Morricone: Once Upon a Time in America Soundtrack Deborah’s Theme – Amapola (sheet music available in our Library)
Once Upon a Time in America (Italian: C’era una volta in America) is a 1984 epic crime drama film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone and starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. The film is an Italian–American venture produced by The Ladd Company, Embassy International Pictures, PSO Enterprises, and Rafran Cinematografica, and distributed by Warner Bros. Based on Harry Grey‘s novel The Hoods, it chronicles the lives of best friends David “Noodles” Aaronson and Maximilian “Max” Bercovicz as they lead a group of Jewish ghetto youths who rise to prominence as Jewish gangsters in New York City‘s world of organized crime.
The film explores themes of childhood friendships, love, lust, greed, betrayal, loss, broken relationships, together with the rise of mobsters in American society.
It was the final film directed by Leone before his death five years later, and the first feature film he had directed in 13 years. It is also the third film of Leone’s Once Upon a Time Trilogy, which includes Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) and Duck, You Sucker! (1971).The cinematography was by Tonino Delli Colli, and the film score by Ennio Morricone. Leone originally envisaged two three-hour films, then a single 269-minute (4 hours and 29 minutes) version, but was convinced by distributors to shorten it to 229 minutes (3 hours and 49 minutes).
The American distributors, The Ladd Company, further shortened it to 139 minutes, and rearranged the scenes into chronological order, without Leone’s involvement. The shortened version was a critical and commercial flop in the United States, and critics who had seen both versions harshly condemned the changes that were made. The original “European cut” has remained a critical favorite and frequently appears in lists of the greatest gangster films of all time.
Best Sheet Music download from our Library.
Music
The musical score was composed by Leone’s longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone. “Deborah’s Theme” was written for another film in the 1970s but was rejected. The score is also notable for Morricone’s incorporation of the music of Gheorghe Zamfir, who plays a ‘s pan flute. Zamfir’s flute music was used to similar effect in Peter Weir‘s Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975). Morricone also collaborated with vocalist Edda Dell’Orso on the score.
Once Upon a Time in America | |
---|---|
Soundtrack album by Ennio Morricone | |
Released | 1 June 1984 17 October 1995 (Special Edition) |
Recorded | December 1983 |
Studio | Forum Studios, Rome |
Genre | Contemporary classical |
Label | Mercury Records |
Producer | Ennio Morricone |
Besides the original music, the film used source music, including:
- “God Bless America” (written by Irving Berlin, performed by Kate Smith – 1943) – Plays over the opening credits from a radio in Eve’s bedroom and briefly at the film’s ending.
- “Yesterday” (written by Lennon–McCartney – 1965) – A Muzak version of this piece plays when Noodles first returns to New York in 1968, examining himself in a train station mirror. An instrumental version of the song also plays briefly during the dialogue scene between Noodles and “Bailey” towards the end of the film.
- “Summertime” (written by George Gershwin – 1935) An instrumental version of the aria from the opera Porgy and Bess is playing softly in the background as Noodles, just before leaving, explains to “Secretary Bailey” why he could never kill his friend.
- “Amapola” (written by Joseph Lacalle, American lyrics by Albert Gamse – 1923) – Originally an opera piece, several instrumental versions of this song were played during the film; a jazzy version, which was played on the gramophone danced to by young Deborah in 1918; a similar version played by Fat Moe’s jazz band in the speakeasy in 1930; and a string version, during Noodles’ date with Deborah. Both versions are available on the soundtrack.
- “La gazza ladra” overture (Gioachino Rossini – 1817) – Used during the baby-switching scene in the hospital.
- “Night and Day” (written and sung by Cole Porter – 1932) – Played by a jazz band during the beach scene before the beachgoers receive word of Prohibition’s repeal, and during the party at the house of “Secretary Bailey” in 1968.
- “St. James Infirmary Blues” is used during the Prohibition “funeral” at the gang’s speakeasy.
A soundtrack album was released in 1984 by Mercury Records. This was followed by a special-edition release in 1995, featuring four additional tracks.
