Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 01 | Mario's Gambit | 20240311 | Donald Macleod explores Morricone's early years as a chess fanatic and trumpeter, and discovers how a trip he made to Darmstadt proved a particularly formative experience. Ennio Morricone is cited as one of the most experimental and influential composers of all time, undoubtedly recognised as one of the world's greatest ever composers of music for film. A legendary figure who over the course of his career won numerous awards, and accolades, his innovative sound worlds helped to define what film music could be for multiple genres of cinema. Morricone's music extended far beyond the desert landscapes of Spaghetti Westerns, not just to other genres on the Silver Screen, but also into the worlds of pop music, and into the concert hall – where his study and composition of avant-garde music gave him the techniques to experiment within his scores for film as well. Over the course of this week, following on the heels of the 2024 Academy Awards, Donald Macleod explores the incredible career of Ennio Morricone, a composer who quite astoundingly wrote over 500 scores for film and television, as well as over 100 classical works. In Monday's episode, Donald explores Morricone's early years as a chess fanatic and discovers how it was a gift from Ennio's father, Mario – a freelance trumpet player – which pushed the young Morricone into the world of music. We'll hear about Morricone's studies, and how his phenomenal but secret success as an arranger for Italian radio and RCA Italiana led him into the burgeoning Italian film industry. Donald also explores a formative trip the young Morricone made to the Summer School at Darmstadt, where the experimental musicians included John Cage, and examines the influence that that experience had on Morricone's music. Invenzione Roberto Prosseda, piano The Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Party Prohibito from I malamondo Musica per undici violini Archi di Santa Cecilia Luigi Piovano, conductor Eduardo di Capua and Alfredo Mazzucchi O sole mio (arr. Morricone) Miranda Martino, singer Edoardo Nicolardi and Ernesto de Curtis Voce e'notte (arr. Morricone) Mario Lanza, singer Franco Ferrara and his orchestra Concerto for Orchestra Scambio di prigionieri from A Fistful of Dollars Donald Macleod explores Ennio Morricone's early years. |
| 2024 | 02 | Ennio And Sergio | 20240312 | Donald Macleod explores how Ennio Morricone got his big break through his early work with the film director Sergio Leone. Ennio Morricone is cited as one of the most experimental and influential composers of all time, undoubtedly recognised as one of the world's greatest ever composers of music for film. A legendary figure who over the course of his career won numerous awards, and accolades, his innovative sound worlds helped to define what film music could be for multiple genres of cinema. Morricone's music extended far beyond the desert landscapes of Spaghetti Westerns, not just to other genres on the Silver Screen, but also into the worlds of pop music, and into the concert hall – where his study and composition of avant-garde music gave him the techniques to experiment within his scores for film as well. Over the course of this week, following on the heels of the 2024 Academy Awards, Donald Macleod explores the incredible career of Ennio Morricone, a composer who quite astoundingly wrote over 500 scores for film and television, as well as over 100 classical works. In Tuesday's episode, Donald explores some of Morricone's most iconic work – on the music for Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns – and discovers how a phone call from an old classmate led to this big break in his film work. Plus, we hear about Morricone's work with the experimental Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza – the New Consonance Improvisation Group. The Man with the Harmonica from Once Upon a Time in the West Czech National Symphony Orchestra Stefano Cucci, conductor Woody Guthrie Pastures of Plenty (arr. Enrico Morricone) Peter Tevis, singer The Trio (extended version) from The Good the Bad and the Ugly Orchestra Cinefonica Italiana I Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni Conductor, Bruno Nicolai Titles & A Fistful of Dollars (version 2) from A Fistful of Dollars Sixty Seconds to What? & Main Theme from For a Few Dollars More Ennio Morricone & His Orchestra Requiem per un destino (Excerpt) Main Title; The Sundown & The Desert from The Good the Bad and the Ugly Alessandro Alessandroni, whistles Unione Musicisti di Roma Bruno Nicolai, conductor Donald Macleod explores Ennio Morricone's work with the film director Sergio Leone. |
| 2024 | 03 | A Shock To The System | 20240313 | Donald Macleod explores Morricone's experimental work in Italian auteur cinema and giallo in the 1960s and 1970s. Ennio Morricone is cited as one of the most experimental and influential composers of all time, undoubtedly recognised as one of the world's greatest ever composers of music for film. A legendary figure who over the course of his career won numerous awards, and accolades, his innovative sound worlds helped to define what film music could be for multiple genres of cinema. Morricone's music extended far beyond the desert landscapes of Spaghetti Westerns, not just to other genres on the Silver Screen, but also into the worlds of pop music, and into the concert hall – where his study and composition of avant-garde music gave him the techniques to experiment within his scores for film as well. Over the course of this week, and following on the heels of the 2024 Academy Awards, Donald Macleod explores the incredible career of Ennio