Ennio Morricone Analysis - The Frank/Harmonica Theme (Once Upon a Time in the West)

[Ludwig 1,120]

Here is the last installment of my three-part series on Morricone's classic score for Once Upon a Time in the West:

http://www.filmmusicnotes.com/ennio-morricones-score-for-once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-part-3-of-3-the-frankharmonica-theme/

Since I first heard of his "micro-cell" technique (explained in the post), I have found it in many other of his cues. Interesting technique that I haven't seen in other film composers' music.

Enjoy!

[Dixon Hill 4,232]

Very interesting stuff Mark, as always.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipjzjzm1mdE

Mark, how do you hear these divisi harmonic clusters starting at 0:21? I get E7-Eb7-D7-Db7-C7 and then A6-Ab6-G6-Gb6-F6 - repeating an octave lower each time.

[Ludwig 1,120]

It starts by outlining the same notes as the ostinato, E-D#-C, then continues adding notes downward: B-A-G#-G-F.

It continues down after that too, but gets very hard to pick out. I can hear D for sure below the F, but I'd guess there's E in there and maybe D# as well. I think there's a C# after the D. Then the high register adds Bb, and probably other notes beneath it like A and maybe others.

The most interesting thing about these glassy lines is that they begin in a comprehensible, tonal way, basically outlining the A minor chord suggested at the opening with the ostinato and bass pedal on A. Then it gradually becomes an atonal mass. Nice technique to express either the mystery of Harmonica or the insanity of Frank.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Can you hear the C#7 at 0:28?

[Ludwig 1,120]

That's a C, not C#.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

No, the C enters at 0:30, then a B at :32 and so on.

[Ludwig 1,120]

Are you sure you hear a D, though?

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

I think I'm wrong there.

[Ludwig 1,120]

Someone needs to invent software that can transcribe hard-to-hear music into pretty notes on a page. I mean, we live in the 21st century, weren't we supposed to have flying cars by now?

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Haha, I know. Maybe Fourier analysis is the answer? I mean, that's what they did to the opening chord of The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night.

http://www.mscs.dal.ca/~brown/n-oct04-harddayjib.pdf

[Ludwig 1,120]

Yes, I remember about that. A piano, who'd'a guessed?

Is there seriously nothing accessible out there that can help us with these things?

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

Melodyne is probably your best bet, though it's expensive. It's 400 Euros, which is about 600 Canadian Dollars.