DEATH OF AN IMPORTANT STUDENT

Originally released in 1972, this haunting and potent score by Ennio Morricone is one that shouldn’t be missed by any self respecting collector of Italian film music. It’s definitely one of his more interesting scores of the period and, for me, the late 1960’s and the 1970‘s were the Maestros golden period of composition; he worked on so many projects during this period, each and every one of them a score of merit memorable for at one cue if not more.

Death of an Important Student contains a very strong central theme which is given both an orchestral and a vocal workout on the disc,. The vocal version, entitled ‘A little day by day‘, is performed with passion by the star of the movie, Massimo Ranieri, supported wonderfully by the distinct vocalising of IL CANTORI MODERNI and an aggressive and forceful instrumental backing. This sets the scene perfectly for the remainder of the score, which is simultaneously dark, brooding, dramatic and vigorous.

There is also a second song on the score, entitled ‘Run Brother, Run‘, which is a protest song of sorts - not dissimilar to the songs he utilised in Sacco and Vanzetti and Grazie zia. It’s a score filled with the now familiar Morricone sound, containing some excellent string arrangements and inventive orchestration. The CD is packaged well with eye arresting art work (taken from the original LP cover) there are also some interesting notes by Claudio Fuiano about the recording and a brief outline of the films plot. This is a score that will reward repeat listening as it’s imaginative, original and certainly the work of a master of his craft.

Review by John Mansell