A Tribute to Ennio Morricone Part 4

"Robodog"from the film The Humanoid (1975) begins with computer like chirping, then different toned blips join in creating an array of robotic high pitched sounds. Very futuristic and strange but also playful. A very quick theme. "Cavallina A Cavallo" from the film Dedicated to the Aegean Sea (1979) starts with a woman laughing in a playful, funny way. The harpischord, funny chimes and strings play along and then Illona Staller's voice begins to pop off in an almost Betty Boop-esque way. Its a very strange and comedic but sensual theme. As the theme reaches its crescendo, Stoller's voice gets even more loose and silly. Filled with high toned chimes, pounding bass chord strings and drum, it creates a very unique aura."La Tragedia Di Un Uomo Ridiculo" from Bernardo Bertolucci's Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man (1981). Is a very circus-like/high wire styled theme with a big top sound. The sounds of strings, accordion and harmonica create exactly what the films title contains: tragedy and ridicule. Both lush and high toned, it is another example of why Morricone is a master craftsman at audio-visuals."Chi Mai" from the Jean Paul Belmondo action film vehicle The Professional (1981) opens with high toned tragic sounding violin. Drums roll in with a slight rock edge. The sounds of electric keyboards give off a warm synth buzz in the background as the violins continue to play. Victorian styled organ floats in and the strings rise and fall. As the sounds fade down, the violin comes back in, playing alone. Again the rock styled drums erupt into the piece and the violin and synth sounds play as one. As the lone violin plays on, the other sounds fade down we feel a more sad result as if something terrible has happened."Sinfonia D'Una Citta Part II" from the film Copkiller (1982) has a very jazzy searching rhythm made up of plucking bass guitar, broken up bass drum, ticking piano keys and pulsing harpsichord. The instruments play together and pound in broken beats. A trumpet blares out as well as the piano and drums then low toned cello float in. The track goes from being slightly ominous to downright dangerous as it drifts on and stops flat."Cockeye's Song" from the Sergio Leone gangster film masterpiece Once Upon a Time in America (1984) features the almost oriental sounds of Zamfir, master of the panflute. In the film one of the characters named Cockeye plays a panflute as he walks along with the other young gangsters. This version of the theme is very much a tragic deadly one but in the film you can hear a more upbeat, playful melody also played by the Cockeye character. A beautiful yet sad piece.As a heavenly sounding choir and a high tinged harpsichord plays we hear the sounds of "On Earth As It Is in Heaven" from the film The Mission (1986). Suddenly a pounding jungle like bongo drum comes in and we hear the sound of a lone oboe playing over it. The choir goes from singing into chanting. A whistling recorder, loud chanting, oboe and the jungle like bongos create a fascinating atmosphere. As the voices fade down an octave, the recorder plays an upbeat melody as the choir follows its melody with their voices. The instruments pick up the pacing slightly as the voices yell out in one last declaration the beat stops.As ragtime piano and trumpets begin a slow ascension we feel we are in old Chiacgo in the early 30s, as the theme creeps along with a deadly, classy style, we get closer to encountering the man known as "Al Capone". This theme is from the Brian DePalma crime classic The Untouchables (1987). The beat gets jazzy with strings and screechy "wahhh wahh" trumpets. This is one of my all time favorite tracks by Morricone... As horns and strings play a fast and solid powerful tone, the audio begins to climb and the crescendo comes up fast as the horns and strings blast out triumphantly. Its a beautiful piece that makes you get goosebumps. This is "The Untouchables (End Title)". The strings play on while the proud sounds of Elliot Ness and his gang of super cops end the corruption put on Chicago by the infamous gangster Al Capone. A second crescendo explodes as the theme rises higher and higher filled with bright horns, pounding orchestra drums. Both epic and exhillerating, it comes to a rumbling close."From American Sex Appeal To The First Fellini" from the film Cinema Paradiso (1988) has high strings play an almost waltz-like melody, as harp and trumpets sound off. Its very romantic sounding and light, creating a feeling of classy excess. The strings and harp play on wavering up and down but suddenly they stop completely and we get a total change in mood which is ragtime trumpets and crazy clarinets. You'll want to get up and do the Charleston with a swell dame. As quickly as it started, that section ends as well and we go back to a more romantic waltz like mood in instrumemtals but added is a plucking broken patterned harp. Then the sounds of circus high-wire act come in accompanied by a sexy sax solo. "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" from the film Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990) is a rapid paced piano and then a group of strings float into the piece as the sounds combine and reach a peak, the strings are met by drums and a low woodwinds playing in the background. The light-carefree sounds gives you the feeling of driving down a sunny highway with wind blowing through your hair. A lone flute plays a tragic sounding melody. We hear the theme "Act of Faith" from the Barry Levinson biopic Bugsy (1991) starring Warren Beatty and Annette Benning. The strings behind the flute give a deep feeling of melancholy. Then a low toned, jazzy pulsing piano key opens up with a few beats.Very atmospheric and downbeat. Fits wonderfully in the film.