With Ennio Morricone an absolute legend of film music has passed away. The world mourns one of its most famous composers.
The master of film music, Ennio Morricone (1928-2020), died on the night of Monday at the age of 91. Prominent fans of the Oscar winner came to social media to say goodbye and mourn the legendary Italian composer after the news became known. Morricone wrote catchy melodies for more than 500 films, including many Western classics such as "Play me the song of death".
Morricone was "an icon"
Among the first grieving celebrities was one of Morricone's colleagues, who claims that the deceased is one of his great role models. German film composer Hans Zimmer (62) said on British breakfast television on "BBC Breakfast" that Morricone was "unique" and "an icon".
In an interview with "t-online.de" in 2016, Zimmer stated that he could "never take the Oscars very seriously" because his colleague had been left out several times. "That Ennio Morricone was overlooked by the Academy for his film music for 'The Mission' (…), that he was overlooked for 'Once Upon A Time In America' (…) – for this fantastic music that he wrote has already bothered me. "
It influenced the history of Italy
"Goodbye, Maestro," said Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza (41) on Twitter. Speranza thanked Morricone "for the emotions you gave us".
"Ennio … all of us maestro", the Italian singer Laura Pausini (46), who also worked with the composer, posted a picture from 2013 on Instagram. It was the first photo together of many. Italy's history is linked to its name, "and we are proud of you." Morricone was a "great artist, husband and father".
Soundtrack of a lifetime
British author Joanne Harris (56, "Chocolat") remembered on Twitter an episode with Morricone, who was the "creator of the soundtrack to many passages of my life". Harris once met him at the British Academy Film Awards (Baftas). "In my bad Italian, I wanted to tell him how deeply connected I was with his work and how much I cared about it – and all I could say was 'I'm a fan.'"
Edgar Wright (46), director of the "Cornetto trilogy" for "Shaun of the Dead", was also full of praise for Morricone. He doesn't know where to start, Wright wrote on Twitter. Morricone said he could "turn an average film into a must-see film, a good film into art, and a great film into a legendary one." The 46-year-old had played Morricone's music on his system all his life.
Morricone was also able to influence the world of video games. The also legendary Japanese developer Hideo Kojima (56) used the song "Here's To You" in "Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes". Kojima is "shocked" from the news of Morricone's death. He just bought the music for the film "The Legend of the Ocean Pianist".