• Composed by Ennio Morricone
• GDM CD Club / 2006 / 37:31

A period drama set in Italy in the 19th century, Allonsanfan stars Marcello Mastoianni as a member of the aristocracy now having thoughts of revolution.  Ennio Morricone’s wonderful score has become much more famous than the film itself (even if people don’t realise it) thanks to its main theme, “Rabbia e Tarantella”, being used by Quentin Tarantino in Inglorious Basterds.  Even by the extraordinary standards of this composer, it’s a remarkable piece – aggressive piano and low-end brass combine to form a backdrop to the stabbing string melody – it’s nothing like the tarantellas of Italian folk music people may be more familiar with.  It really is brilliant.  The second theme, “Ritorno a Casa”, is a typical romantic piece, full of passion and longing.

“Dirindindin” is another of those “only Morricone…” tracks as a female choir sings “Dirindindin” over and over, against a folksy backdrop.  “Frammenti di Sonata” is an elegant classical-style piece for violin.  “Tradimento” continues the classical feel, but is a much darker piece, a screeching violin solo contrasting with a murky underlay from the cellos and basses.  The choir returns in “Te Deum Laudamus”, a lengthy piece with a religious feel which travels a pretty epic journey over its seven minute running time, with some particularly dramatic moments.  The final piece of “thematic” material is the very dissonant “Allonsanfan (sul lago)” which screeches along for a couple of minutes before the contrasting “Allonsanfan (ballata)”, a beautiful song (I’m not sure why the two pieces have the same name).  Allonsanfan is classic, vintage Morricone feature numerous highlights beyond the breathtaking main theme that mean this is an essential album for fans of the composer.  *****

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