Although five-time Academy-Award nominee Ennio Morricone has scored numerous films in various genres, his westerns will undoubtedly remain his most memorable cinematographic accomplishments. This guide demonstrates Morricone's unique and enduring contributions to the art of film music through a discussion of his compositional and orchestrational processes, many of which are evident in his music for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in a way that can be easily understood by both musicians and nonmusicians. Leinberger begins his study with a brief discussion of Morricone's musical background through his experience in the Italian music business, his earliest Italian film scores, and his accomplishments in Hollywood. The second chapter is a discussion of the many compositional techniques that distinguish Morricone's music from that of other film composers. Subsequent chapters examine the historical and cultural context of the film and attempt to place the style of Morricone's score for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in relation to his scores for other well-known Westerns. The book's final chapter is an analysis of compositional techniques presented in chronological order from the film's opening credits to its climactic ending. Although this guide focuses on Morricone and his music from a theoretical perspective, other non-musical issues that are relevant to the audience's ultimate experience of the film are also discussed.

About the Author
Charles Leinberger is a professor of music at the University of Texas at El Paso. He has been a private trumpet instructor throughout the American Southwest and holds a Ph.D. in Music Theory from the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Reviews
The famous score with its tootling theme song that may be Morricone's best-known work is the subject of a close reading by Leinberger, a music theorist at the U. of Texas at El Paso. Morricone is a five-time Academy Award nominee who's scored films in many genres, but it's his work for westerns that has tuck in most filmgoers' minds. Leinberger traces the composer's musical background and experience in Italy and in Hollywood; explores the techniques that distinguish his music; and examines the cultural and historical contexts of "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" and its score. A final chapter analyzes the score's compositional techniques from the opening credits to the climactic ending. Includes a selected filmography of Morricone's work. * Reference and Research Book News *
...a breezy yet highly informative overview of the film, the filmmakers, and the composer...a valuable resource for a pivotal work by one of Italy's most respected and popular composers. -- Mark R. Hassan * Music From The Movies *
Charles Leinberger, a graduate of the University of Arizona, looks at the historical context of Morricone's music before discussing the plot and characters in the film and breaking down the composer's unmistakable techniques, such as the use of the 'micro-cell technique' - the immediate juxtaposition of short and contrasting musical idea - and his unique tonality (the use of minor modes and pentatonic and hexatonic scales). He concludes by dissecting the score in minute detail, focusing on each character's particular musical themes and how they interact with the story. As a history of Morricone and his methods, this is a really fascinating book. * Muso *



Book Information
ISBN 9780810851320
Author Charles Leinberger
Format Paperback
Page Count 153
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 225g
Dimensions(mm) 219mm * 142mm * 10mm