CD REVIEW - DA UOMO A UOMO (DEATH RIDES A HORSE)


Da Uomo a Uomo (Death Rides a Horse)
Music by Ennio Morricone
GDM Hillside Series GDM 4130
26 Tracks 74:59 mins

Just when you thought you had heard every note of music there was to hear from this classic Morricone score from the 1967 Lee Van Cleef/John Phillip Law Italian western, along comes this new release from the GDM Hillside Series, which plays for almost 75 minutes, and features four tracks never before released in any format, and a further six receiving their first CD reissue.
I am quite sure that every self-respecting Morricone fan, or fan of the genre will have at least one recording of the score in their collection, but I guess this is pretty much the definitive version. If you aren't however familiar with the score, it features a number great themes, most of which get plenty of variations on this disc; the first being the driving main theme, voiced in a variety of tempos, either by I Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni, or in a typically beefy performance by Raoul; the second, the splendid "Guitar Nocturne," a fine prelude to a showdown; the third, the rather mournful "Monody for Guitar," which is sometimes whistled, but mostly features wordless choir, and is heard in tandem with the main theme; the fourth, "Mystic and Severe" a determined, ever-developing march; and the fifth, "Anger and Sorrow," which contains a bit of both, starting off as something of a lament, but becoming more and more animated.
The first 20 tracks, which include those previously unreleased, are given in mono, whereas the 6 reissued tracks are all in stereo, and grouped together at the end of the disc.
There's sadly no text in the accompanying booklet, just colour stills from the film, and poster artwork, but don't let that put you off. Hurry along to www.hillsidecd.co.uk and grab your copy before all 500 are gone.