OSCAR-WINNING COMPOSER Ennio Morricone has sadly died, aged 91.
The Italian, who composed more than 400 scores for film and television, died in Rome due to complications following a fall that left him with a broken femur.
Morricone's family confirmed his death on July 6th, Italian publication Corriere Della Sera reports.
The funeral will be private "in respect of the feeling of humility that has always inspired the acts of his existence."
A statement from the family, translated per Corriere Della Sera said Morricone "has preserved to the last full lucidity and great dignity.
"He greeted his beloved wife Maria who accompanied him with dedication in every moment of his human and professional life and was close to him until the last breath thanked his children and grandchildren for the love and care they gave him.
“He dedicated a moving memory to his audience from whose affectionate support he has always drawn the strength of his creativity."
One of the most prolific composers in the world of cinema, Morricone is also widely regarded as one of the most influential composers in modern film.
Away from the movies, the Italian produced over 100 original classical works.
His most iconic works came early in his career with the iconic score to the Sergio Leone western he Good, the Bad and the Ugly and it’s now iconic “wah-wah-wah" sound.
The score was one of several made for Leone’s iconic low budget westerns of the 1960s which also included classics like A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More.
Leone, who died in 1989, previously paid a perfect tribute to his long-time collaborator’s talents, recalling how he “had him write the music before shooting, really as a part of the screenplay itself."
Morricone’s success extended beyond Westerns, with his scores for films like Once Upon A Time In America, The Mission, Days of Heaven, Cinema Paradiso and The Untouchables to name but a few helping cement his status as one of Hollywood’s go-to composers.
Indeed, it was Danny Elfman, a fellow composer known for everything from The Simpsons to Tim Burton’s Batman who put in best in a 1999 Los Angeles Times interview where he declared: “Anyone who’s ever written any kind of romantic score has been influenced by him.”
As recently as 2015, Morricone was the toast of Tinseltown again after winning an Oscar of the back of his score for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight.
A modest man even then, Morricone’s acceptance speech saw him insist: “There is no great music without a great film that inspires it.”
English filmmaker Edgar Wright arguably summed up his impact best in his own personal tribute.
“Where to even begin with iconic composer Ennio Morricone?” he wrote.
“He could make an average movie into a must see, a good movie into art, and a great movie into legend. He hasn’t been off my stereo my entire life. What a legacy of work he leaves behind. RIP.”
