Plays Ennio Morricone
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Ennio Morricone is well-known to moviegoers. His soundtracks for The Mission, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in America, Cinema Paradiso, and others are invariably warmly melodic and superbly suited to the films they grace. They not only add atmosphere; they help tell the story. For this CD Morricone has created new orchestrations for many of his scores, adding a solo cello part for the indefatigable Yo-Yo Ma, whose musical curiosity seems to be endless. Outside the films, these pieces tend to be lovely melodies, mostly pretty sentimental stuff, and, in the best way, gorgeous aural wallpaper. The most moving are the two selections from The Mission, but fans of Morricone's music will find plenty to enjoy here. Ma's playing, as always, is exquisite---warm, deeply felt (given the circumstances), and entirely idiomatic within the context. Perhaps not quite for the classical music lover, but an affectionate reworking of music by an important film composer. --Robert Levine
Plays Ennio Morricone, Music, Yo-Yo Ma, Ennio Morricone, Ennio Morricone, Roma Sinfonietta, Gilda Buttą, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Crossover, Film, Film Music, Orchestral & Symphonic
Average customer rating:
- Is it bad to say I like this better than the original soundtrack?
- Absolutely Exquisite
- Yo Yo Ma and the Maestro Marvelous!!!
- Better Every Time
- Fabulous CD
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Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone
Manufacturer: Sony
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Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: B0002YCVXI
Release Date: 2004-09-28 |
Tracks:
- The Mission: Gabriel's Oboe
- The Mission: The Falls
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Playing Love from The Legend of 1900
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Nostalgia from Cinema Paradiso
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Looking for You (Love Theme) from Cinema Paradiso
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Malena (Main theme)
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Remembering (Ricordare)*
- Sergio Leone Suite: Deborah's Theme from Once Upon A Time In America
- Sergio Leone Suite: Cockeye's Song from Once Upon a Time in America
- Sergio Leone Suite: Main Theme from Once Upon a Time in America
- Sergio Leone Suite: Main Theme from Once Upon a Time in the West
- Sergio Leone Suite: Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
- Brian DePalma Suite: Main Theme from Casualities of War
- Brian DePalma Suite: Death Theme from The Untouchables
- Moses and Marco Polo Suite: Journey from Moses
- Moses and Marco Polo Suite: Theme from Moses
- Moses and Marco Polo Suite: Main Theme from Marco Polo
- The Lady Caliph: Dinner
- The Lady Caliph: Nocturne
Amazon.com
Ennio Morricone is well-known to moviegoers. His soundtracks for The Mission, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in America, Cinema Paradiso, and others are invariably warmly melodic and superbly suited to the films they grace. They not only add atmosphere; they help tell the story. For this CD Morricone has created new orchestrations for many of his scores, adding a solo cello part for the indefatigable Yo-Yo Ma, whose musical curiosity seems to be endless. Outside the films, these pieces tend to be lovely melodies, mostly pretty sentimental stuff, and, in the best way, gorgeous aural wallpaper. The most moving are the two selections from The Mission, but fans of Morricone's music will find plenty to enjoy here. Ma's playing, as always, is exquisite---warm, deeply felt (given the circumstances), and entirely idiomatic within the context. Perhaps not quite for the classical music lover, but an affectionate reworking of music by an important film composer. --Robert Levine
Customer Reviews:
Is it bad to say I like this better than the original soundtrack?.......2007-06-02
I never thought Yo-Yo Ma would do Gabriel's Oboe (Track 1) from THE MISSION justice, but I was wrong. There's a pureness to this version that makes it easier casual listening than the version(s) on the soundtrack CD itself. So no matter how much I love the theatrical "largeness" of the Original Soundtrack (not to mention the full choir), this is the version I grab for the CD player/iPod/whatever.
My two other recommendations are Main Theme from ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (Track 11) and Ecstasy of Gold from THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (Track 12). I suggest playing these consecutively as a single medley. Track 11 *WILL* bring tears to the manliest among us --particularly if you remember in the movie where Sergio Leone pulls the camera up to reveal the town rising.
