Italian Film Music, 1950s-1970s

Between Tradition, Innovation, and Internationalisation

Edited by Franco Sciannameo

Book cover: Italian Film Music, 1950s-1970s

Extent: 454 pages

Publisher: Brepols Publishers

Subjects: Italian Studies, Music & Performing Arts

Series: Studies on Italian Music History

Series volume number: 3

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(November 2023)

ISBN: 9782503608464

Price: $169.00

In stock

This book provide a tribute to Italian Film Music of 1950s-1970s


The music heard in Italian cinema along the arch of the three decades highlighted in this book, has not only made history but has become an unspoken of patrimony of humanity. This book provides a platform to build a lasting tribute to those composers who were, indeed, the “sounding” protagonists of hundreds of films – from Fellini’s “La dolce vita” to Tornatore’s “Cinema Paradiso” to a myriad of cultural documentaries and productions made for cinema and television. The book is divided into three parts comprising essays on the music of Nino Rota, lesser-known composers yet important on the national circuit like Carpi, Gervasio, Vlad, and Chailly, and four essays dedicated to the towering figure of Ennio Morricone whose legacy will continue to hover over Italian cinema of the 50s-70s for many decades to come. An introductory essay, 17 chapters annotated and provided with musical examples, tables, and iconographic material written by internationally known academics specialised in Italian film music; bibliographies and abstracts following each essay; biographies of the contributing authors; and an index organized by names and subjects, make this volume an indispensable research tool free of geopolitical barriers and ideological constrains in the bourgeoning field of Film Music.

  • Edited by Franco Sciannameo