ennio Morricone
	Morricone 93 - Il Cinema Che Suona	1993	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Morricone 93 - Il Cinema Che Suona by Ennio Morricone
	Movie Sounds	1993	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Movie Sounds by Ennio Morricone
	Music From Motion Pictures (Cd1)	1993	22	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Music From Motion Pictures (Cd1) by Ennio Morricone
	Music From Motion Pictures (Cd2)	1993	22	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Music From Motion Pictures (Cd2) by Ennio Morricone
	The Very Best Of Ennio Morricone	1993	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Very Best Of Ennio Morricone by Ennio Morricone
	The Very Best Of Ennio Morricone	1993	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Very Best Of Ennio Morricone by Ennio Morricone
	I Malamondo-La Tarantola Dal Ventre Nero	1992	27	0,0 / 0 votes	View album I Malamondo-La Tarantola Dal Ventre Nero by Ennio Morricone
	I Malamondo-La Tarantola Dal Ventre Nero OST	1992	27	0,0 / 0 votes	View album I Malamondo-La Tarantola Dal Ventre Nero OST by Ennio Morricone
	Bugsy	1991	22	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Bugsy by Ennio Morricone
	Cinema Paradiso	1991	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Cinema Paradiso by Ennio Morricone
	Hamlet	1991	18	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Hamlet by Ennio Morricone
	Thing	1991	10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Thing by Ennio Morricone
	The Legendary Italian Westerns	1990	31	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Legendary Italian Westerns by Ennio Morricone
	Le Colonne Sonore	1989	23	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Le Colonne Sonore by Ennio Morricone
	Le Colonne Sonore Originali dei Film di Sergio Leone	1989	23	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Le Colonne Sonore Originali dei Film di Sergio Leone by Ennio Morricone
	Tempo Di Uccidere	1989	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Tempo Di Uccidere by Ennio Morricone
	Ennio Morricone - Film Music 1966-1987	1987	33	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Ennio Morricone - Film Music 1966-1987 by Ennio Morricone
	Film Music 1966-1987 Vol.1-2	1987	33	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Film Music 1966-1987 Vol.1-2 by Ennio Morricone
	Film Music 1966-1987 Vol.1-2	1987	33	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Film Music 1966-1987 Vol.1-2 by Ennio Morricone
	Frantic	1987	10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Frantic by Ennio Morricone
	Rampage	1987	13	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Rampage by Ennio Morricone
	Secret Of The Sahara	1987	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Secret Of The Sahara by Ennio Morricone
	The Untouchables	1987	13	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Untouchables by Ennio Morricone
	The Mission	1986	20	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Mission by Ennio Morricone
	Erase Una Vez En America	1984	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Erase Una Vez En America by Ennio Morricone
	Once Upon A Time In America	1984	19	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Once Upon A Time In America by Ennio Morricone
	For A Few Dollars More	1983	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album For A Few Dollars More by Ennio Morricone
	Bianco Rosso E Verdone (1981)	1981	21	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Bianco Rosso E Verdone (1981) by Ennio Morricone
	Butterfly	1981	11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Butterfly by Ennio Morricone
	Eine Faust Geht Nach Westen	1981	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Eine Faust Geht Nach Westen by Ennio Morricone
	Eine Faust Geht Nach Westen OST	1981	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Eine Faust Geht Nach Westen OST by Ennio Morricone
	Le Professionnel	1981	13	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Le Professionnel by Ennio Morricone
	Machine Gun Mccain	1980	11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Machine Gun Mccain by Ennio Morricone
	Un Sacco Bello	1980	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Un Sacco Bello by Ennio Morricone
	Gothic Dramas (Drammi Gotici)	1977	17	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Gothic Dramas (Drammi Gotici) by Ennio Morricone
	Il Gatto	1977	13	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Il Gatto by Ennio Morricone
	Orca	1977	11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Orca by Ennio Morricone
	The Genius (Nobody ist der grosste) 1975	1975	13	0,0 / 0 votes	View album The Genius (Nobody ist der grosste) 1975 by Ennio Morricone
	Revolver	1973	11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Revolver by Ennio Morricone
	Barbablu	1972	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Barbablu by Ennio Morricone
	C'era Una Volta La Rivoluzione	1971	12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album C'era Una Volta La Rivoluzione by Ennio Morricone
	Cat O' Nine Tails	1971	11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Cat O' Nine Tails by Ennio Morricone
	Gli Occhi Freddi Della Paura	1971	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Gli Occhi Freddi Della Paura by Ennio Morricone
	Gli Occhi Freddi Della Paura OST (1971)	1971	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Gli Occhi Freddi Della Paura OST (1971) by Ennio Morricone
	La Califfa	1971	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album La Califfa by Ennio Morricone
	Quattro mosche di velluto grigio	1971	7	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Quattro mosche di velluto grigio by Ennio Morricone
	Sacco And Vanzetti	1971	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Sacco And Vanzetti by Ennio Morricone
	Veruschka	1971	14	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Veruschka by Ennio Morricone
	Citta Violenta	1970	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Citta Violenta by Ennio Morricone
	Il gatto a nove code(Le chat a 9 queues	1970	11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Il gatto a nove code(Le chat a 9 queues by Ennio Morricone
	Le Foto Proibite Di Una Signora Per Bene	1970	17	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Le Foto Proibite Di Una Signora Per Bene by Ennio Morricone
	Once Upon A Time In The West	1969	13	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Once Upon A Time In The West by Ennio Morricone
	Ad Ogni Costo	1968	10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Ad Ogni Costo by Ennio Morricone
	Danger: Diabolik	1968	34	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Danger: Diabolik by Ennio Morricone
	Il Grande Silenzio	1968	18	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Il Grande Silenzio by Ennio Morricone
	I Crudeli (The Hellbenders)	1966	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album I Crudeli (The Hellbenders) by Ennio Morricone
	Algiers	1965	10	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Algiers by Ennio Morricone
	Il Ritorno Di Ringo (with sfx) (1965)	1965	3	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Il Ritorno Di Ringo (with sfx) (1965) by Ennio Morricone
	Lovers Beyond The Tomb	1965	9	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Lovers Beyond The Tomb by Ennio Morricone
	Menage All Italiana	1965	15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Menage All Italiana by Ennio Morricone
	Slalom	1965	6	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Slalom by Ennio Morricone
	Navajo Joe	1963	16	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Navajo Joe by Ennio Morricone
	Best Of		2	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Best Of by Ennio Morricone
	Colonne Sonore		6	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Colonne Sonore by Ennio Morricone
	Da Hollywood a Cinecitt		12	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Da Hollywood a Cinecitt by Ennio Morricone
	El bueno, el feo y el malo		11	0,0 / 0 votes	View album El bueno, el feo y el malo by Ennio Morricone
	Ennio Morricone - The Best		15	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Ennio Morricone - The Best by Ennio Morricone
	Ennio Morricone - The Collection Cd1		45	0,0 / 0 votes	View album Ennio Morricone - The Collection Cd1 by Ennio Morricone