Ennio Morricone

biography

1928
Ennio Morricone is born in Rome on November 10. His father, Mario Morricone, trumpet player, and the mother Libera Ridolfi, housewife live in the Via San Francesco a Ripa in the district Trastevre. Later, around 1932, they move to the Via Luciano Manara, where there are born Adriana, Aldo, Maria and Franca.
1934
First compositorial tryouts
1938
Morricone's brother Aldo dies at the age of 3.
Inscription at the Conservatory of S. Cecilia for the trumpet class of Umberto Semproni, who after his death is followed by Reginaldo Caffarelli.
1941
Morricone is chosen among the students of the Conservatory to be a part of the Orchestra of the Opera directed by Carlo Zecchi on the occasion of a tour of "Veneta" (the region of Venice).
1943
The teacher of complementary Harmony Roberto Caggiano, recognizing his gifts, promotes him to the course of principal Harmony which the student completes in 6 months, and is the first to suggest the study of Composition.
Not by chance Morricone replaces his ill father in the band of Costantino Ferri, who play for the German troops at the Nightclub Florida in Rome.
1944
Enters the course of elementary composition together with Carlo Giorgio Garofalo and Antonio Ferdinandi. He is second trumpet, beside his father, in the musical ensemble conducted by Alberto Flamini which plays for the American and Canadian troops in the hotels "Mediterraneo" and "Massimo d'Azeglio" of Rome.
1946
On October 11, he receives his trumpet diploma with a mark of 7/10. The comission consits of C. Di Nicola, Riccardo Scozzi, Arrigo Tassinari, Carlo Tentoni, Carlo Clementi and another member, whose signature can't be read (R. Caffarelli?).
Morricone composes Il Mattino for voice and piano on a text by Fukuko (translation by Balbi), first in a group of seven juvanile songs.
First engagement as instrumentalist and arranger in the revue theater.
1947
Morricone composes Imitazione, for voice and piano on a text by Giacomo Leopardi, Iintimità, for voice and piano on a text by Olinto Dini.
First engagement as composer of music for the serious theater.
1950
Meets Maria Travia, his future spouse. In occasion of the "Anno Santo" (Holy Year), he arranges a long group of popular songs of devotion for radio broadcasting.
1951
Attends the third and last year of the course of Choral Music and Choral Direction at the Conservatory (under the teacher Giovanni Antonelli, director of the Cappella Giulia), but abandons before obtaining his diploma.
1952
On July 14 he obtains the diploma in instrumentation for bands (fanfare)under the teacher Antonio d'Elia with a 9/10 grade. Morricone composes Barcarola funebre for piano and Preludio a una Novella senza titolo.
Morricone writes his first background music for radio dramas.
1953
Morricone composes Distacco I and Distacco II for voice and piano on a text by Ranieri Gnoli; Verrà la morte for contralto and piano on a text by Cesare Pavese; Oboe sommerso for baritone and five instruments on a text by Salvatore Quasimodo.
Realizes his first arrangements for a long series of evening radio shows.
Morricone completes the Sonata for brass, timpani and piano - the first work to be entered in his offical Opus Catalog.
1954
On July 6 he concludes his studies under Goffredo Petrassi, obtaining the diploma in Composition with a grade of 9.5/10. The comission consists of Guido Guerrini (director), Virgilio Mortari, Goffredo Petrassi, Fernando Previtali and Guido Turchi.
1955
Morricone starts to write or arrange music for films credited to other already well-known composers.
Leaves for military service the same year. First at the informationservices, later at the grenardiercorps in Montereale, Siena and Rome, where he has the opportunity to transcribe many compositions by various authors for military-bands.
1956
At the Church "Santa Cosima e Damiano" Morricone marries Maria Travia on October 13. With his wife he moves from the Via delle Fratte to the Via Mattia Montecchi and so he stays in the district Trastevere.
1957
His first child, Marco, is born.
Morricone does his first music for a TV-theatre-show.
