Ennio Moricone

The composer who gave new personality to music

Who is he?

Ennio Morricone was an Italian composer, orchestrator, and conductor who revolutionized film music and showed how a movie’s soundtrack could become as memorable and influential as the film itself.

Why is he an overman?

Instead of relying only on traditional orchestral music, Morricone incorporated unusual sounds and instruments, including electric guitars, whistles, bells, percussion, and even human voices. Instead of simply creating background emotion, Morricone often made the music an active part of the story. A particular melody or sound could represent a character, relationship, or idea.

Morricone was also known for being strong-willed and independent. He did not like being defined simply as a “film composer” but considered himself a composer who happened to write extensively for cinema. He could be outspoken about his artistic principles and was sometimes reluctant to accept projects when he felt they did not suit his standards.

Important work:

Il Estasi dell’Oro

Gabriel’s Oboe

Cinema Paradiso / Love Theme

Short biography:

10 November 1928 – 06 July 2020

Born on November 10, 1928, in Rome, Italy, he was the son of a professional musician and began studying music at a very young age. He attended the prestigious Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome, where he developed a strong foundation in composition, trumpet, and orchestration.

Morricone began composing film music professionally in the early 1960s, but his international breakthrough came through his collaboration with director Sergio Leone. His innovative scores for films such as A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and Once Upon a Time in the West transformed the sound of the Western genre. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he composed music for more than 500 film and television productions.

Morricone’s personal life was considerably more private than his professional career. He married Maria Travia in 1956, and they remained together for the rest of his life. The couple had four children. Despite his international fame, Morricone largely remained based in Italy and was known for being disciplined, reserved, and deeply devoted to his family.