I get the feeling "hardcore" classical fans would dismiss movie scores as commercial work. I truly believe Ennio Morricone transcends that. Even moreso than, say, John Williams, and on a different plane than a Danny Elfman. And I can't say more about the emotion Yo-Yo Ma brings to the table than what's already been discussed.
Absolutely Exquisite.......2007-05-15
The combination of Morricone and Ma is pure perfection. This CD fills my heart with so much joy that I could just cry. I listen to it almost daily and have given it away as a gift to my loved ones. I am captivated by their incredible talents, and I know you will be too.
Yo Yo Ma and the Maestro Marvelous!!!.......2007-05-13
Having recently succumbed to Yo Yo Ma after a longtime love of Ennio Marricone I was excited to get this CD from Amazon. It is superb! All of the songs had to be recrafted by Morricone to suit Yo Yo Ma but it is a great listen as you sonically travel down memory lane through some of Maestro Moricone's musical marvels. "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission" now becomes "Gabriel's Cello." I laugh as Yo Yo Ma bows his brains out on the "Ecstacy of Gold' from "The Good,The Bad, and The Ugly." I recommend this to all Yo Yo Ma and Morricone fans...a great listen. Soothing after a hard day!
Better Every Time.......2007-05-09
This CD gets better with every listening. It was a great purchase.
Fabulous CD.......2007-05-07
I love Morricone and this CD has some of the best versions of my favorite pieces. I have ordered several as gifts for friends.
Average customer rating:
- He is .....speechless
- The DualDisc
- Essential Collection of Ennio Morricone Music Performed by Yo-Yo Ma
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Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone
Yo-Yo Ma
Manufacturer: Sony
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ASIN: B0006718A8
Release Date: 2005-02-08 |
Tracks:
- The Mission: Gabriel's Oboe
- The Mission: The Falls
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Playing Love from The Legend of 1900
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Nostalgia from Cinema Paradiso
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Looking for You (Love Theme) from Cinema Paradiso
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Malena (Main theme)
- Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Remembering (Ricordare)
- Sergio Leone Suite: Deborah's Theme from Once Upon A Time In America
- Sergio Leone Suite: Cockeye's Song from Once Upon a Time in America
- Sergio Leone Suite: Main Theme from Once Upon a Time in America
- Sergio Leone Suite: Main Theme from Once Upon a Time in the West
- Sergio Leone Suite: Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
- Brian DePalma Suite: Main Theme from Casualities of War
- Brian DePalma Suite: Death Theme from The Untouchables
- Moses and Marco Polo Suite: Journey from Moses
- Moses and Marco Polo Suite: Theme from Moses
- Moses and Marco Polo Suite: Main Theme from Marco Polo
- The Lady Caliph: Dinner
- The Lady Caliph: Nocturne
Album Description
CD AUDIO SIDE: Entire Album
DVD SIDE: * Entire album in 5.1 Surround Sound and enhanced LPCM Stereo * 11-minute behind-the-scenes video of the making of the album * Four short films (8 minutes) by USC film students, inspired by and featuring tracks from the album * Discography This disc is intended to play on standard DVD and CD players. May not play on a limited number of models.
Customer Reviews:
He is .....speechless.......2007-02-15
You can not go wrong with ANY of his Album. I am now collecting ALL of them since my first CD which was a surprise gift to me, I just fall in love. I do Yoga everyday, and fitness work out everyday. I love listening to his CDs whenever to focus my vision, emotion, and relaxes my body. I also like to cook a nice meal while playing his CDs. I wish he was not married! ha ha.
The DualDisc.......2005-10-20
Enough others have talked about the music presented on this disc. It's good - very good - and a testament to the musicians presenting it. Plenty more reviews available for the standard version. This review is of the DualDisc.