At the competion for the direction of the Conservatory of Sassari he gets the fourth place (First of the non-fitting).
1958
Morricone gets hired at the "Rai" as musical assistant, but gives his resignation on the first day of work.
He goes to Darmstadt, where he attends a seminar given by John Cage, and goes to the first performance of Cori di Didone by Luigi Nono.
At the opening of the concert-season of the theatre La Fenice in Venice the first performance of the Concerto per orchestra takes place.
Morricone starts to collaborate as arranger on variety television shows.
1961
His second child, Alessandra, is born.
Morricone moves from the Via Maurizio Quadrio to the district Monteverde-Vecchio.
Morricone signs for his first soundtrack for the film Il federale by Luciano Salce.
1964
His third child, Andrea, is born.
Morricone starts the collaboration with Sergio Leone and Bernardo Bertolucci.
His activities as arranger for RCA, since a few years already very intense, comes to its peak.
1965
Morricone receives the "Nastro d'Argento" for his music for Per un pugno di dollari.
He is invited by Franco Evangelisti to join the "Nuova Consonanza" and starts to take part in the activities of the international group of improvisation of the same name.
1966
His fourth child, Giovanni, is born.
Begin of his collaboration with Pier Paolo Pasolini and with Gillo Pontecorvo.
1967
Morricone moves to Mentana in the Via delle Molette.
Start of the collaboration with Mauro Bolognini.
Is asked to be part of the jury of the XXth "Festival International du Film in Cannes".
1968
Morricone reduces sensibly his activities as arranger in favor of film music, and signs 20 film scores in this single year.
Start of his collaboration with Elio Petri.
1969
Morricone receives the award "Spoleto Cinema".
Start of his collaboration with Giuliano Montaldo.
1970
Teaches Composition in the new municipal school of music "Linicio Refice" of Frosinone, where he has Silvano Aureli, Luigi De Castris, Luigi Di Stefano, Antonio Poce and Riccardo Zenadocchio as students. He will abandon the position in 1972.
He receives the "Nastro d'Argento" for his music for the film Metti, una sera a cena.
1971
He receives the "Nastro d'Argento" for his music for the film Sacco and Vanzetti.
1972
Collaborates with the "Studio R7 for Electronic Music" of Rome.
Receives the "Cork Film International Award" for the music of La califfa.
1974
His father Mario dies.
Morricone moves back to the Viale Libano in the district Eur.
1974
Death of Pier Paolo Pasolini.
1979
Academy Award nomination for the music of Days of Heaven.
1980
Death of Franco Evangelisti.
1981
Morricone moves to his actual flat opposite of the Campidoglio.
He receives the award of the "critica discographia" (critics of the recording industry) for the music of the film Il prato.
1983
Death of Elio Petri.
Morricone is elected to the board of administration of "Nuova Consonanza" (until 1985).
He reduces sensibly his production of film music.
1984
In Zagarolo, he reads an inaugural speech in occasion of the festivities for the 80th birthday anniversary of Goffredo Petrassi.
Along with Paola Bernardi, Egisto Macchi and Carlo Marinelli, he founds the "I.r.te.m." (Institute of Research for the Musical Theatre).
1985
He receives the "Nastro d'Argento" and the BAFTA (The British Academy of Film & Television Arts) for the music for the film C'era una volta in America.
1986
Oscar Nomination, BAFTA and Golden Globe Award for his score for The Mission.
With the score consisting of only two titles Morricone reaches a minimum in the history of soundtracks.
1988
The "Gruppo di Ricerca e Sperimentazione Musicale" of Rome organizes in the "Sala ex Stenditoio" (S.Michele monument Complex) a concert of chamber music by Egisto Macchi and Ennio Morricone, on the occasion of their 60th anniversary.
For the music of the film The Untouchables Morricone receives the "Nastro d'Argento", the BAFTA, the Grammy Award and an Oscar nomination.
For the music of the film Gli occhiali d'oro he receives the "David di Donatello".
