Scenitunes: Once Upon A Time Morricone

Part One

Sergio Leone

Quentin Tarantino (QT) calls his new movie Django Unchained  a "Southern" to convey the idea of revisiting the elements of the Spaghetti "Western", of which he is so fascinated, in a setting in the old-time racist South. The film reappropriates much of the music composed for Spaghetti Western movies of the sixties of last century made by Italian filmmakers Sergio Leone and Sergio Carbucci (& S. Sollima?). The soundtrack is one of several aspects of the movie that was excessively talked about even before the movie's release on Christmas 2012. Parts of a lecture addressed to students in Rome by composer Morricone, were propelled as to mean that Morricone was disappointed with Tarantino's 'incoherent' use of his music. What makes things rather confusing is that two months before the release of "Django Unchained", El Maestro Ennio Morricone presented its director QT with a life-time achievement award in Rome, Italy!

Morricone & Tarantino 2012 Courtesy of getty Images

For a list of music and songs used by Tarantino in Django Unchained please visit here. Note that Ancora Qui is the only original song made for this new QT movie.
I love QT's movies.
I adore Morricone's music. QT is smart but kind of  rash and clumsy.
I doubt if he really appreciates music the way Morricone meant it to be. But on the other hand the cinematic moment could have its ragged edges. So much so that it is better to leave things up to the filmmaker. It's only part of his creation. Right? The point is why Morricone allows the use of his old music in new movies?
I am not trying to show him what to do with or how to invest his music. Talking about "incoherent" use of music in a movie suggests a lack of communication between the composer and the filmmaker.
However, on follow up, the news is that Morricone denied most of what was reported and expressed his belief that QT is a genius. Done! We are gonna hear more of Morricone in the next QT movie!