Dualdiscs are a relatively new piece of technology - a CD on one side, DVD on the other, and offer a number of advantages, as well as a few problems. The CD side does not conform to the "redbook" CD standard, and as such cannot be played on all CD players (this is a side effect of the thickness of the DualDisc). I've seen estimates ranging from 2% to 30% incompatibility, so be aware of this. The CD side seems to be especially problematic in computer DVD drives, so if you're purchasing a DualDisc and intending to rip the material to mp3, try to borrow a disc first to check that it will work correctly. Also, the extra thickness and double sided nature of the discs means you shouldn't use them in slot loading CD players like most car stereos or multi-disc juke boxes. All that said, I haven't had problems playing the CD side of any of my DualDiscs.
The DVD side is the same standard as normal DVDs, and can be played on any DVD player or drive. This offers slightly higher quality stereo playback (although I defy anyone to hear the difference) and often Dolby 5.1 playback, as well as an opportunity for extras.
On this DualDisc, the music is presented with a number of student films which are hardly worth the time to view, and a film of Yo-Yo Ma and Ennio Morricone talking about each other - the sort of gushing that would perhaps better be kept in private. If you do not have and do not expect ever to own a system capable of 5.1 playback, I would not recommend purchasing this DualDisc. But if you have 5.1 playback, it is a revalation. The difference between stereo and 5.1 is like night and day. The sound become more open, immersive, and defined. The rear channels are not overused - most of the time you'll be hard pressed to hear them at all - but take them away and you notice their absense. Sparingly, they are used to provide an aural backdrop such as the use of choir, and each time the effect is stunning. It's hard to put a finger on precisely why the 5.1 mix sounds so much better, but it more alive, involving, and emotive, and very, very worth the premium required to buy the DualDisc version of this album.
DualDiscs are, for the most part, a waste of time if they only contain stereo tracks or if you can't play back in 5.1. If you have a home theater, then buy this disc and enjoy a masterful soundscape and experience.
Essential Collection of Ennio Morricone Music Performed by Yo-Yo Ma.......2005-10-06
When Ennio Morricone & Yo-Yo Ma met at the Oscars in 2001 (Morricone nominated for Malena; Ma performing on the Oscar winning score to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) they both shared great interest in teaming up together. Three years later this album came to fruition. A stunning compilation of Morricone's music, newly orchestrated for Ma's cello.
The music is, as always exceptional from Morricone, ranging from the rich and spiritual 'The Mission', to the idiosyncratic genius of 'The Good, The Bad And The Ugly'. Morricone has in places significantly altered the music to accommodate the cello. Yo-Yo Ma's supreme command over his instrument combines with an excellent performance of the Roma Sinfonietta under Morricone's baton.
The album starts with a brief suite from 'The Mission'. In Gabriel's Oboe (surely one of the most beautiful pieces of music written), Ma weaves his cello throughout the piece in spectacular fashion. The cello starts playing the melody, giving way to the oboe, and then plays in countermelody - breathtaking stuff.
The suite for the films of Giuseppe Tornatore starts off with the exquisite, 'Playing Love' from 'The Legend Of 1900'. Morricone's regular pianist, Gilda Butta, plays splendidly throughout the beautiful track. Other highlights include the nostalgic 'Cinema Paradiso' (one of Morricone's best), and the gorgeous theme from 'Malena'.
Many people became familiar with Morricone through his music from Sergio Leone's legendary films. Morricone had an unprecedented freedom to write the music for those films, often writing the themes before the film had even been shot. The haunting music from 'Once Upon A Time In America' is almost overwhelming in sheer emotion. Yo-Yo Ma's performance of 'Cockeye's Song' is outstanding. The main theme from 'Once Upon A Time In The West is played without the usual solo soprano part, instead replaced by the cello. The most unusual choice of music included on the album is 'The Ecstasy Of Gold' from 'The Good, The Bad And The Ugly'. I was unsure how Morricone could make it work for the cello but he certainly does. This piece of music is drastically altered from its original form but Morricone keeps the spirit of the piece intact. It is a breathtaking track, surely one of, if not Morricone's best.
Next up is a short suite of music from the films of Brian DePalma. The main theme from 'Casualties Of War' is played without the choir. The 'Death Theme' form 'The Untouchables' features a sad and touching piece of music played beautifully by Ma, his cello replacing the sax in the original piece.
The album is rounded off with two suites of music that may be obscure to some listeners, but are equal in quality to the rest of the music that has come before hand. 'Moses' and 'Marco Polo' are featured first. 'Marco Polo' contains one of Morricone's best themes, magnificent; highly memorable. The album ends with two beautiful tracks from 'The Lady Caliph'.
The album is beautifully presented with many pictures and quotes of the composer and performer. This version of this excellent compilation features a Dual Disc. One side of the disc contains the album playable on most Audio CD players. On the other side the album is a DVD. The complete album is presented in a 5.1 Dolby Digital surround mix. It sounds outstanding, providing a far better listen for those with the capability. The DVD includes exclusive footage of the two legendary musicians talking together and recording the music. This disc also features four short films set to the music.
This is really an exceptional compilation of great music. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It comes as an excellent introduction to the music of both musicians and is also a satisfying listen to their fans.
Average customer rating:
- The barest glimpse of John Williams
- Maybe it'll grow on me
- Very Good!!!
- disappointing
- Williams' Winning Style Captures Film Scores
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John Williams Plays the Movies
Manufacturer: Sony
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Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: B0000029W8
Release Date: 1997-04-01 |
Tracks:
- Kiss From A Rose (Batman Forever)
- Everything I Do (Robin Hood)
- Unchained Melody (Ghost)
- Love Is All Around (Four Weddings And A Funeral)
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- Moon River (Breakfast At Tiffany's)
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- Calling You (Bagdad Cafe)
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Customer Reviews:
The barest glimpse of John Williams.......2006-08-15
John Williams is one of the world's best guitarists, but you'd never know it by listening to this album. He basically plucks out the melody. I think I hear more complex playing in the background, but if that's what it is, it's mixed so as to be barely audible. On the other hand, it's very nice background music. I hope brisk sales support Williams' more serious efforts.
Maybe it'll grow on me.......2004-07-28
If I were not a guitarist myself, I would find this collection very very charming. Certainly the selections are beautiful, and Williams is renowned for one of them: Stanley Myers' "Cavatina" from THE DEER HUNTER. It's just that for me this recording does virtually nothing for either the guitar or the lovely pieces selected for this rather peculiar alteration. I'm just not sure that this kind of project, where a virtuoso SOLOIST is brought in to ACCOMPANY an orchestra (Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma have done similar recordings) is a winner; not even five percent of Williams' prodigious technique is anywhere to be heard and he just sounds so irrelevant. (I'd usually expect to hear this kind of thing from Liona Boyd.) That being acknowledged though, the melodies ARE perfectly lovely and Mr. Williams HAS throughout his great career done many brilliant recordings of dense and difficult music that leave one's mouth agape. I suppose he's earned this little vacation.
Very Good!!!.......2002-09-15
I like this CD very much, I have looked for it for 5 years since I listened its MP3, I got it now, thanks!
disappointing.......2001-04-24
While this album is pleasant enough, it is more orchestra music than classical guitar. John Williams is a great classical guitarist, but the guitar part on this album could have been played by any competent guitarist. If you want nice background music, this album is ok. If you want classical guitar music, look elsewhere.
Williams' Winning Style Captures Film Scores.......2000-08-25
If you like film music, this CD is for you; if you like guitar music, this CD is for you. John Williams brings his guitar virtuosity to bear masterfully on the scores of a number of popular films, which span a period of 60 years.
The use of the guitar gives a different sound to number of the selections, and shows that a good piece of music will shine, no matter what the instrumentation.
