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StreamingSoundtracks.com - Once Upon A Time In The West - Ennio Morricone
Album Information |
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Album
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Once Upon A Time In The West |
Artist
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Ennio Morricone |
Year
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1969 |
Genre
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Soundtrack |
Rating
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Contributor
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Sensei |
Hint: Hover over buttons and album/artist name next to the cover for more info.
Reviewers Rating |
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1 review done for this album. |
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Ennio's Masterpiece |
By: |
ladylark |
Date: |
26 Sep 2008 |
Rating: |
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Ennio Morricone is a great composer, of that there is no doubt, but Once Upon A Time In The West stands out as a pinnacle of his career not only for its originality but also for its beauty.
The movie itself is both an homage and eulogy to the old western of years past and its soundtrack reflects that. In many of the cues, there is some similarity to Morricone's earlier collaborations with Leone and some glimpses from the scores that were featured in the films by John Ford. He also encouraged Leone to use natural sound as a part of the film's soundtrack.
One of the most groundbreaking things that Morricone did was assign each of the 5 main characters a theme. Each theme gives the viewer an audio hint about the character and their characterization.
Jill- the prostitute cum Widow McBain - has one of the most beautiful themes found in cinema. The soprano's soaring and meandering song illustrates her role as the water-bearer and the spoke that all of the other characters circle around. Her theme can be heard in the following tracks: C'era Una Volta Il West, L'America Di Jill, Jill, Nascita Di Una Citta’, Finale.
Harmonica - the protagonist with a vendetta - The character's signature is the harmonica that he plays when he should be talking. Morricone took that concept and ran with it. The harmonica is both sardonic and sad - the perfect personification of the character. His theme can be heard here: Armonica, L'Uomo Dell'Armonica, & Duello Finale.
Cheyenne - the rascally outlaw - a gangly banjo is at the core of his theme. It fits that this light hearted character would get the most upbeat theme of the movie. His theme can be heard on: Cheyenne & Addio A Cheyenne.
Frank - this is primary villain of the movie - this heartless character's theme is pure morricone played on a electric guitar. It is harsh, abrasive, and utterly cruel. The theme can be heard on: Il Grande Massacro, Frank, & Duello Finale.
The Train - while some might argue that this isn't a character it is for the purposes of this review. Morricone created a theme just for the train and what it represents. Morton's theme feeds into this but it is the railroad and the train herself that is important not the man behind it. The train's theme can be heard on: Sul Tetto Del Treno, Ritorno Al Treno, Morton, & Finale.
These five themes will show up briefly in other tracks on this album But it is these themes that made the movie one of my favorites of all time and its soundtrack truly one for the ages.
5 of 5 found this review helpful
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