Comments on: Ennio Morricone’s Score for Once Upon a Time in the West (Part 3 of 3): The Frank/Harmonica Theme https://filmmusicnotes.com/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/ Understanding the Art of Film Music Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:18:24 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 By: Mark Richards https://filmmusicnotes.com/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-80324 Sun, 01 Jan 2023 11:22:47 +0000 https://filmmusicnotes.com/2014/06/30/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-80324 In reply to Hoc Tro.

Dear Hoc Tro,
Many thanks for the kind words. I’ve always tried to reach a broad audience with my blog, so it is great to hear that you find it informative for the layman. Morricone has always been a favourite of mine, especially the Leone westerns. And Gabriel’s Oboe has always been fascinating to me as well since it sounds so natural and flowing yet is rather difficult to analyze by traditional methods for theme structure. So that’s why I came up with ideas for how composers vary ideas instead of simply repeat them or contrast with them. And Morricone was certainly a master of variation. Also have a look at Charles Leinberger’s book on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, where he discusses something called the “micro-cell” technique, essentially a way of varying material. He actually presented a whole paper on this technique in The Ecstasy of Gold, but I don’t know that he’s published it anywhere. Anyway, thank you again for your comment!

]]> By: Hoc Tro https://filmmusicnotes.com/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-80315 Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:54:09 +0000 https://filmmusicnotes.com/2014/06/30/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-80315 Dear Mark,
I learned so much from your three-part analysis of the Maestro’s Once Upon A Time In the West. As with other comments on the series, I hope you will continue your research on Ennio Morricone, and possibly publish them as a book.

I also read your article “Film Music Themes: Analysis and Corpus Study”. Very insightful indeed, in particular your analysis of “Gabriel’s Oboe” from “The Mission” with its “A2” expansion and “hinge” techniques.

I have read a few other books, some devoted totally to the Maestro such as “Reflection of Ennio Morricone Music: Fame and Legacy” by professor Franco Sciannameo, or a chapter of the book from the author Andy Hill entitled “Scoring the screen”, where he analyzes the main theme “The Strength of the Righteous” from “The Untouchables”. There was also one online analysis of the “Love Theme” of the film “Cinema Paradiso” by Dr. Christopher Brellocs. As interesting as those are, I found your analyzing essays more down-to-earth, so to speak, so laymen can follow your explanation and appreciate the genius of our beloved Maestro.

Thank you again for your Ennio Morricone’s essays and I hope to read more in the near future,

Best regards,

]]> By: Mark Richards https://filmmusicnotes.com/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-77279 Mon, 20 Jul 2020 03:15:43 +0000 https://filmmusicnotes.com/2014/06/30/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-77279 In reply to Mario.

Hi Mario, I would very much like to write some posts given Maestro Morricone’s recent passing. Bear with me and I’ll see if I can put something together soon.

]]> By: Mario https://filmmusicnotes.com/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-77267 Fri, 17 Jul 2020 08:37:51 +0000 https://filmmusicnotes.com/2014/06/30/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-77267 Dear Mark, would it be possible for you to post some more analysis of late Ennio Morricone’s music? I love your way of looking into film music scores, and frankly I cannot find anything worthy of reading on Morricone’s music… And, besides, I simply miss your writing. Best regards!

]]> By: Frank https://filmmusicnotes.com/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-33301 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 19:24:44 +0000 https://filmmusicnotes.com/2014/06/30/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-33301 Something interesting to mention also with the ostinato is that, based on a triplet rythm (3/4 I suppose) when the first section enters, this create an interesting polyrythhm between the guitar melody (4 beats) and the continuing ostinato played by strings (3 beats). I’m sure there would be a lot to say about Morricone use of rythm and he surely has a couple of common tricks in that field too!

]]> By: Sue https://filmmusicnotes.com/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-15961 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 05:59:52 +0000 https://filmmusicnotes.com/2014/06/30/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-15961 This is wonderful Mark – so interesting. I’ll get to the piano and play some of these sections of your analysis.

The extraordinary thing about Morricone is his versatility- no two scores sound the same. Whether it be these Sergio Leonie westerns, Tornatore’s “Cinema Paradiso” or de Palma’s “The Untouchables”, this music represents the very best of the art and I thank you for your intensive analysis of “Once Upon a Time in the West”. Curiously, I’ve never regarded these films as terribly visually interesting because they remind me too much of the ‘zoom in/zoom out’ aesthetic so much a part of 60’s and 70’s films. The music raises the stakes, though!!

Another example of the parts of a film being better than its sum!

]]> By: Karoly Mazak https://filmmusicnotes.com/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-15621 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:03:35 +0000 https://filmmusicnotes.com/2014/06/30/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/#comment-15621 Hi Mark,

Thank you for another interesting essay on Morricone’s music.
I hope you can find some time and inspiration to analyse some of his other Western scores with Leone.
While there is a Filmscore Guide on The Good, the Bad and the Ugly; I have not seen any kind of analysis of “For a few dollars more”, which is my favourite part of the Leone/Morricone Dollar-Trilogy.

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