La Lunga Notte dei Disertori

It is amazing to me that so many excellent scores from Italian movies keep being unearthed in various recording company vaults, this particular example comes originally from the vast CAM archive, and was only ever issued on a CAM promo LP (LP CAM PRE S) back in 1971. Cipriani is a composer that is well know to many collectors because of his numerous Italian western scores and also because of the composers gift for melody and his ability to infuse so much emotion into his music for romantic films that he has scored. I think I am right when I say that the war movie is a genre that the composer rarely frequented, and maybe that is why I was not familiar with this title at first look. I am glad to report that Cipriani produced a wonderfully powerful and suitably martial sounding work for this 1970 release. But there are also moments within the work when the Cipriani spaghetti western style filters through which is for me at least a real treat. Then there are slower more tender sounding interludes which are full of poignant and sensitive sounding tone poems which haunt and also delight the listener. The score opens with the principal theme for the movie, MASA MATRUH, this is a grand and very commanding composition with aggressive neo- classical sounding strings heralding timpani and rumbling percussion, this combination builds with the utilisation of swirling strings that introduce an urgent sounding piano backing which enhances and keeps tempo for more strings that take on the theme giving it a good workout supported by brass and excellent dark sounding choral work courtesy of Nora Orlandi. Track 2 is a soft and gentle sounding cue, TEMA ARABO: DIALOGO, is performed on subtly placed woods underlined with guitar and delicate use of strings that together create a poignant and mesmerising composition. Track three DESERTO is also rather low key in its sound and style, but this time Cipriani adds to the mixture more romantic sounding strings and choir along with flute, again the overall effect is stunning. Track four, TEMA ARABO: CAVALCATTA is something that would not be out of place in either a western movie or maybe an adventure yarn, Cipriani using upbeat percussion and also flyaway sounding strings in a composition that borders on being pop and classical orientated, think Hannibal Brooks and you will know what I am trying to say, there is also a choir within the work that enhance the theme by crooning in the background and adding the occasional grunt or bark here and there.
This is certainly a surprise of a release, and one that you should have in your collection, art work is very 70s in its appearance and looks like something one found on CAM LPS back in the day. Sound is very good, and the CD is presented and packaged very well indeed, another hit from hillside, you will regret it if you don’t get it.