‣18/01/2021 Bob Hendrikx
Notes on Soundtrack: MARCO POLO (1982) (Part 1)
TV mini-series (480 minutes, 8 episodes)
link /
link /
link Director: Giuliano Montaldo (1930-)
linkFirst aired in the US on 16 May, In Italy on 5 December 1982.
link Episode 1 was aired on Rai 1, Sunday 5 December 1982, 8:30 pm to 9:50 pm. (Radiocorriere 1982 #49, page 4)
Episode 8 was aired on Rai 1, Sunday 23 January 1983, 8:30 pm to 9:35 pm. (Radiocorriere 1983 #3, page 4)
Composer, Orchestrator, Conductor: Ennio Morricone – Opening credits:
jpgOrchestra and Choir: Unione Musicisti di Roma
Recorder: Marianne Gazzani Eckstein
Viola: Dino Asciolla
Recorded at Forum Studio (1980-1997), Rome.
Closing credits:
jpgVoice (2004 2CD, 2/18): Not credited (page 214 of the EMM says it is Edda Dell'Orso)
Harp: Vincenzina 'Zizi' Capone (MSV #94, page 41)
3:20 – A1 – Marco Polo, Titoli (2004 2CD, 1/01) – Play:
mp3 3:53 – A2 – Verso l'Oriente, Viaggio (1/16) – Play:
mp3 6:02 – A3 – Monica (aka "Saluto alla madre", 1/02) – Play:
mp3 2:01 – A4 – La leggenda della Grande Muraglia (2/14) – Play:
mp3 2:33 – A5 – Canzone di Mai-Li (2/05)
2:56 – A6 – Il sud brucia (2/10)
0:55 – A7 – Marco Polo, Ormuz (1/12)
link 1:26 – A8 – Saluto alla madre (aka "Marco chiede la sepoltura di Guido", 1/10)
4:16 – A9 – I crociati [the crusaders] (1/07)
3:52 – B1 – Primo amore (aka "Primo amore, Finale", 2/18)
1:44 – B2 – La Città Proibita [Forbidden City] (2/11)
link 1:45 – B3 – Tema di Marco, Morte nel vento (1/08)
‣18/01/2021 Bob Hendrikx
Notes on Soundtrack: MARCO POLO (1982) (Part 2)
5:35 – B4 – Verso l'Oriente, Viaggio (1/11)
1:14 – B5 – Nostalgia del padre (1/03)
3:03 – B6 – La grande marcia di Kublai (2/16)
3:28 – B7 – Al santo sepolcro (1/09, 0:00 to 3:27)
1:12 – B8 – I Mongoli (1/13)
link 1:02 – B9 – Tema di Marco, Dialogo (1/15)
0:53 – B10 – I sogni (1/05, 0:00 to 0:52)
3:52 – B11 – Adolescenza (1/04)
First released on LP:
Marco Polo – Fonit Cetra LPX 108 – Italy – 1982
link Front (Ariola 204 699):
jpg A-side label (Ariola 204 699):
jpgB-side label (Ariola 204 699):
jpgOther editions:
link 2:45 – 1/05 (0:52 to 2:45) – I sogni
4:08 – 1/06 – Il lungo viaggio inizia
8:05 – 1/09 (3:27 to 8:05) – Al santo sepolcro
5:22 – 1/14 – Marco Polo e i Mongoli
5:26 – 1/17 – Risveglio nel tempo tibetano
4:06 – 1/18 – Tema di Marco, Un nuovo mondo
2:13 – 2/01 – Musica di corte
1:12 – 2/02 – Tema di Marco, Nel palazzo imperiale
6:56 – 2/03 – Festeggiamenti a palazzo
4:57 – 2/04 – Una nuova cività
5:15 – 2/06 – Tema di Marco, Nuove sensazioni
7:14 – 2/07 – Canzone di Mai-Li
6:40 – 2/08 – Musica di corte
6:02 – 2/09 – Ricordo della madre
4:06 – 2/12 – Tema di Marco, Nostalgia di Venezia
1:46 – 2/13 – Verso la Grande Muraglia [Great Wall]
link 3:07 – 2/15 – Kublai Khan
link 3:35 – 2/17 – Tema di Marco, Ritorno verso casa
First released on 2CD:
Marco Polo – Rai Trade FRT 405 – Italy – 2004
link Back:
jpg CD 2, track 7 has a higher sound level and suffers from distortion.
36 tracks (18 & 18) – Total time: 133:41 (64:27 & 69:14) – All tracks in stereo.
‣18/01/2021 Bob Hendrikx
Notes on Soundtrack: MARCO POLO (1982) (Part 3)
Ennio Morricone: "It was challenging for me to compose such a thick and eclectic score to accompany Marco Polo's journey in the unknown Oriental territories, to the point that I felt compelled to visit those places and grasp their tastes, timbres and sounds.
Montaldo and I studied the details of the historical epoch, the musical references, and all this turned into a crucial research-based, experimental study for me. I sought to reproduce the static harmonies of the Oriental music I had gotten acqainted with during my journey." (In His Own Words, page 125)
Director Giuliano Montaldo & Composer Ennio Morricone:
1967 – AD OGNI COSTO
link1969 – GLI INTOCCABILI
link1970 – GOTT MIT UNS
link1971 – SACCO E VANZETTI
link1973 – GIORDANO BRUNO
link 1976 – L'AGNESE VA A MORIRE
link 1978 – IL GIOCATTOLO
link1982 – MARCO POLO
link 1986 – IL GIORNO PRIMA
link 1987 – GLI OCCHIALI D'ORO
link 1989 – TEMPO DI UCCIDERE
link 2007 – I DEMONI DI SAN PIETROBURGO
link