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Francesco De Masi

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Francesco De Masi
Born(1930-01-11)11 January 1930
Rome, Italy
Died6 November 2005(2005-11-06) (aged 75)
Rome, Italy
Occupation(s)Conductor, film score composer

Francesco De Masi (11 January 1930 – 6 November 2005) was an Italian conductor and film score composer.

Biography

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He studied composition at the San Pietro a Maiella Conservatory in Naples under the guidance of Achille Longo, his uncle. De Masi became interested in film music when Longo was asked to compose a soundtrack for a film, and he asked De Masi to be his assistant.[1] De Masi's filmography includes scores for over 200 films and TV series, ranging from Spaghetti Westerns and sword and sandal epics to gialli and horror films, such as Lucio Fulci's Lo squartatore di New York (The New York Ripper).

De Masi also scored several action films, such as Enzo G. Castellari's Quel maledetto treno blindato (The Inglorious Bastards), but he is best remembered for his work on Spaghetti Westerns. Unlike most other composers, De Masi started writing western scores slightly earlier than the genre's most influential musician, Ennio Morricone. As De Masi's music was less influenced by Morricone, his style had a distinctive sound. Many of his songs were performed by the low-voiced member of the I Cantori Moderni choir, Ettore "Raoul" Lovecchio.[2]

De Masi was also very interested in classical music. He taught at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, also conducting the conservatory's orchestra. In an interview, De Masi listed Palestrina, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Ravel and Shostakovich as his main classical influences.[1]

De Masi died of cancer at the age of 75.

Selected filmography

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Year Film Directed by Singles Latest CD / Digital Release
1962 Toto vs. Maciste Fernando Cerchio Digitmovies / DGST027 / 2017
The Carpet of Horror [de] Harald Reinl Saimel / 3998956 / 2020
Colossus of the Arena Michele Lupo
Tiko and the Shark Folco Quilici Beat Records Company / BCM 9537 / 2014
1963 The ghost Riccardo Freda Digitmovies / CDDM122 / 2008
Hercules the Invincible Alvaro Mancori, Lewis Mann
The Sign of the Coyote Mario Caiano
Goliath and the Sins of Babylon Michele Lupo Digitmovies / CDDM234 / 2013
1964 Man of the Cursed Valley Siro Marcellini, Primo Zeglio Beat Records / CDCR149 / 2023
Maciste in King Solomon's Mines Piero Regnoli
The Lion of Thebes Giorgio Ferroni
Seven Slaves Against the World Michele Lupo
The Revenge of Spartacus Michele Lupo
Massacre at Marble City Paul Martin (director)
1965 Seven Rebel Gladiators Michele Lupo
Mutiny in the South Seas Wolfgang Becker Beat Records / BCM9555 / 2015
Serenade for Two Spies Michael Pfleghar, Alberto Cardone Beat Records / BCM 9552 / 2014
Desperate Mission (1965 film) Roberto Bianchi Montero
A Coffin for the Sheriff Mario Caiano Beat Records / CDCR 95 / 2011
1966 Seven Dollars on the Red Alberto Cardone, Melchiade Coletti Beat Records / CDCR121 / 2012
The Murder Clinic Elio Scardamaglia Digitmovies / CDDM122 / 2008
FBI Operation Yellow Viper Alfredo Medori, Wolfgang Schleif Beat Records / BCM 9546 / 2014
An Angel for Satan Camillo Mastrocinque
The Third Eye Mino Guerrini
Ringo, the Mark of Vengeance Mario Caiano GDM / GDM 2060 / 2005
Arizona Colt Michele Lupo Beat Records / CDCR 96 / 2012
Alla scoperta dell'Africa (TV Movie) Folco Quilici Beat Records / BCM 9547 / 2015
India (TV Movie) Folco Quilici Cometa Edizioni Musicali / CMT 10028-10029 / 2012
1967 Two Crosses at Danger Pass Rafael Romero Marchent
Seven Pistols for a Massacre Mario Caiano
Any Gun Can Play Enzo G. Castellari Beat Records / CDCR 91 / 2011
Your Turn to Die Michele Lupo Digitmovies / CDDM024 / 2004
1968 Johnny Hamlet Enzo G. Castellari
Seven Winchesters for a Massacre Enzo G. Castellari
The Moment to Kill Giuliano Carmineo
A Taste of Death Sergio Merolle
Kill Them All and Come Back Alone Enzo G. Castellari Beat Records / CDCR 92 / 2011
1969 Lesbo Edoardo Mulargia Beat Records / CDCR 99 / 2010
Eagles Over London Enzo G. Castellari Ariete / AR 8008: La Battaglia D'Inghilterra / Tema Di Meg Beat Records / CDCR 62 / 2002
1970 Una storia d'amore (1969 film) Michele Lupo Beat Records / BCM 9553 / 2015
Sartana's Here… Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin Giuliano Carnimeo
The Weekend Murders Michele Lupo Beat Records / BCM9512 / 2013
1971 Terrible Day of the Big Gundown Sergio Garrone
FBI Operation Pakistan Harald Reinl Beat Records / BCM9542 / 2015
African Story Marino Girolami Digitmovies / CDDM169 / 2010
1972 The Weapon, the Hour & the Motive Francesco Mazzei
Crime Boss (film) Alberto De Martino Beat Records / CDCR 139 / 2018
The House of the Doves Claudio Guerin
Hector the Mighty Enzo G. Castellari Beat Records / CDCR 111 / 2011
1973 The Big Game (1973 film) Robert Day Chris' Soundtrack Corner / CSC001 / 2007
The Hanging Woman José Luis Merino
Bawdy Tales Sergio Citti
1974 The Arena Steve Carver, Michael Wotruba
1975 Private Vices, Public Virtues Miklós Jancsó
1977 Nazi Love Camp 27 Mario Caiano
Weapons of Death Mario Caiano Beat Records / CDCR 83 / 2007
Kid Vengeance Joseph Manduke
1978 The Inglorious Bastards Enzo G. Castellari
1980 The European Man Folco Quilici Kronos Records / KRONGOLD038 / 2020
1982 The New York Ripper Lucio Fulci Beat Records / CDCR154 / 2024
Invaders of the Lost Gold Alan Birkinshaw
1983 Rush (1983 film) Tonino Ricci
Thor the Conqueror Tonino Ricci
Lone Wolf McQuade Steve Carver Beat Records / CDCR 26 / 1995
Escape from the Bronx Enzo G. Castellari Beat Records / CDCR146 / 2021
Thunder Warrior Fabrizio De Angelis Beat Records / CDCR 87 / 2008
1984 Mad Dog Fabrizio De Angelis Kronos Records / KRONCD009 / 2012
1985 Formula for a Murder Alberto De Martino Beat Records / CDCR 29 / 1996
1986 Operation Nam Fabrizio De Angelis
1988 Thunder Warrior III Fabrizio De Angelis Beat Records / CDCR 87 / 2008
1989 Mortacci (Death to You) Sergio Citti

References

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  1. ^ a b Mansell, John. "Interview to Francesco De Masi". Soundtrackfan.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Ehresmann, Patrick. "Western, Italian Style". Chimai.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2007.
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