Morricone, a composer who quite astoundingly wrote over 500 scores for film and television, as well as over 100 classical works. In Wednesday's episode, Donald explores Morricone's experimental work in Italian auteur cinema and giallo in the 1960s and 1970s. He also discovers how Morricone overcame writer's block to create one of the best-selling original instrumental scores of all time. Opening credits from Uccellacci e uccellini Domenico Modugno, vocalist Bruno Nicolai, conductor Addio a Pier Paolo Passolini Gilda Butta, piano Ostia from Pasolini, un delitto Italiano Birth of a City & Finale from Once Upon a Time in the West Edda Dell'Orso, singer The Modern Singers Of Alessandroni RCA Orchestra Suoni per Dino Dino Asciolla, viola Giulio Spelta, Giuseppe Mastroianni, Sergio Marcotulli, tape machines Delirio Secondo from Un Tranquillo Posto Di Campagna Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza La Lucertola from Una Lucertola con la Pelle Di Donna Silenzio nel caos from The Bird with the Crystal Plumage Ennio Morricone, trumpet Four Flies on Velvet (take 6) from Four Flies on Grey Velvet Ennio Morricone, director Deborah's Theme from Once Upon a Time in Amercia Orchestre del Cinema Italiano Donald Macleod explores Morricone's work in Italian auteur cinema and giallo. |
| 2024 | 04 | Once Upon A Time In America | 20240314 | Donald Macleod finds Ennio Morricone's work beginning to win awards, and he also starts writing music for Hollywood movies. Ennio Morricone is cited as one of the most experimental and influential composers of all time, undoubtedly recognised as one of the world's greatest ever composers of music for film. A legendary figure who over the course of his career won numerous awards, and accolades, his innovative sound worlds helped to define what film music could be for multiple genres of cinema. Morricone's music extended far beyond the desert landscapes of Spaghetti Westerns, not just to other genres on the Silver Screen, but also into the worlds of pop music, and into the concert hall – where his study and composition of avant-garde music gave him the techniques to experiment within his scores for film as well. Over the course of this week, following on the heels of the 2024 Academy Awards, Donald Macleod explores the incredible career of Ennio Morricone, a composer who quite astoundingly wrote over 500 scores for film and television, as well as over 100 classical works. In Thursday's episode, Donald finds Ennio Morricone's work beginning to win awards, and he also starts writing music for Hollywood movies. He also recounts an awkward experience for Morricone with a famous director, and discovers the missed opportunity which Morricone cited as his greatest regret. Cockeye's Song & Once upon a time in America – theme from Sergio Leone Suite Yo-Yo Ma, Cello Roma Sinfonietta Theme from Rampage Afro-Flemish Mass from Exorcist II: The Heretic Harper MacKay, conductor La classe operaia va in paradiso from The Working Class Goes to Heaven or Lulu the Tool Bruno Nicolai, conductor Fire from Days of Heaven Humanity (Part 2) from The Thing Ennio Morricone, synthesizers Four studies – nos 1 & 2 Bugsy Orchestra and Chorus of dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Donald Macleod explores Ennio Morricone's move to writing music for Hollywood movies. |
| 2024 | 05 LAST | We All Love Ennio | 20240315 | Donald Macleod finds Morricone nominated for multiple Academy Awards, but after a series of losses, the composer gives up hope of ever winning one. Ennio Morricone is cited as one of the most experimental and influential composers of all time, undoubtedly recognised as one of the world's greatest ever composers of music for film. A legendary figure who over the course of his career won numerous awards, and accolades, his innovative sound worlds helped to define what film music could be for multiple genres of cinema. Morricone's music extended far beyond the desert landscapes of Spaghetti Westerns, not just to other genres on the Silver Screen, but also into the worlds of pop music, and into the concert hall – where his study and composition of avant-garde music gave him the techniques to experiment within his scores for film as well. Over the course of this week, following on the heels of the 2024 Academy Awards, Donald Macleod explores the incredible career of Ennio Morricone, a composer who quite astoundingly wrote over 500 scores for film and television, as well as over 100 classical works. In Friday's episode, Donald finds Morricone lauded for his music, and nominated for multiple Academy Awards, but after a series of losses the composer gives up hope of ever winning one. Morricone also begins touring his music, selling out concerts across the world. Donald also explores the circumstances which led to Morricone meeting the Pope, and discovers music Morricone wrote “against racism, in memory of every massacre in human history ? Cinema Paradiso Morricone, conductor Miserere & Gabriel's Oboe from The Mission Barnet Schools Choir, London Voices The London Philharmonic Orchestra Ennio Morricone, David Bedford (conductors) Theme from The Untouchables Voci dal silenzio (Excerpt) Theme from Il Mercenario Volti e fantasmi from La Migliore Offerta Anna De Martini, Edda Dell'Orso, Paola Ronchetti, Raffaela Siniscalchi, Roberta Frighi, vocals Alexander Zoltan, Glass Harmonica Czech National Symphony Orchestra L'Ultima Diligenza di Red Rock from the Hateful Eight Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Prague On Earth as it is in Heaven from The Mission Orchestra and Chorus of dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Donald Macleod finds Morricone nominated for multiple Academy Awards. |