1989
The "Istituzione Universitaria dei Concerti" in Rome -44th Season of Chamber Music- dedicates an entire concert to him in the Aula Magna of the university "La Sapienza", later to be broadcasted by RAI3.
The "Conservatoire Royal de Musique in Liege" presents a symphony concert entirely dedicated to Morricone, and also conducted by him.
The XXVth Festival "Pontino di Musica" dedicates a concert to him in Sermoneta, to which Petrassi attends.
The group "Musica 900" of Frosinone dedicates an entire concert of chamber music to him.
Death of Sergio Leone.
Morricone receives the award "David di Donatello" for the music of the film Nuovo Cinema Paradiso.
He receives the "Ninth Annual Ace Winner" for the music of the film Il giorno prima.
Receives the "Pardo d'Oro" for career achievement from the "Festival del Cinema" of Locarno.
He is made honorary citizen of Arpino, country of origin of his paternal grand-parents.
1990
The "Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia" programs for its Symphonic Season 1989/90 the Cantata per l'Europa performed in the auditorium of the "Via della Conciliazione".
The "Accademia Italiana di Musica Contemporanea" dedicates an evening of chamber music to him at the Teatro Ghione.
The XXVIIth festival of "Nuova Consonanza" dedicates a concert of chamber music to him at the "Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna" of Rome.
He conducts the symphonic orchestra of city Bari in the "Auditorium Nino Rota", in a program of film music.
He receives the BAFTA, the "Prix Fondation Sacem" of the XLIIIrd Cannes Film Festival for the music of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso.
He participates in the international conferenc of music and cinema at the "Fondazione Accademia Musicale Chigiana" of Siena.
1991
At the request of Luciano Alberti, the "Accademia Chigiana" re-establishes its summer courses in film music, which they entrust with Ennio Morricone and Sergio Miceli.
The 60th "Estate Musicale Chigiana" presents a concert with music by Ghirardi, Donatoni and Morricone.
Morricone receives the "David di Donatello" for the music of Stanno tutti bene.
The English musicologist Philip Tagg proposes Morricone as the recipient of the doctorate (honoris causa) at the University of Goeteborg.
1992
On the occasion of a course on film music organized by the "Internationales Seminar für Filmgestaltung" of Basilea, given both by Hansjoerg Pauli and Sergio Miceli, the "Musikakademie der Stadt Basel" dedicates a chamber music concert to him.
At an idea of Egisto Macchi Morricone reworks Puccini's Tosca for small orchestra and sampler.
Morricone is nominated as a member of the artistic Commission of the "Istituzione Universitaria dei Concerti" of Rome.
Oscar nomination for the music of Bugsy.
Death of Egisto Macchi.
The University and Conservatory of Osnabrueck dedicate a chamber music concert to him, at the initiative of musicologist Hans-Christian Schmidt.
Is part of the jury of the 49th "Mostra del Cinema" of Venice.
The French Minister of Culture Jack Lang gives him the title of "Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres". Morricone receives in Saint Vincent the "Grolla d'Oro" for career achievement.
1993
Morricone receives honorary citizenship of Fermo
. "David di Donatello" and "Efebo d'Argento" for the film Jona che visse nella balena.
The 50th "Settimana Musicale Senese" presents in scenic form Epitaffi sparsi.
In Maastricht, Una Via Crucis is performed in its entirety.
Morricone receives the soundtrack-award of the actor's community.
1994
Morricone reads a short speech in occasion of the award "Michelangelo" given to Goffredo Petrassi.
He is the first non-American composer to receive the career achievement award of the SPFM (Society for Preservation of Film Music).
He receives the award Golden Soundtrack given by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors & Publisher).
His mother dies at the age of 88.
His third child Andrea completes his studies in Composition.
1995
Along with Michele Campanella, Uto Ughi and Vittorio Antonellini, he is among the participants in a conference on the political and economical problems in music, organized by the CAMI (Comitato Autonomo Musicisti Italiani) at the "Teatro dell'Opera" of Rome.
