Edited by Alessandro De Rosa, Composer

Ennio Morricone graduated in trumpet and composition from the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Throughout his career, he mastered a wide range of musical expressions, first as an orchestrator and conductor in the recording industry, then as a composer for theater, radio, television, and cinema. He has composed over four hundred and fifty film scores and over a hundred absolute music works. He received an Academy Honorary Award in 2007 and won an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2016, for The Hateful Eight by Quentin Tarantino.

Alessandro De Rosa undertook his study of music composition following Ennio Morricone's advice. He studied with Boris Porena in Rome and then graduated from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Netherlands. As a composer and arranger, he collaborated with Jon Anderson of the band Yes. He currently works as a freelance musician and collaborates with the RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana) and the RSI (Radiotelevisione Svizzera di lingua italiana).

"Among the pages of this skilfully translated and annotated book the readers find a wealth of first-hand insights into the work and life of the world's most prolific and recognisable soundtrack composer ... Morricone calls this 'the most authentic, detailed and trust book' about himself. We wholeheartedly agree, and highly recommend this read to any cinema enthusiast, musician, and filmmaker." — Cinema Heritage Group"

"This book is a must for anyone who admires the music of Morricone." - Chris Green, Suffolk & Norfolk Life

"De Rosa's intelligent questions pave the way for an in-depth analysis of a decade-long oeuvre that does not stop at the most famous film music, but ultimately immerses in the metaphysics of the "musica assoluta" and thus makes Morricone's "creative process" comprehensible..." - Anatol Holzbauer, 6 Strings 24 Frames (translation)

"The book is set up in an interview style, so the conversation is easy to follow. Each section focuses on the directors Morricone worked with for a particular period of his life, the major films of the period, and his compositional style during that time period. In discussing his evolving style Morricone also references his work outside the cinema world. Summing up: Recommended." - CHOICE

"Enlightening and frequently charming." - Library Journal

"Throughout his long and distinguished career, Ennio Morricone has consistently proven to be one of the most imaginative and idiosyncratic composers in the history of cinema. This book reveals the powerful personality behind his brilliant work and will be rewarding reading for anyone interested in the magic of music in film." - John Williams

"Maestro Morricone has moved my soul to places I could not go alone. An inspiration like no other." - James 'Papa Het' Hetfield, Singer/Songwriter of Metallica

"I feel so fortunate to be alive at a time where I can say that I have witnessed the work of a genius as he weaves his magic in unlimited ways, in infinite settings, with that rare quality of being distinctive and innovative while always being instantly identifiable, and doing all of this in the service of the film at hand, honoring and enhancing it in ways that are indescribably detailed, vivid and perfect. Maestro Morricone is one of my major heroes." - Pat Metheny

"I have the absolute highest amount of respect for my brother Ennio and I will always be one of his greatest admirers. When I was studying in France, my teacher Nadia Boulanger used to tell me that 'your music can never be more or less than you are as a human being,' and I truly believe that is why Ennio's music is so special: he is simply a great human being! Ennio is the definition of 'original' and his compositions are like a window into his mind: incredibly beautiful and genius!" - Quincy Jones