Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
Find out more: About Pianodao Reviews
Italian maestro Ennio Morricone (1928-2020) is undoubtedly one of the great names in the firmament of film composers. Rising to global fame for his scores to the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns of the 1960’s, he went on to compose for more than 400 movies, including such classics as Cinema Paradiso, The Mission and The Untouchables.
In a year that has seen several new solo piano collections of film transcriptions, Hal Leonard have recently brought out The Morricone Collection, including tasteful arrangements of thirty of the composer’s best themes.
Being something of a fan of Morricone’s work, I am certainly pleased that this publication didn’t slip under my radar, because it is excellent…
Thirty Morricone Hits
The arrangements here include music from 27 films, some better known than others. Making up the numbers, the three movies represented by two selections each are Cinema Paradiso, Once Upon a Time in the West and Sacco e Vanzetti.
Here’s the complete list:
- Romanzo from 1900
- Main Theme from A Fistful Of Dollars
- Main Theme from A Fistful Of Dynamite
- Trionfo d’amore from A Time Of Indifference
- Main Theme from Cinema Paradiso
- Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso
- Ancora qui from Django Unchained
- Prelude from Down The Ancient Staircase
- Main Theme from For A Few Dollars More
- Ricordi d’infanzia from Jonah Who Lived In The Whale
- Hurry To Me from Love Circle
- The Ballad Of Hank McCain from Machine Gun McCain
- Main Theme from Metello
- Main Theme from My Name Is Nobody
- Conradiana from Nostromo
- Farewell To Cheyenne from Once Upon A Time In The West
- Man With A Harmonica from Once Upon A Time In The West
- Deborah’s Theme from Once Upon A Time In America
- Here’s To You from Sacco & Vanzetti
- The Ballad Of Sacco And Vanzetti from Sacco & Vanzetti
- Algiers November 1, 1954 from The Battle Of Algiers
- Lullaby In Blue from The Cat O’Nine Tails
- The Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
- Main Theme from The Lady Caliph
- Playing Love from The Legend Of 1900
- Gabriel’s Oboe from The Mission
- Saharan Dream from The Secret Of The Sahara
- Main Theme from The Sicilian Clan
- The Strength Of The Righteous from The Untouchables
- Cannibal from The Year Of The Cannibals
The selection certainly honours the range and quality of Morricone’s scoring work, but is also notable for its judicious focus on pieces which transcribe well to the piano. This, it seems to me, is always a key factor in the success of publications such as this, and thus also a particular reason why few film collections make it into the Pianodao Music Library.
Discussing Morricone’s compositional style and brilliance in his excellent book Film Music in Focus, David Ventura writes,
“Morricone’s classical background gave him a high level of technical skill, particularly in the variety of instrumental and textural combinations that he employed, as well as in his sense of timing.”
Morricone fans will undoubtedly agree with this sentiment, which makes it all the more remarkable that these piano transcriptions work so well. The transformation of rhythmic devices originally intended for percussion or guitar into fitting, characterful piano figurations is especially impressive.
Seemingly against all odds, pieces as diverse as Ancora qui (from Django Unchained) and The Ecstasy of Gold (from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly) emerge as piano solos that could comfortably slot into the programme of any piano event, recital, or even as own-choice pieces in one of the higher piano grades.
On that last point, I would say these arrangements would suite early advanced players, around UK Grades 6-7.
The Publication
The Morricone Collection is a classy but unpretentious publication. The gloss card cover opens to a 96-page book presented on white paper, held together with staple binding. The quality here seems robust, despite this being a fairly large number of pages for staples to cope with.
Other than a contents page there are no extras, and I would have appreciated the inclusion of a short biography as a tribute to the composer’s achievements and memory. Film and piece titles appear throughout in English and Italian, as does the listing on the rear cover.
The music engraving is clean, spaciously laid out, and superbly printed with impressively black ink. However, note that no fingering suggestions are included.
Of interest, jazz chord notation is also included above the stave, presumably to aid those who wish to improvise around the materials. The transcriptions are, it must be stressed, superb in themselves, so have no real need for further embellishment.
Closing Thoughts
This imaginative collection ticks many boxes:
☑️ As a tribute to the genius of Ennio Morricone it will likely prove indispensable to fans of his music.
☑️ As a collection of distinctive and rewarding pieces suitable for early advanced players, it stands out from the crowd, offering music with a unique colour and I believe enduring value.
☑️ And as a lesson in how best to compile and transcribe a piano solo collection from such a treasury of iconic film scores, it absolutely deserves a gold star.
Here, then, is a collection which has obvious value and appeal, fulfils its simple remit with aplomb, and will bring ongoing pleasure to any pianist who enjoys this great movie composer’s work. Marvellous!
Pianodao Music Club members receive 15% discount from Sheet Music Plus.
Musicroom is joining forces with Sheet Music Plus.
Most Pianodao retail links will redirect you to the new product pages.
Any which don’t will be updated in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience.
Pianodao includes 700+ free articles and reviews.
If you value this resource, please support the site:
