Ennio Morricone Tribute “il vento (the wind)” for piano, choir & orchestra.
(updated October 5, 2020)
Professional Composer Finalist
[added Oct. 5, 2020] I am proud to announce that the “il vento” tribute was a finalist composition in the Professional Composers Forum and is featured as one of the examples of “How to Write Nostalgic Music”.
About Ennio Morricone:
As one of the world’s greatest composers, Ennio Morricone is truly an inspiration with his vast number (500+) of film scores and large repertoire of concert music.
Fondly referred to as il maestro by his peers, Morricone is just that: a master of his craft, a true virtuoso, effortlessly interweaving contrasting styles to produce some of the most sublime music of our day.
Official Ennio Morricone Website
About this composition:
The theme I used was “the wind”, which I thought suitable for the flowing repetitive figure in the piano. I also used the following musical elements to help convey the “Morricone” film-score sound(*):
- repetitive figures (in the piano and doubled in other instruments)
- fender guitar
- vocal sounds (choir, solo soprano)
- triads (in the acoustic guitar and other instruments)
- sound effects (I used a loud “oil drum” sound combined with other percussion for various hits throughout the piece)
Minor 6th interval voicings were extensively utilized and sound nostalgic or sentimental (think Love Story Theme). I believe it’s the use of the minor 6th over minor AND major chords here that give the piece it’s sad, yet hopeful reflective sound.
The form is ABA. The first A section being the primary theme (Dm – G, F, G, Dm – G). The B section modulates a whole tone higher and intensifies with a variation of the minor 6th motif and brass/percussion stabs. Em evolves back to Dm and at the climax of the B section and the piece, Dm figures morphs into a new sound: Bb/D, but then to an even newer sounding Eb (to tritone A!) and finally back to our familiar and powerful F, G turnaround. The last A section sticks only with the Dm – G progression and as things simplify, fades out with “the wind”.
While it’s fun to share this post-creation analysis, I hope you don’t think about any of this detail when listening and instead simply enjoy! – Brandon
Reference
- * A big “thank you” to Dre Dimura’s 5 Compositional Elements That Define the Music of Ennio Morricone and analysis that helped me when orchestrating this piece. This is a great read if you are interested in learning more about Morricone’s film-score musical style.
- Photo credit: Jelmer de Haas
- Official Ennio Morricone Website