Browse in the Library:
Artist or Composer / Score name | Cover | List of Contents |
---|---|---|
Unforgettable – Irving Gordon (Nat King Cole Song) Piano Solo Sheet Music | Unforgettable – Irving Gordon (Nat King Cole Song) Piano Solo Sheet Music | |
Unforgettable Musical Memories – Reader’s Digest Songbook, A | Unforgettable Musical Memories – Reader’s Digest Songbook, A | |
Unforgettable… The Lighter Side Of Jazz | Unforgettable… The Lighter Side Of Jazz | |
UNITED – Look To You Guitar Songbook | ||
Universal Studios Theme by Jerry Goldsmith arr. Yame Puts | ||
University Musical Encyclopedia The Theory Of Music And Piano Technique (By E Markham) (1912) | Musical Encyclopedia I | |
Untraceable – Kill With Me – Christopher Young | ||
Untraceable – Missing Flowers – Christopher Young | ||
Uomini soli (Pooh) | ||
Up (Theme) Married Life By Ari Burns (Piano Solo) | ||
Up The – Married Life (Piano Solo Arr. Sheet Music) | Up The – Married Life (Piano Solo Arr. Sheet Music) | |
Upon The Wind There Comes A Song (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Upon The Wind, There Comes A Song Tradition Irish Melody | ||
Uriah Heep – Sheet Music songbook | Uriah Heep – Sheet Music songbook (Piano Vocal and Guitar Chords) | |
Urlicht (Gustav Mahler) | ||
Usher – Make Me Wanna | ||
Utada Hikaru-First love | ||
V.S.O.P. Super Jazz Sound Herbie Hancock, Tony illiams,Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard | V.S.O.P. Super Jazz Sound Herbie Hancock, Tony illiams,Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard | |
Valse (Fanfan OST) Nicolas Jorelle | ||
Valse Crepusculaire (Providence OST) Miklós Rózsa | ||
Valse Etude – William Gillock Piano Solo Musescore File.mscz | ||
Valse Op 51 N 1 – Fernando Sor (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Valzer del Commiato (Il Gattopardo OST) Nino Rota | ||
Valzer di Lupin (Lupin 3 OST) Franco Micalizzi | ||
Vampire Weekend Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar Tab | Vampire Weekend Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar Tab | |
Van Halen (Van Halen Songbook ) Guitar Full score with TABs | Van Halen (Van Halen Songbook ) Guitar Full score | |
Van Halen – 1984 Guitar TAB songbook transcribed by Brand McPhail | Van Halen – 1984 Guitar TAB songbook transcribed by Brand McPhail | |
Van Halen – 5 of the Best Play-It-Like-It-Is Guitar with TABs | Van Halen – 5 of the Best Play-It-Like-It-Is Guitar | |
Van Halen – Everybody Wants Some The Van Halen Saga (Book by Ian Christe) | ||
Van Halen – Jump | ||
Van Halen – Right Now | ||
Van Halen (Guitar Backing tracks with TABs) Jam with Van Halen – (with MP3 audio tracks to play along) | Jam with van Halen | |
Van Halen 30 Classics From The Legendary Guitar God (Authentic Guitar Tab) (Authentic Guitar Tab Editions) | Van Halen 30 classics | |
Van Halen Anthology Guitar songbook with TABs | Van Halen Anthology Guitar songbook | |
Van Mccoy – Baby Im Yours | ||
Van Morrison Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Rod Stewart Ver.) | Van Morrison Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Rod Stewart Ver.) | |
Van Morrison The Guitar Collection with TABs | Van Morrison The Guitar Collection | |
Van Morrison – Anthology Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar Chords | Van Morrison – Anthology Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar Chords | |
Van Morrison – Back On Top Book Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar Chords | Van Morrison – Back On Top Book Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar Chords | |
Van Morrison – Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Rod Stewart Ver.) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Van Morrison – Veedon Fleece Piano Vocal Guitar Chords | Van Morrison – Veedon Fleece Piano Vocal Guitar Chords | |
Van Morrison Sheet Music Anthology | Van Morrison Sheet Music Anthology | |
Van(Var) (A Silent Voice) | ||
Vanessa Carlton – A Thousand Miles | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Afterglow | ||
Vanessa Carlton – All I Ask | ||
