The famous score with its tootling theme song that may be Morricone's best-known work is the subject of a close reading by Leinberger, a music theorist at the U. of Texas at El Paso. Morricone is a five-time Academy Award nominee who's scored films in many genres, but it's his work for westerns that has tuck in most filmgoers' minds. Leinberger traces the composer's musical background and experience in Italy and in Hollywood; explores the techniques that distinguish his music; and examines the cultural and historical contexts of "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" and its score. A final chapter analyzes the score's compositional techniques from the opening credits to the climactic ending. Includes a selected filmography of Morricone's work. Reference and Research Book News ...a breezy yet highly informative overview of the film, the filmmakers, and the composer...a valuable resource for a pivotal work by one of Italy's most respected and popular composers. -- Mark R. Hassan Music From The Movies Charles Leinberger, a graduate of the University of Arizona, looks at the historical context of Morricone's music before discussing the plot and characters in the film and breaking down the composer's unmistakable techniques, such as the use of the 'micro-cell technique' - the immediate juxtaposition of short and contrasting musical idea - and his unique tonality (the use of minor modes and pentatonic and hexatonic scales). He concludes by dissecting the score in minute detail, focusing on each character's particular musical themes and how they interact with the story. As a history of Morricone and his methods, this is a really fascinating book. Muso
