"Music is the third language and the universal passport."
Ennio Morricone's quote underscores the transcendent power of music as a means of communication that can surpass linguistic and cultural barriers. Like language, music has the ability to express emotions and ideas in a way that resonates universally. This metaphorical "universal passport" allows us to connect with others, fostering empathy, understanding, and unity across diverse societies.
"I don't want to be understood, I want to be believed."
Ennio Morricone's quote "I don't want to be understood, I want to be believed" suggests a desire for authenticity and trust over simple comprehension of his work or persona. He may seek not only to convey information but also to evoke emotions or inspire faith in the power and sincerity of his art, transcending the need for intellectual understanding. It implies that he values belief in his talent and intent more than a literal interpretation of his compositions.
"The best soundtrack is the one that enhances the film but doesn't draw attention to itself."
Ennio Morricone's quote emphasizes the importance of a film score in complementing the visual narrative without overshadowing it. A great soundtrack should subtly amplify emotions, set moods, and enhance storytelling, rather than distract or dominate the audience's focus from the main plot. In this sense, the best soundtracks serve as invisible partners that bring depth to the cinematic experience.
"A score should be like a story told without words."
Ennio Morricone's quote emphasizes the power of music to communicate emotion and narrative, much like a spoken or written story. When he says "without words," he implies that music can convey feelings and tell a story through its melodies, rhythms, harmonies, and other elements without relying on literal language. This is the essence of film scoring – creating an emotional backdrop or narrative thread to complement and enhance the visual storytelling in a film. Essentially, Morricone's quote underscores music's unique ability to transcend linguistic barriers and reach audiences deeply, making stories more immersive and impactful.
"I make music for the image and for the director's idea, not just for the pleasure of making music."
Ennio Morricone's quote emphasizes that he composes music as a collaborative process with visual elements and directors' vision in mind, rather than purely for personal enjoyment or artistic expression. This perspective highlights the importance of understanding the context and purpose of the music within the larger narrative or aesthetic framework of a film or project, demonstrating a strong sense of professionalism, dedication, and adaptability as a composer.
I dislike cats. I like horses, some monkeys, and sweet dogs that aren't too aggressive. I used to have a wonderful, big cat, and one day I came into the kitchen and it was on the table, ruining all the food we were about to eat. I was so annoyed that I took it to a friend's house in the country.
- Ennio Morricone
I was born in 1928, so in 1943, 1944, we had the war in Rome. There were a lot of hardships, a lack of food, many shortages. So when I worked with the Americans, the English, and the Canadians soon after the war, when I played with them, they paid me with food. That will give you an idea how widespread poverty was at that time.
- Ennio Morricone
In music, what is very important is temporality of space and length, based on the breathing space the director gives the music within the film, by separating the music from various elements of reality, like noises, dialogues... That's how you treat music properly, but it doesn't always happen this way. Music is often blamed, but it's not its fault.
- Ennio Morricone
De Palma is delicious! He respects music; he respects composers. For 'The Untouchables,' everything I proposed to him was fine, but then he wanted a piece that I didn't like at all, and of course we didn't have an agreement on that. It was something I didn't want to write - a triumphal piece for the police.
- Ennio Morricone
In my youth, cinemas showed two films in one day. I used to watch both of them. It may sound strange, but 'West Side Story' was the only musical I liked. I didn't like musicals, or films with songs, at all. I always thought they were not real, that the songs sounded a little bit false. But in the case of 'West Side Story,' things were different.
- Ennio Morricone
When I have to score a film, I watch the movie first and then start thinking about it. And from that moment on, it is as if I were pregnant. I then have to deliver the child, so from that moment on, I think always about the music - even when I go to the grocery store, I think about it.
- Ennio Morricone
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