At the proposal of the President of the Council of Ministers Lamberto Dini, the President of the Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro awards him the honor of "Commendatore dell'Ordine Al Merito della Repubblica Italiana".
His son Andrea receives his diploma in orchestral Conducting.
Philip Tagg (Institute of Popular Music, University of Liverpool), proposes him as a recipient for the Honorary Doctorate in Music.
He receives the "Leone d'Oro" for career achievement at the 52nd "Biennale del Cinema" in Venice.
He receives the award "Rota", newly created by CAM Editions and the magazine "Variety".
1996
Morricone receives the international award "Carlo Alberto Capelli".
He is entitled "Accademico di Santa Cecilia".
Though already mentioned in the schedules Morricone ends his tutorial-assigement at the "Accademia Musicale Chigiana".
He is prime-member of the jury of the 2nd International Composition Competition "2 agosto", that is organized by the city of Bologna and the "Associazione Familiari delle Vittime della Strage del 2 agosto 1980".
1997
In Pescara Morricone receives the award "Flaiano".
The city of Bologna and the "Associazione Familiari delle Vittime della Strage del 2 agosto 1980" order a composition for speaker, soprano and orchestra, that will be performed on August 2nd 1998 at the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna.
At an inquiry of the PDS (Partito Democratico della Sinistra) Morricone composes the hymn Un canto on a text of Serio Bardotti.
He receives the title of the Visiting Professor by the University of Liverpool from October 1st 1997 until September 30th 2000, but he refuses to accept the invitation.
1998
In the course of the symphonical season of the "Accademia di Santa Cecilia" Morricone directs a concert of filmmusic, of which the last performance takes place on his 70th birthday.
A Committee consisting of Lina Bucci Fortuna, Michele dall'Ongaro, Gianni Marinato, Carlo Marinelli, Segio Miceli and Gillo Pontecorvo organize together with "Istituzione Universitaria dei Concerti", "Nuova Consonanza\ and "I.r.te.m" a concert for string-quartets, that Franco Piersanti, Fabrizio Gallina Sabarino, Michele dall'Ongaro, Antonio Poce, Irma Ravinale, Ivan Vandor, Giancarlo Schiaffini, Aldo Clementi and Nicola Piovani have dedicated to Morricone's 70th birthday. At the same occasion the publisher Suvini Zerboni offers the book Norme con ironie to the participants. It's a collection by Sergio Miceli of contributions written by Giorgio Adamo, Luciano Alberti, Sergio Bassetti, Michel Chion, Franco Fabbri, Hanns-Werner Heister, Carlo Marinelli, Sergio Miceli, Luigi Pestalozza, Carlo Piccardi, Philip Tagg and Antonio Trudu.
1999
Morricone restarts his tutorial activities and holds the seminar Comporre per film together with Sergio Miceli at the CRSDM (Centro Ricerca Sperimentazione Didattica Musicale di Fiesole).
As a member of the jury of Morricone takes part at the "Festival di S. Remo".
In Bonn Morricone recieves the international award of film- and mediamusic "Erich Wolfgang Korngold".
He intensifies his conducting activities with concerts of filmmusic in Rome (Valle Giulia), Rimini, Linz and Sevilla.
He receives the Life Time Achievment Award of the European Film Acadamy in Berlin, where he was the only artist to receive a standing ovation.
At a proposal of Antonio Trudu the "Facoltà di Lingue e Letterature Straniere dell'Università di Cagliari" gives Morricone the "Laurea Honoris Causa".
2000
On the ministry of culture's proposal, the President of the Italian Republic gives him the "Medaglia di prima Classe di Benemerito dell'Arte e della Cultura".
2001
Morricone receives the honorary citizenship of L'Aquila.
He wins the "Golden Globe" by the foreign press in Italy.
He is nominated honorary member of the "Claustro Universitario de las Artes" in Alcala/Madrid.
For the first time Morricone conducts two symphonic concerts at the Barbican Centre in London, dedicated to his film scores and "absolute music".
2002
Morricone receives the honorary degree by the "Seconda Università" of Rome.