Average customer rating:
- Lots of variety
- Zorn's first masterpiece
- Definitely a must-have Zorn album!
- This is the first major Zorn album
- Yes, better than the original
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The Big Gundown: John Zorn Plays the Music of Ennio Morricone
Manufacturer: Tzadik
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Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: B00004W3KY
Release Date: 2000-08-22 |
Tracks:
- The Big Gundown
- Peur Sur La Ville
- Poverty (Once Upon A Time In America)
- Milano Odea
- Erotico (The Burglars)
- Battle Of Algiers
- Giu La Testa (Duck You Sucker!)
- Metamorfosi (La Classe Operaia Va In Paradiso)
- Tre Nel 5000
- Once Upon A Time In The West
- The Sicilian Clan
- Macchie Solari
- The Ballad Of Hank McCain (Vocal)
- Svegliatti & Uccidi
- Chi Mai
- The Ballad Of Hank McCain (Instrumental)
Amazon.com
As if John Zorn's super-creative take on film composer Ennio Morricone weren't essential in its first iteration on Nonesuch Records, Zorn is celebrating the album's 15th anniversary with an updated, remastered version. The darker lows and brighter highs make this Gundown clearly superior--with its original cast of characters (Bill Frisell, Arto Lindsay, Diamanda Galas, and many more) sounding alternately darker, sultrier, and more cinematic than ever. Zorn's reticence to record the original album's 10 pieces looks altogether unreasonable, as his genius for adding color and dimension to Morricone's tunes shows profusely. To make this an even better deal, there are six new bonus tracks that feature Marc Ribot as part of an ad hoc string quartet on "The Sicilian Clan" and "Chi Mai," and as sparring partner with British avant guitar god Derek Bailey on the roaring "Svegliatti and Uccidi." This one's magnificently important. --Andrew Bartlett
Customer Reviews:
Lots of variety.......2007-06-10
John Zorn stepped away from his game piece albums and began to get into more conventional songs with "The Big Gundown". A set of 15 Ennio Morricone songs, and one Zorn-penned homage to a Morricone song, it's a difficult album to classify. Zorn is usually characterized as jazz, but this is a long long way from Louis Armstrong, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of improvisation. Zorn himself performs only on a minority of the songs. He's more of a producer-arranger. But, even if he isn't playing the alto sax, these songs bear Zorn's unmistakeable imprint. There's an original 1985 section, and Zorn added some bonus songs in 2000.
Let's describe all the songs since the music sample is often deceptive for this CD. "The Big Gundown" aims for creepy. There are ominous piano chords, dissonant noises, and screams. The music resolves somewhat when a Brazilian percussion section begins, and ends with some Rawhide-esque "ha"'s. "Peur Sur La Ville" is built around an unsettling piano figure and noises. It has a unconventional free-jazz aura to it. "Poverty" is a quiet song based on Toots Thielman's whistling. "Milano Odeo" is a catchy, almost rock-n-roll song taken at a brisk pace. As the song goes on, the keyboards get more unsettling and the guitar gets noisier. "Erotico" has bluesy organ, and Bill Frisell's most romantic electric guitar (in an '80's way) paired with female vocalizations. "Battle Of Algiers" might be my favorite (maybe just because of the represented movies I've seen it's my favorite). Wayne Horvitz pounds out the tense piano line while sounds effects explode in the background. "Giu La Testa" has a slow build for about four minutes, then there's a plucking, walking part to take the song out. "Metamorfosi" is a good song to play when you want guests to leave, Diamanda Galas screams on top of tribal drums. "Tre Nel 5000" is credited to Zorn as a composer. To me, it sounds like a 4 1/2 minute dose of ambient noise. "Once Upon A Time In The West" starts quietly and deliberately, with feedback swelling and decaying. Robert Quine and Jody Harris play their guitars otherwise very minimalistically (not minimally, the feedback is constant). That ends the 1985 section of the CD.