Vanessa Carlton – All Is Well | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Ameriteen | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Birdie | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Burden | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Cest La Vie | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Dark Carnival | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Devil Dance | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Faces | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Half A Week Before The Winter | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Last Fall | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Little Mary | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Meggie Sue | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Morning Sting | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Ordinary Day | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Papa | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Pretty Baby | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Private Radio | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Put Your Hands On Me | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Red Ditty | ||
Vanessa Carlton – San Francisco | ||
Vanessa Carlton – She Floats | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Swindler | ||
Vanessa Carlton – The One | ||
Vanessa Carlton – The Wreckage | ||
Vanessa Carlton – This Time | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Time Is On My Side | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Twilight | ||
Vanessa Carlton – White Houses | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Whos To Say | ||
Vanessa Carlton – Wonder | ||
Vanessa Carlton Harmonium Songbook | Vanessa Carlton Harmonium Songbook | |
Vanessa Williams – Colors Of The Wind | ||
Vanessa Williams – Save The Best For Last | ||
Vanessa’s dream – Penny Dreadful OST (Abel Korzeniowski) | ||
Vangelis Antarctica Guitar Arr With Tabs (1 or 2 Guitars with Tablature) | Vangelis Antarctica Guitar Arr With Tabs (1 or 2 Guitars with Tablature) | |
Vangelis – Antarctica Guitar arr with TABs (1 or 2 guitars).mscz | ||
Vangelis – Blade Runner – Piano in an Empty Room | ||
Vangelis – Chariots Of Fire | Vangelis Charriots of fire | |
Vangelis – Chariots Of Fire (Guitar with TABs) | Vangelis – Chariots Of Fire (Guitar with TABs) | |
Vangelis – Conquest Of Paradise | Vangelis – Conquest Of Paradise | |
Vangelis – Conquest Of Paradise (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Vangelis – Five Circles from Chariots of Fire (Guitar arr. with Tablature) | Vangelis – Five Circles from Chariots of Fire (Guitar arr. with Tablature) | |
Vangelis – L’enfant (from The Year of Living Dangerously) (Guitar with TABs) | Vangelis – L’enfant (from The Year of Living Dangerously) (Guitar with TABs) | |
Vangelis – La Petite Fille De La Mere (from L’Apocalypse des Animaux) (Guitar with TABs) | Vangelis – La Petite Fille De La Mere (from L’Apocalypse des Animaux) (Guitar with TABs) | |
Vangelis – La Petite Fille De La Mere (Guitar TABs) | ||
Vangelis – Missing Main Theme From the film Missing (Guitar TABs) | Vangelis – Missing Main Theme From the film Missing (Guitar TABs) | |
Vangelis – Missing Main Theme From the film Missing (Piano) | Vangelis – Missing Main Theme From the film Missing (Piano) | |
Vangelis – Prelude | ||
Vangelis – The Best Of (piano songbook) | ||
Vangelis Aphrodite’s Child Rain And Tears Guitar | ||
Vangelis Heaven and Hell Piano Solo | ||
Vangelis La Petite Fille De La Mer piano solo | ||
Variations In Merry Go Round Of Life – Joe Hisaishi | Variations In Merry Go Round Of Life – Joe Hisaishi | |
Vassiliev Konstantin Three Forest Painting Guitar | ||
Vassiliev, Konstatin Alba (1996) Guitar Sheet Music With Tabs | ||
Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending (Violin and Piano Reduction) | ||
Vaughan Williams – Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Vaughan Williams Lark Ascending Piano violin arr. by J. Godderis | ||
Vaughan Williams On Music Oxford Un. by David Manning (Book) | ||
Vavilov Vladimir Ave Maria (Wrongly Attributed To G.Caccini) Piano And Two Voices | ||
Vavilov Vladimir – Ave Maria (Wrongly Attributed To G.Caccini) Piano And Two Voices (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Vazha Azarashvili – Nocturne | ||
Vazha Azarashvili – Nostalgia | ||
Vazha Azarashvili Sentimental Tango (4 hands piano sheet music) | Vazha Azarashvili Sentimental Tango (4 hands piano sheet music) first page | |
Vazha Azarashvili Sentimental Tango (piano solo sheet music) | Vazha Azarashvili Sentimental Tango (piano solo sheet music) | |
Vedrai vedrai (Luigi Tenco) | ||
Velazquez, Consuelo Amar Y Vivir (Guitarra, Guitar) | ||
Vengaboys – Boom Boom Boom | ||
Venice (Only You OST) Rachel Portman | ||
Verdi Il Trovatore – Anvil Chorus Piano Solo | ||
Verdi Va Pensiero Piano Solo Arr. Nabucco Acte III Choeur Des Ésclaves Hébreux | Verdi Va Pensiero Piano Solo Arr. Nabucco Acte III Choeur Des Ésclaves Hébreux | |
Verdi – La Donna è Mobile | ||
Verdi – La Donna È Mobile (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Verdi – La Traviatta – Piano Solo arr. |