Cinema Paradiso
By Ennio MorriconeA Note from Concertmaster Holly
As we enter the holiday season, some of the music in our concerts comes from beloved Christmas films. American film composers, like John Williams and Alan Silvestri, are part of this holiday program. Both have drawn textures, harmonies, and chord progressions inspired by the legendary composer Ennio Morricone.
Morricone’s score for Cinema Paradiso has a nostalgic and tender quality that has echoed through the work of many American film composers.
As we prepare for our Spirit of the Season concert, it feels especially meaningful to acknowledge this lineage, the evolution of what has become the quintessential American film score sound. That evolution, that tradition, is a continual conversation across generations of composers and generations of listeners.
Questions for thought as you listen:
- Which movie scores stick with you the most, and why do you think they feel so memorable?
- How does the music in a film tell the story or reflect the emotions the director wants you to feel? Can you think of a moment where the music made the scene even more powerful?
Leave us your comments
Share your thoughts below! There are no wrong answers, just your unique take. If the music reminds you of a place or a feeling, we'd love to hear it.
