Title: Giornata
nera per l’ariete (The fifth cord)
Year: 1971
Composer: Ennio Morricone
1971 was Morricone’s
greatest year in film music. He also wrote a score for this rather unknown
giallo which is no classic by any means but for some reason I've always loved this score ever since I heard the first time. It
has an abundant number of great vocal moments and the whole score feels like a musical
depiction of a nightmare.
Straight
from the opening track Morricone introduces the dreamy quality which surrounds
the film’s music. Giornata nera per l’ariete
is the main theme, a moody melody with unconventional harmonies and la-la voice
of Edda dell’Orso. It’s simultaneously eerily beautiful yet terrifying and the
several performances start to get under the listener’s skin after a while. La voce bella turns the melody into a
musicbox theme with a high vocal track that is soon joined by hair-raising
string clusters. The end of the track is purely abstract descending string
lines which form also the basis for the cue Resa.
Voce has both the musicbox version
and first hints at faster action music for pounding percussion and chaotic
strings. By far the most interesting version of the theme is heard in track 17
where the harmonies seem completely random and like they were about to fall
apart at any moment and the only thing gluing them together is Edda’s pristine voice.
The album
starts with a few longer suspense tracks. Punte
d’ago begins with Hitchcockian string writing (Psycho’s shower scene in
particular) which turns to uneasiness during the second half. Severamente utilizes Edda’s vocals in a
more sinister way on top of high strings and steadily beating percussion
section. The end loses the voice and replaces it with buzzing electronic
effects. Paura e aggressione delves
further into madness with a strange bouncy feel with yet another Edda style in
a form of fearful breathing. The title translates to ‘Fear and aggression’ and Morricone has found an excellent way of representing them both during this scene. The second part features abstract
writing for many kinds of tinkling instruments.
The chaos
in unleashed in Trafelato which is
the most aggressive track on the album. It has a pounding drum base that has
absolutely horrifying string and piano writing and distorted electronic guitars
on top which create a swirling tornado of fear. The shock radiates nerve
impulses straight down my spine and gut; it’s just that powerful in its madness.
It is also chosen to be the bookend to the album and that version could
actually be even more shocking and surely leaves the listener with no happy ending
or satisfying resolution.
After the
few tracks, which you probably can’t pay much attention to because you’re still
recovering from Trafelato, we’re
introduced to some source music. Giocoso,
giocoso is actually the main title track and is a very easygoing keyboard
melody with mellow grooves. II ripresa
is a strange little menacing piece in the middle with a fast pace. The second
mellow source track is Voce seconda
which features Edda’s scat singing skills with sleazy slow dance backing. It
flows smoothly to another dreamy version of the main theme. Un organo suona is the last source track,
an unexpected doomsday chorale for a giant church organ.
Giornata nera per l’ariete is an underrated effort even among Morricone
fans. However its suspense writing is highly varied and the melodies are intriguing.
Not to mention all the different vocal solos which make the album almost feel
like an Edda concert. This score isn’t for everyone but it’s another prove of
Maestro Morricone’s talent and unique sense of cinematic music making.
Rating: *****
Tracklist:
1. Giornata
nera per l'ariete (02:35) *****
2. Punte d'ago
(03:04) ****
3.
Severamente (05:17) *****
4. Paura e
aggressione (05:40) ****
5. Giornata
nera per l'ariete (03:15) *****
6. La voce
bella (03:34) *****
7. Voce
(02:00) *****
8. Resa
(02:19) ****
9.
Trafelato (02:29) *****
10.
Giornata nera (01:26) ****
11. Ripresa
(02:50) ***
12. Giocoso,
gioioso (03:23) *****
13. II ripresa
(00:48) *****
14. Voce seconda
(02:34) *****
15. Giornata nera (01:31) *****
16. Un organo suona (01:07) *****
17. Giornata
nera per l'ariete (03:38) *****
18. Giornata
nera (01:11) ****
19. La voce
bella (01:00) *****
20. Giornata
nera (01:35) *****
21. Giornata
nera per l'ariete (01:45) *****
22. Paura e
aggressione (Versione breve) (01:52) *****
23. La voce
bella (02:02) *****
24. Trafelato
(Versione breve) (01:12) *****
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