Great moments in film music: ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (The Duel)
Music by Ennio Morricone. Notice the play of major and minor harmonies, worthy of Schubert. Also notice that Morricone knows when to be silent. The harmonica music is a leitmotif, brimming with meaning, as the sequence makes clear. The clip ends, appropriately, in pure dissonance.
Great moments in film music: ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (The Duel)
A classic! Very timely with the recent release of the “Dark Tower” by Stephen King whose character, Roland, is set in this time period as a gunslinger.