Ennio Morricone was an Italian composer, orchestrator, conductor and trumpeter who, in his 65-year career, composed over 400 scores for cinema and television as well as over 100 classical works. Morricone is known for writing and composing music in a variety of styles. He composed several hits, including the score for “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966), which is considered one of the most influential soundtracks in history and was even included in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
In 2007 he received the Academy Honorary Award for his great and diverse contributions to the art of film music. He has received several awards for his great work, including three Grammy Awards, three Golden Globes, six BAFTAs, ten David di Donatello and eleven Nastro d’Argento, two European film awards, the Golden Lion Honorary Award and the Polar Music Prize 2010.
However, on July 6, 2020 Morricone died at the age of 91 in Rome, Italy, and left behind all of his great legendary work with us.
Source: @italianacademyfoundation
What was Ennio Morricone famous for?
- Known as an Oscar-winning Italian composer, orchestrator, conductor and trumpeter.
Where was Ennio Morricone born?
Ennio Morricone was born on November 10, 1928 in Rome, Italy. His birth name was Ennio Morricone. His nationality was Italian. Morricone belonged to the white race, while Scorpio was his zodiac sign.
Ennio Morricone was born to Libera Ridolfi (mother) and Mario Morricone (father). His father Mario was a professional trumpet player who performed in entertainment orchestras while her mother Libera was an entrepreneur. His family came from Arpino near Frosinone. He grew up in Trastevere with his four siblings: the brothers Aldo and Franco and the sisters Adriana and Maria.
Morricone was first introduced to music by his father, who taught him how to read music and also play several instruments. He even joined the National Academy of St. Cecilia to take trumpet lessons, which he officially started in 1940 at the age of 12 and took part in a four-year harmony program.
Morricone studied trumpet, composition and choral music under the direction of Goffredo Petrassi. He received his trumpet diploma in 1946, after which he continued to work in classical composition and arrangement.
He finished his education in 1952 with a diploma in Instrumentation for Band Arrangement (Fanfare) with a grade of 9/10. He also did not stop and then joined the Santa Cecilia Conservatory. In 1954 he completed his studies with a degree of 9.5 / 10 in his diploma in composition with Petrassi.
He also wrote his first compositions when he was six years old.
When did Ennio Morricone die?
Ennio Morricone died on July 6, 2020 at the age of 91 on the Università Campus Bio-Medico in Rome. His cause of death was identified as a result of injuries from a fall. Morricone is survived by his wife and children.
Ennio Morricone’s career highlights
- Ennio Morricone began his professional career in 1946 composing “Il Mattino” (The Morning) for voice and piano based on a text by Fukuko.
- In the 1940s he played the trumpet in jazz bands and composed songs such as “Musica per archi e pianoforte” (1954), “Quattro pezzi per chitarra” (1957) and “Concerto per orchestra” (1957).
- He then switched from radio to film and began his career as an arranger in 1950 by arranging the piece Mamma Bianca.
- He worked briefly for the Italian broadcaster RAI in 1958 before taking up a position as a top studio arranger at RCA Victor.
- He composed songs for various artists, including Gianni Morandi, Alberto Lionello, Rita Pavone, Gino Paoli, Demis Roussos and many others.
- In 1959 Morricone was conductor for Mario Nascimbenes score for “Morte Di Un Amico”.
- In 1963 Morricone co-authored the music for the composition “Ogni volta”, which was sold over three million copies worldwide. Success was followed by another hit-composed album, “Se Telefonando”, the fifth largest album of the year 1966 in Italy.
- Morricone made his film debut by writing and composing music for Luciano Salce’s Italian war drama “Il Federale” (The Fascist) in 1961.
- In 1962 Morricone composed the jazz-influenced score for Salce’s comedy “La voglia matta” (Crazy Desire). Morricone’s composed music includes “Slalom” (1966) and “El Greco” (1966).
- Morricone became internationally known for composing music for “Westerns”, including the hit “Once Upon a Time in the West”, which was one of the best-selling scores worldwide.
- In 1964 he was a co-founder of the Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza (G.I.N.C.). While he was a main member of GINC for over 14 years, he experimented with various anti-musical systems and sound techniques and finally released seven hit albums, including “Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza” (1966), “The Private Sea of Dreams” “( 1967), “Improvisations” (1968).
- In 1969 he was a co-founder of the “Studio Music Village” recording studio in Rome. He has produced all of his compositions in the studio for the past 40 years.
- His most famous comedies include “La Cage aux Folles” (1978) and “La Cage aux Folles II” (1980).
- In 1977 Morricone made John Boorman’s “Exorcist II: The Heretic” and Alberto De Martino’s apocalyptic horror film “Holocaust 2000”. In the same year he composed the official theme for the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
- One of Morricone’s first contributions to an American director concerned his music for the religious epic “The Bible: In the Beginning …”.
- Morricone was outstanding in Hollywood and composed for productive American directors such as Don Siegel, Mike Nichols, Brian De Palma, Barry Levinson and Oliver Stone.
- Morricone’s music has been reused in television series like “The Simpsons” and “The Sopranos” as well as in many films like “Inglourious Basterds” and “Django Unchained”.
- His acclaimed soundtrack for “The Mission” (1986) was awarded gold in the United States.
- In 1987 Morricone wrote “It couldn’t happen here” with the Pet Shop Boys.
- His most famous compositions include “The Ecstasy of Gold”, “Se Telefonando”, “Man with a Harmonica” and “Here’s to You”.
- Morricone influenced many artists during his 65-year career, including Hans Zimmer, Danger Mouse, Dire Straits, Muse, Metallica and Radiohead.
Awards
- 3 Grammy Awards
- 3 golden globes
- 6 BAFTAs
- 10 David di Donatello
- 11 Nastro d’Argento
- 2 European film awards
- The Golden Lion Honorary Award and the Polar Music Prize 2010.
honor
- Morricone won his first competitive Oscar for his score for The Hateful Eight in 2016.
- Morricone and Alex North are the only composers who have received the Academy Honorary Award since their introduction in 1928.
Ennio Morricone’s wife and children
Ennio Morricone married once all his life until he died at the age of 91. His first and only wife is Maria Travia, a writer who wrote texts for Morricone. Morricone first met Travia in 1950 and finally married on October 13, 1956.
They welcomed their first child named Marco in 1957 after marrying for almost a year. During their 64-year married life, Morricone and Trava had three sons and one daughter, including Marco, Alessandra (1961), Andrea (1964) and Giovanni Morricone (1966). Andrea also has a successful career as a composer and conductor, as has Giovanni, who is a filmmaker.
Morricone lived all his life in Italy and never wanted to live in Hollywood.
Ennio Morricone’s Fortune
Ennio Morricone’s career as a versatile Italian composer who had left Hollywood untouched and unmatched for a long time had been remarkable. Morricone had been in the music field for over 65 years until his last breath and had managed to accumulate a wealth from his various composed songs, music and live performances.
His net worth at the time of his death was around $ 50 million. After his fortune had accumulated in millions of dollars, Morricone lived a luxurious lifestyle and was able to give his children a luxurious life that everyone could wish for.
Ennio Morricone’s size
Ennio Morricone was a handsome man when he died in his early 90s. With his unique personality to create new genres of music, he had managed to win several hearts around the world. It was 5 feet tall. 4 inches while his body weight was about 58 kg.
He had a light complexion with white hair and dark brown eyes.