The 2000 section uses an updated cast of players. "The Sicilian Clan" is familiar from the "Naked City" CD, though the instrumentation is more acoustic, and Cyro Baptista adds "western movie" percussion. "Macchie Solari" is another unsettling song. It ends in a fit of crashing piano chords and screams. "The Ballad Of Hank McCain" teams Mike Patton's heroic baritone with Jamie Saft's organ and Baptista's background congas. It's one of the more accessible songs, I wonder what it would sound like with a fuller band. The later instrumental version sounds about the same except, of course, without singing. "Svegliatti And Uccidi", with Marc Ribot and Derek Bailey on guitar-mangling duties, is a skronky blow-out. "Chi Mai", with the same musicians as "The Sicilian Clan", has a pretty melody and gentle music.
Some of these songs are very cool and original, others I can go without. Since it's a mixed bag I give it three stars. Zorn is certainly an original, and fans will want to make sure they have this one.
Zorn's first masterpiece.......2005-04-30
One of the best albums in Zorn's catalog, "The Big Gundown" is a masterpiece augmented in this 15th anniversary edition with a number of new recordings. These are reinterpretations of Mooricone pieces (with one Zorn original) for various groups. The entire record is powerful and energetic, with breathtaking arrangements, brilliant performances, and a fire that had not been captured in Zorn's previous recordings. It is also probably his first true masterpiece.
I think in many ways, the opener and title track best illustrates the aesthetic on the record, if you don't like that one, you'll probably not care for the rest of it-- it covers a number of moods, being dark, haunting, theatrical, explosive and esoteric, sometimes all at once. This sort of theatrical mood extends across a number of songs, the haunting circular piano and percussion workout "Peur Sur la Ville" (with a blazing alto sax solo from Tim Berne), an the dark electric guitar workout take of "Once Upon a Time in the West", reduced a funereal pace.
But there are also many moments of delicate beauty as well-- take for instance "Poverty (Once Upon a Time in America)", with an unusual instrumentation of whistling, harmonica (both handled by Toots Theilman), harp and accordian. Particularly when the harmonica takes the melody, the support swells and embraces and holds on, expressing pain and loss and fear for the future. Or consider the brooding and yet someone still light "Giu la Testa (Duck You Sucker!)", building anticipation through its dark motifs and bizarre instrumentation (among others, the Japanese shamisen, english horn, acoustic guitar, gamecalls and keyboards).
The bonus tracks are no less essential-- Zorn brought in about everyone he played with for the originals, these were a chance to catch up. The amazing thing about Zorn is that as an arranger, he's lost none of his flair in the intervening years, in fact, he may have even gotten better. Zorn uses his "Bar Kokhba" sextet (the Masada String Trio augmented by guitarist Marc Ribot, drummer Joey Baron and percussionist Cyro Baptista) to great effect on breathtaking arrangements of "The Sicilian Clan" and "Chi Mai", and adds another great guitar workout feature with Ribot and Derek Bailey in a noisy, disjoint take of "Sveggliatti and Uccidi", but its Mike Patton's Tom growl on "The Ballad of Hank McCain" that is the gem of the material-- stunning delivery that really captures something special (and may be the best vocal Patton has ever done) over a delicate organ (Jamie Saft) and percussion (Baptista) backdrop that matches and perhaps outstrips the best of the original material.
This is essential music for Zorn fans, if you're not, this may well be a good place to start-- the music can be difficult, and it covers a ton of moods, but there is a lot to hear. Highly recommended.
Definitely a must-have Zorn album!.......2004-04-27
I've got about 30 Zorn albums, and this was the first I heard, back in college late during an all-nighter. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Fantastic stuff, and very weird. This is more listenable than some, but definitely not the most easy of Zorn's albums. Great treatments of some familiar pieces if you're into spaghetti westerns.
This is on my must-have list for Zorn albums.
