A Tribute to Ennio Morricone Part 2

For Director Sergio Corbucci's 1966 Spaghetti Western "Navajo Joe (Original Main title)" Morricone used the high pitched death cry of an Indian for the opening. Matched together with an evil driving rhythm and a piano underneath, the song then breaks into the chant: "NAVAJO JOE-NAVAJO JOEEEE!!" As the woman chants "Navajo Joe", she gives an almost otherworldly spin on the sounds. This is one of my favorite themes from the compilation simply because its so different and unusual as a theme song. American Indian chanting mixed with modern sounds. Its classic. "The Good The Bad and The Ugly Main Title" (1966) is one of the most famous works by Morricone it has been covered and used in many films and TV commercials over the years. The song uses sounds to evoke noises that come from animals like: the coyote and the owl. It is a triumphant theme with electric guitars and marching drums. Its completely epic and surrealistic at the same time. "The Ecstasy of Gold" is the theme we hear when Tuco (Eli Wallach) is looking for the grave of Arch Stanton at Sad Hill cemetary in the film. It begins with a rippling piano, then follows by a woman singing a high note over it while strings come in and then more voices, horns and it breaks with a sudden crescendo and its over. The perfect score to an excellent sequence. It brings the anxiety of Tuco to the forefront, but conveys the beauty of the gold he seeks. "Uccelacci E Uccelini" from The Hawks and The Sparrows (1965) is a grand song sung by Domenico Modugno. Its a total operatic styled pop song with lots of references to filmmakers including Pier Paolo Pasolini. Very different. "Algiers November 1 1954" from The Battle of Algiers (1965) is a war like marching theme with a trumpet playing over a piano that accompanies the drumming. A rapid, quick pace that feels like its pushing you forward. Then a sudden end. "Ad Ogni Costo" from The Grand Slam (1967) is a very enjoyable tune, the music created is in a very joyful comedic style. Its filled with trumpets and a chorus of children singing "La la las". Its hard to describe how fun this song is, its special and very different, of course its Morricone theme. The trumpets blare, the voices follow the strings as they play. Very playful. "Il Giardino Delle Delizie aka The Garden of Delights" (1967) is a rock n roll styled chant filled tune with a electric guitar and high pitched trumpet. A choir sings over medieval sounding organs and a pounding piano. "The Big Gundown" is a ominous score to a great Spaghetti Western with electric guitar, drums, choir, a thumping and army like drumming. The trumpets play over as a suspenseful barrage of strings as horns hit your ears. "Love Theme from Guns For San Sebastian" (1968) begins with a quiet violin solo then builds with a guitar playing a sad melody and trumpets can be heard from afar. Then we hear a lone womans voice singing a heavenly melody accompanied by a picking guitar and violins. A very peaceful tune. "Man with a Harmonica"(with Franco DeGemini) is the ominous, strange theme from Sergio Leone's masterpiece Once Upon a Time In The West (1968). The harmonica becomes a sign of something evil and otherworldly. Very much like Charles Bronson's character who is a mysterious nomad. As the harmonicas shrilly tone continues to slant and sway, a loud electric guitar comes in and builds the suspense even more. Then, as marching drums play, strings bring the song into a tragic, haunting crescendo. As the song ends, The harmonica fades away like a ghost. Its one of the best themes Morricone has made. "Farewell to Cheyenne" with Alessandro Alessandroni (whistler)" is a wonderfully fun and charming track. A banjo, a whistle and an old time piano play, then on the off beat, we hear a out of tune guitar TWANG. Its perfect for the character of Cheyenne (Jason Robards). It brings the humorous aspect of his character out and also shows the slightly sad tragic side. "Once Upon a Time in The West" is completely different from the previous scores. It is very much about the beauty of the new Western frontier and of course, the captivating Jill McBain (Claudia Cardinale). Edda Del'Orso sings a beautiful melody over the strings, then as one of the most spectacular cresecndos plays, the strings louden and then sink back down again into the spacious valleys of the bigger than life atmosphere Morricone creates."La Balatta Di Hank McCain (The Ballad of Hank McCain)" with vocalist Jackie Lynton from Machine Gun McCain (1968) is a hard driving narrative theme describing the world of Hank McCain (played by John Cassavetes). Lynton preaches: "Noone knows better than McCain how to care for number one, how to take and never give...". The theme is a perfect explanation for McCain's personality and motivations. "Piume Di Cristallo aka The Bird With The Crystal Plummage" (1969) is a very soft and peaceful theme filled with voices singing "La La Laaa". It is very unsuspecting that this theme is actually from a giallo thriller by Dario Argento. "Indagine Su Un Cittadino Al Di Sopra Di Ogni Sospetto (Main title) aka Investogation of a Citizen Above Suspicion" (1969) is a strange suspense theme with an array of funny little instrumentations created with jews harp, strings, oboe and piano. This is a very twisted, mixed up piece, with unique quality only the great Morricone could concoct. "Citta Violenta aka Violent City" (1970) is a crime film styled theme, using electric guitar, strings and lots of suspense. Morricone builds tension with the rapidly paced string section and a loud distorted sound beckoning in the background. "The Ballad of Sacco and Vanzetti - Part 2 (with Joan Baez)" from Sacco and Vanzetti (1971) begins with a victorian era organ and slides into a beautiful voiced song sung by Joan Baez. This is another wonderful example of a narrative of a movies story. Her voice is filled with a tragic sound and a sympathy towards the characters in the film which makes this theme even more strong. "Heres To You (with Joan Baez)" from Sacco and Vanzetti is different. It is very uplifting and positive, beginning with a low organ, then a piano playing a simple rhythm alongside, then as bass joins the other instruments, Joan Baez sings a dedication to Sacco and Vanzetti. It is almost in a pop song style that she declares the two characters heroes of their cause...