Morricone won the Oscar for Best Original Score for his work on Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight”.
Ennio Morricone, the Oscar-winning composer of Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” and several high-profile Spaghetti Westerns, passed away at the age of 91. According to the Italian news agency ANSA (via Variety), Morricone died early in the morning on Monday, July 6 in Rome after suffering a fall that caused a hip fracture.
Throughout his six decades as a film composer, Morricone is best remembered for shaping the sound of the Spaghetti Western genre thanks to his legendary work on the films in Sergio Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy”, including “A Fistful of Dollars” (1964), “For a few dollars more” (1965) and “The good, the bad and the ugly” (1966). Morricone and Leone would continue to work together on films like “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968). Throughout his esteemed career, Morricone collaborated with people such as Terrence Malick (“Days of Heaven”), John Carpenter (“The Thing”), Roman Polanski (“Frenetic”), William Friedkin (“Rampage”), Brian De Palma (“The Untouchables”), and Mike Nichols (“Lobo”), among others.
The six Morricone Oscar nominations for Best Original Score include his work on “Days of Heaven”, “The Mission”, “The Untouchables”, “Bugsy”, “Malena” and “The Hateful Eight”. The composer won the Academy Award for his work on the latest film, a Western 2015 directed by Quentin Tarantino. The director often featured Morricone’s music in his films. “Kill Bill”, “Inglourious Basterds” and “Django Unchained” present compositions by Morricone, while the composer wrote an original song titled “Ancora Qui” for the latter. Morricone was awarded an honorary award in 2006 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for “his magnificent and multifaceted contributions to the art of film music.”
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte turned to Twitter after the announcement of Morricone’s death to share the following tribute: “We will always remember, with infinite gratitude, the artistic genius of maestro Ennio Morricone. It made us dream, feel excited, reflect, write memorable notes that will remain indelible in the history of music and cinema. ”
Filmmakers like Edgar Wright have also turned to social media to pay tribute to the late composer. “Where to start with the iconic composer Ennio Morricone?” the director wrote. “It could turn an average movie into a must-see, a good movie into art, and a great movie into legend. It hasn’t been out of my stereo all my life. What a legacy of work he leaves behind. RIP”
Wright proceeded to share a handful of his favorite Morricone compositions, from “The Ecstasy of Gold” from the soundtrack of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” to “Almost Dead” from “A Fistful of Dollars” and the music End Title of “The Untouchable.” Other tributes of Oscar winner Asif Kapadia, actor Antonio Banderas, and dozens of film critics and journalists were published.
Morricone is survived by his wife, Maria Travia, and their four children. Read the tributes to the late composer in the posts below.
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– edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 6, 2020
The incredible thing about The Good, The Bad & The Ugly is that ‘Ecstasy Of Gold’ is the penultimate song. Ennio drops one of the most amazing signals of all time, and then immediately follows another timer. https://t.co/00VCCYwfD2 https://t.co/1nNK7wrkRX
– edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 6, 2020
https://t.co/Sg7U8BRfXK
– edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 6, 2020
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– edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 6, 2020
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– edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 6, 2020
And finally, for today, the scene ‘Money Orgy’. The perfect psychological pop of the 60s from ‘Danger: Diabolik’. RIP Ennio. https://t.co/qqsg64tawY
– edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 6, 2020
During #lockdown we have seen a movie every night with the family. I showed the children Once Upon A Time In The West, who introduced them to the genius @MEnnioMorricone, only yesterday our youngest son was humming the music from Cinema Paradiso while drawing a birthday card 🙏🏾❤️ #morricone
– asifkapadia (@asifkapadia) July 6, 2020
With great sadness, we said goodbye to a great teacher of cinema. His music will continue playing in our memories. Rest in peace #EnnioMorricone. pic.twitter.com/KWwJbfHzRx
– Antonio Banderas (@antoniobanderas) July 6, 2020
Ennio Morricone’s Oscar win for THE HATEFUL EIGHT – one of those rare and satisfying occasions where an award in disguise for life turns into a truly exciting and premium job. The best of the film by far. I’m glad they did that.
– Guy Lodge (@GuyLodge) July 6, 2020
One of the best pieces of music ever written for movies or otherwise, something that could be said about most of Ennio Morricone’s work. pic.twitter.com/AFqJLdxFOA
– Aaron Stewart-Ahn (@somebadideas) July 6, 2020
Guru #EnnioMorricone. Lord, we will never miss you! You have given enough music to listen, live, improvise and go further. Thanks and regards! They will never call you late Mr. Morricone. It will always be on time.
– Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) July 6, 2020
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