This is the first major Zorn album.......2003-03-15
Back in the mid-1980s, Zorn wrote new arrangements of Ennio Morricone's soundtrack music. He hired the best musicians to play the songs. Then, in 2000, he remastered the old album and filled out the disc with five more Morricone songs.
The result is CD that's all over the place, ranging from beautiful to ugly, from very complex to painfully simple. "Chi Mai," for example is a song you'll listen to over and over. It never gets old. But then there's "Metamorfosi," in which a woman howls and screams over the sound of slowly pounding drums.
Yes, better than the original.......2002-08-14
I just recently took the plunge on this reissue of the Big Gundown, comparing it to my original Nonesuch CD, and the new one is a winner. The music is obviously the same, and great it still is, but I always regretted the thickness of sound and low-level mastering of the original CD. The reissue has cleaned, brightened and polished the sound to a much higher level, it blossoms immediately in the ears and is now superb. The additional tracks are a treat too, Chi Mai is one of Morricone's greatest and pithiest themes, although the manner of the new material is fairly straight-ahead. Also nice is the extensive liner notes, an addition from the original release and a departure for many other Tzadik-Zorn recordings. Zorn fans should go for this in an instant, as should the Zorn-curious. This is his single greatest and most important record.
Morricone fans, you should give this a try too! This will challenge your ears and your notions of one of your favorites, and that's a good thing. Zorn is always true both to the themes from the movies and the context of those movies, which is the most remarkable thing. But for those only used to straight renditions of the music, this CD will shock, because the music is put through a cut-and-paste technique that owes much to cartoon music, and a recontextualization that owes is all to a free-improvisation aesthetic. Don't let those ears and minds get flaccid, folks!
Average customer rating:
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Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone [SACD] [China]
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Ma, Yo-Yo
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ASIN: B000CC3SDW
Release Date: 2006-01-03 |
Customer Reviews:
match made in heaven.......2007-05-17
Morricone and Ma pair up to create a superb aural experience. Ma's lovely cello counterpoints Morricone's wondrous melodies perfectly. If you are new to Morricone, I would suggest getting the original soundtracks first. Get this in SACD! Highly recommended!!
Average customer rating:
- Great Zorn album-- one of his best
- The Big Gundown.
- great cd!
- Intelligent use of technology
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The Big Gundown: John Zorn Plays The Music Of Ennio Morricone
John Zorn
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Avant Garde & Free Jazz
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Movie Soundtracks
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ASIN: B000005IY1
Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- The Big Gundown
- Peur Sur La Ville
- Poverty (Once Upon A Time In America)
- Milano Odea
- Erotico (The Burglars)
- Battle Of Algiers
- Giu La Testa (Duck, You Sucker!)
- Metamorfosi (La Classe Operaia Va In Paradiso)
- Tre Nel 5000
- Once Upon A Time In The West
Customer Reviews:
Great Zorn album-- one of his best.......2004-04-27
I reviewed the rerelease of this album, and suggest you buy the remastered version for the clarity of the remastering job. Not that the original was bad--far from it. It's a fantastic recording--weird and wonderful.
This is one of my favorite Zorn albums, though it's a challenging listen on some of the pieces.
The Big Gundown........2001-03-25
Great record by John Zorn,more for Zorn's fans than Morricone's. Zorn manages to create an inventive and extraodinary blend of modern and film music. We know Zorn has always been a fan of film music specially toon music, but this time he went beyond all expectations. This is a jewel in any record serious collection and I don't mean this music lacks sense of humour! If you can't find this CD, I strongly recomend to get YANKEES in Charly Records reissue. J.L.
great cd!.......2000-06-20
let me start by saying that what the person who posted the review from august 1998 is not correct. john zorn has done so-called "game pieces" that are based on very strict rules: e.g. "cobra", "pool" and "archery". however, on this tribute he does NOT use that approach. onto my thoughts of this cd then: if you like morricones music and are looking for new and adventurous interpretations - buy it! in the liner notes morricone himself states that he usually objects to the idea of his music being re-interpreted and/or re-recorded by other artists, but that he was pleasantly surprised with zorn's achievements, and that he actually even liked them. which speaks for itself, i'd say. enough said.
