‣21/02/2020 Bob Hendrikx
Notes on Soundtrack: THE BIBLE, IN THE BEGINNING (1964) (Part 1)
In 1964/1965 Ennio Morricone wrote and recorded two pieces (10:11, 2:05) for the 'Todd-AO 70-mm' movie THE BIBLE.
The music was not used in the film. What happened exactly?
Ennio Morricone (2016):
"RCA, the company I was working for at the time, around 1964-1965, asked me to score THE BIBLE produced by Dino De Laurentiis. It was a big opportunity for me, as I had not yet been involved in movies of that importance. … I was just asked to prepare a piece inspired by the Creation as narrated in the Torah and the Bible. Aside from that request, I was left completely free. In short, my task was to demonstrate my worth and to convince them. I was very dedicated to the music for the Creation sequence, and I decided of my own initiative that I would add another piece related to the Tower of Babel. … I recorded both pieces under the direction of Franco Ferrara in RCA's magnificent Studio A. … The realization convinced everybody: the company, the editor, and above all John Huston, who congratulated me vividly. Everything was going beyond any positive expectation, when at a certain point Dino De Laurentiis asked me to make the film directly with him, totally cutting RCA out of the deal. His offer was generous but incorrect. I dryly refused, though I was aware of the consequences. I was bound to RCA by an exclusive licensing, and apart from my contract, the label had already invested a lot of money in that production. I revealed what had happened to the company and tried to reach an agreement, which would have allowed me to keep the film. The record company refused, pointing out that exclusive licensing did not leave any room for negotiations. The chance blew by and the film's score was entrusted to the Japanese composer Mayuzumi, who did an excellent job, by the way." (In His Own Words, 2016/2019, page 110)
‣21/02/2020 Bob Hendrikx
Notes on Soundtrack: THE BIBLE, IN THE BEGINNING (1964) (Part 2)
Original film title: THE BIBLE, IN THE BEGINNING – aka THE BIBLE – aka LA BIBBIA
link Director: John Huston (1906-1987)
link Producer: Dino De Laurentiis (1919-2010)
link Premiered in the US on 28 September 1966.
link Composer, Orchestrator: Toshiro Mayuzumi (Mayuzumi Toshiro) (1929-1997)
Conductor: Franco Ferrara (1911-1985)
link /
link The two tracks Ennio Morricone recorded for THE BIBLE:
10:11 – La creazione – See:
link02:05 – Torre di Babele – See:
link Composer, Orchestrator: Ennio Morricone (1928-)
Orchestra & Choir: Orchestra e Coro della RAI di Roma, conducted by Franco Ferrara (1911-1985)
Recorded at RCA Studio A, Rome. (In His Own Words, page 110)
Two other tracks that might have been intended for the film:
02:57 – Deliquio – See:
link 02:24 – Le voci – See:
link
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