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 Posted:   Nov 7, 2020 - 4:52 PM   
 By:   TheIrishman   (Member)

The main theme from De Masi's CHALLENGE OF THE McKENNAS.


Do I hear a "tip of the hat" to Jerome Moross here?

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 23, 2021 - 12:50 AM   
 By:   Ag^Janus   (Member)

Now for something different, but still with guns ...

BEAT has proffered La Fuga Dal Bronx 1983


Could this be a Western gifted with Euro trash cinema sensibilities south of Yonkers?

 
 Posted:   Jul 23, 2021 - 8:46 AM   
 By:   Loren   (Member)

I'm enjoying this education in all things not Morricone. Being an Ennio fan all my life I'm ashamed of not knowing his rivals.

All maestros who used to work with Morricone (Alessandroni, Nicolai, Savina just to mention the biggest) created masterpieces on their own. And of course the "rivals" (De Masi, Cipriani, Ferrio, etc.) are not less valid.

Back to topic: Beatrecords release of Escape from the Bronx, is strongly recommended. The theme version I prefer is that in the End Titles.

 
 
 Posted:   Jul 23, 2021 - 9:08 AM   
 By:   Graham Watt   (Member)

I'm afraid I can't recommend anything, because I'm here looking for recommendations!


What REALLY got me interested in Francesco De Masi's music was when I saw AN ANGEL FOR SATAN during a Barbara Steele marathon. Great film, great music. Here are the Main Titles, which I think are just sublime, a wonderful combination of languid imagery and heartfelt music. The way that the solo violin comes in at the 2-minute mark, with those trills, is just gorgeous.

AN ANGEL FOR SATAN/ UN ANGELO PER SATANA
https://youtu.be/2QGndqBvFT0

I did ask here (I think) about the possibilty of a release of this score, and I think I was advised to contact De Masi's son (who I believe is in charge of his estate?), but no luck. Whatever, I'm looking for scores that have that kind of sound to them. I'm also aware of his scores to some of the Gothic Italian horror thrillers of the '60s. I liked LO SPETTRO, which has much in common with UN ANGELO, but it seems that only a small portion of the score survives, and was released on Beat Records as the second feature to LA LAMA NEL CORPO. I think I saw that one as well, but the music didn't impress me so much. I might be thinking of a completely different film of course. It didn't seem that familiar when I checked YouTube just now.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That was me in 2019, and this is me now.

 
 Posted:   Apr 13, 2024 - 3:14 AM   
 By:   Loren   (Member)

De Masi's beat masterpiece is surely MASTER STROKE (aka COLPO MAESTRO AL SERVIZIO DI SUA MAESTA' BRITANNICA).

Beatrecords edition available on SAE, or full soundtrack immediately available on Spotify.
This is my 2024 De Masi top listening together with Una Bara per lo sceriffo

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 13, 2024 - 3:32 AM   
 By:   Prince Damian   (Member)

A recent purchase- Uomini E Mari- is a nice addition.
While I'm here

Concerto per pistola solista
Lo Spettro
Morte viene da Manila
Worth a punt

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 13, 2024 - 8:47 AM   
 By:   mikael488   (Member)

Surprisingly the opening theme song in the spaghetti western "Due croci a danger pass" is pretty much the same as used about a year later in "Quanto costa morire". As far as I can tell only the song lyrics differ.



The film also contains a number of instrumental versions of the theme but most, if not all, are different than those used in "'Quanto costa morire". Moreover, the film borrows some music from "Un bara per lo sceriffo" and "7 Dollari sul rosso".

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 13, 2024 - 9:28 AM   
 By:   moolik   (Member)

My recommendation would be:

THE BIG GAME

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 13, 2024 - 9:57 AM   
 By:   keky   (Member)

I only own Lone Wolf McQuade from de Masi, which is a very enjoyable score.

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 13, 2024 - 10:26 AM   
 By:   slint   (Member)

Surprisingly the opening theme song in the spaghetti western "Due croci a danger pass" is pretty much the same as used about a year later in "Quanto costa morire". As far as I can tell only the song lyrics differ.



The film also contains a number of instrumental versions of the theme but most, if not all, are different than those used in "'Quanto costa morire". Moreover, the film borrows some music from "Un bara per lo sceriffo" and "7 Dollari sul rosso".


Other scores from de Masi reusing earlier music:

Il Trionfo di Ercole (1964), same main theme as Ercole l'Invincibile (1964).

Quel Maledetto Giorno della Resa dei Conti (1971), mostly from Il Momento di Uccidere (1968) and Il Ranch degli Spietati (1965).

Il Magnifico Texano (1967), same as Il Ranch degli Spietati (1965).

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 13, 2024 - 3:18 PM   
 By:   mikael488   (Member)

Two more De Masi scores reusing earlier music are "La spietata colt del gringo" (1966, which mostly reuses music from "Sette contro tutti" (1965) and "Maciste, L'Eroe Più Grande Del Mondo" (1963)) and "Ringo il cavaliere solitario" (which borrows music from "15 forche per un assassino").