Intelligent use of technology.......1998-08-07
Playing around with sound (snippets of different kinds of music, ambient noise, etc.) within a framework of rules (supposedly based on game theory in math). Composed improvisation (someone in the liner notes of the London Jazz Composers Orchestra's Ode says Zorn says if he knows a musician, he knows what he will improvise in a given situation). Ennio Moriccone composed the music for the old Clint Eastwood westerns. Fun stuff.
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Plays the Movies, Vol. 2
Manufacturer: Fabulous
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Vangelis
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ASIN: B0001W0TI0
Release Date: 2004-05-25 |
Tracks:
- Take My Breath Away
- Unchained Melody
- Evergreen
- It Must Have Been Love
- Chariots Of Fire
- People
- Cavatina
- The Mission
- Where Do I Begin
- The Way We Were
- Stand By Me
- Blue Velvet
- True Love Ways
- The Second Time
Average customer rating:
- A superb cd
- Great Stuff!
- The Kronos of the string trios!
- Amazing CD!
- new CD
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Triology Plays Ennio Morricone
Triology , and Ennio Morricone
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
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ASIN: B00000DFUR
Release Date: 1998-11-10 |
Tracks:
- The Man With The Harmonica
- For Love One Can Die
- Gabriel's Oboe
- Svegliati e uccidi
- Chi Mai
- Cockey's Song
- Romanza
- A Fistful Of Dollars
- Legami (Atame!)
- Dedicade
- Once Upon A Time In The West
- The Sicilian Clan
Amazon.com
The music of Ennio Morricone is, of course, cinematic in sweep and its gradations of nuance and emotion. The Vienna-based string trio Triology does an excellent job here massaging these 12 Morricone film pieces for all their cinematic dynamism, but they go further. They transform "Gabriel's Oboe" (from The Mission) into a brief, mournful Baroque-ish piece and elevate "The Man with the Harmonica" (from Once upon a Time in the West) into a howling, bent-note, shuffling delight. Pitching the violins of Daisy Jopling and Aleksey Igudesman together with the cello of Tristan Schulze, Triology utilize their lower-key ranges for deft rhythmic effect, giving Morricone's music a strong swing. With the Morricone Fistful of Film Music anthology and the John Zorn tribute, The Big Gundown, Triology's nod to the master of film music is graceful and talented and full of adventurous fun. --Andrew Bartlett
Customer Reviews:
A superb cd.......2002-10-25
This is the second disc (the first was "Who shot the Viola Player") I buy from Triology, and I must say it's one of my favorites titles. This it's a disc you can hear all day long, without getting bored.
Great Stuff!.......2000-04-29
Having heard a lot of classical string playing in my time, I have to admit that I was sceptical about purchasing this CD. What a surprise! Its marvellous. Fantastically played and just so enjoyable to listen to. I wake up to it most mornings.
The Kronos of the string trios!.......2000-04-13
I am a big Kronos fan and therefore like to check out different string groups who do out of the ordinary things. I have to say that this group is fabulous, reminding me of the Kronos quartet at their very best. And to be honest, I have the feeling they are even more funky! I have been listening to this CD day in and day out, and am still loving it. Cant wait for the next one.
Amazing CD!.......2000-04-07
This is just some of the best, original and exiting string playing there is! Its an amazing CD with brilliant aranegements, a must for all Morricone lovers, and people who like funky but yet deeply touching string playing. Two thumbs up!
new CD.......2000-01-19
try Triology's new CD, out in Austria and soon in the US. It's fantastic, and includes their own compositions.
'Who killed the viola player ?'
If you can't get hold of it, contact BMG, their record company.
Average customer rating:
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Plays Ennio Morricone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
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ASIN: B0004FS7CY
Release Date: 2006-01-03 |
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