 
 Posted:   Apr 14, 2024 - 12:34 AM   
 By:   Bill Carson, Earl of Poncey   (Member)

Stefan, are you really sure about "A Man must fight" being used in SETTE DOLLARI SUL ROSSO? I just watched the film but I did not hear the instrumental version, strange. Both versions are used in SPIETATA COLT DEL GRINGO though.

I have just had a look at the film and indeed you are right. The instrumental version of "A Man Must Fight" doesn´t appear in the film itself which is very strange. However, it has always been part of the original album master of SETTE DOLLARI SUL ROSSO and therefore appeared even on the 1966 CAM LP of this title. The expanded Beat CD of SETTE DOLLARI from 2012 even includes the vocal version of the theme as bonus track and makes it appear as if it had been composed for SETTE DOLLARI which of course is not the case.
So it seems that De Masi himself wanted to include the instrumental track on the original CAM LP of SETTE DOLLARI as otherwise it would not have been released on any record in 1966.


Stefan n mikael, I notice that the "a man must fight" theme appears several times on that Sette contro tutti score, tracks 1, 12, 16 and 17 I think.

I noted that Sette contro film was released 1965 and 7 dollars on red was 1966. (Not that means much).

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 14, 2024 - 6:25 AM   
 By:   mikael488   (Member)

Bill, I don't think the "A man must fight" theme has anything to do with the film "7 Dollari sul rosso", despite the fact the instrumental version was released on the original LP and the vocal version added to the bonus tracks of the CD re-issue. Both versions most likely belong to "La spietata colt del gringo" because they only appear as such in that film as far as I know (although early instrumental versions already appear in "Sette contro tutti" of course).
Moreover, the vocal version is ascribed to "La spietata..." on these early releases:

Peter Tevis Canta (7" single, 1966)
https://www.discogs.com/master/1184660-Peter-Tevis-Peter-Tevis-Canta

Peter Tevis - A Man Must Fight/La spietata colt del Gringo (7" single, same as above but different cover)
https://www.discogs.com/release/10339365-Peter-Tevis-A-Man-Must-Fight

Various – The West La Musica Western Nel Cinema (LP, 1968)
https://www.discogs.com/release/5372265-Various-The-West-La-Musica-Western-Nel-Cinema

Various – Spaghetti Western Encyclopedia Vol. 1 (CD, 1994)
https://www.discogs.com/release/11126125-Various-Spaghetti-Western-Encyclopedia-Vol-1

 
 Posted:   Apr 14, 2024 - 11:14 AM   
 By:   Bill Carson, Earl of Poncey   (Member)

Cheers mikael. Good to know. Not confusing at all. Lol.

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 15, 2024 - 8:22 AM   
 By:   mikael488   (Member)

I just watched "La Sfida dei MacKenna" (1970) and with the exception of the suspense/tension music, I don't think De Masi composed much original music for this film. In fact, most of the themes appear to be re-recordings (with new arrangements and orchestrations) of music originally composed for "Ringo, il volto della vendetta" (1966). Very confusing to say the least!

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 19, 2024 - 1:21 AM   
 By:   Ag^Janus   (Member)

Top thread!

Big band IFAMILIARI DELLE VITTIME NUN SARANNO AVVERTITI. My favourite of the crime/spy drama scores, makes me want more de Masi!

 
 Posted:   Apr 19, 2024 - 7:07 AM   
 By:   Bill Carson, Earl of Poncey   (Member)

.....makes me want more de Masi!


Then get more. Lol

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 19, 2024 - 7:30 AM   
 By:   Ag^Janus   (Member)

.....makes me want more de Masi!


Then get more. Lol


Easier said than done, I've sifted through the available discography and an presently at an impass Bill. Fortunately Uomini E Mari surfaced recently, I enjoy that and L'Uomo Europeo. Master Stroke is on the way. I may reluctantly go out on a limb to break through the block and order a western.

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 19, 2024 - 8:14 AM   
 By:   Prince Damian   (Member)

I may reluctantly go out on a limb to break through the block and order a western.

Then-
Vado L'Ammazzo E Torna
Santana Non Perdona
Arianna Colt
For starters

 
 
 Posted:   Apr 19, 2024 - 8:50 AM   
 By:   mikael488   (Member)

De Masi's score to Folco Quilici's documentary series "Festa Barocca" (1982) is very good but unfortunately the music has not been released on CD.

Here's the main title theme featuring soprano Elvira Spica De Masi (whose voice can also be heard
on "Lone Wolf McQuade"):
https://youtu.be/qRgEBJtOgFk?t=135

And here's the end title with Gastone Chiarini on Oboe D'amore:
https://youtu.be/qRgEBJtOgFk?t=2736

Other musicians playing on this score include Alessandro Alessandroni (mandolin & guitar), Ottorino Malavasi (bassoon) and Gian Luigi Zampieri (organ).

 
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