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 |
---|---|---|
Aerosmith – I Dont Want To Miss A Thing | ||
Aerosmith 1973-1979 – Guitar Play Along with MP3 audio Guitar Signature Licks with Tablature | Aerosmith 1973-1979 Signature Licks | |
Aerosmith Greatest Hits (Guitar) with Tablature | aerosmith greatist hist guitar | |
Aerosmith Nine Lives Original Songbook Guitar Tabs | ||
Aesthetics Of Music Musicological Perspectives by Stephen Downes(Book) | ||
Affections touching across time (Inuyasha OST) Kaoru Wada | ||
Afi – Love Like Winter | ||
Afi – Miss Murder | ||
AFI’s Top 25 Film Scores Songbook | AFI’s Top 25 Film Scores Songbook | |
Africa – Toto.mscz | ||
Africa And The Blues (Book) | ||
Afro Cuban Keyboard Grooves by Manny Patiño and Jorge Moreno | Afro Cuban Keyboard Grooves by Manny Patiño and Jorge Moreno | |
Afroman – Because I Got High | ||
After Hours for PIANO DUET by Pam Wedgwood | After Hours for PIANO DUET by Pam Wedgwood | |
After Hours For Solo Piano. Book 3 (Pam Wedgwood) | After Hours For Solo Piano. Book 3 (Pam Wedgwood) | |
After Hours for Trumpet and Piano by Pam Wedgwood | After Hours for Trumpet and Piano by Pam Wedgwood | |
After You’ve Gone Turner Layton And Henry Creamer 1918 Jazz Standard (Vintage sheet music) | ||
Again, as before, alone (P. I. Tchaikovsky) | ||
Age of Empires 2 – Main theme | Age of Empires 2 – Main theme | |
Agnes Obel Chord Left | ||
Agnes Obel Fuel To Fire | ||
Agnes Obel Pass Them By | ||
Agnes Obel – Riverside Piano | ||
Agnes Obel – September Song | ||
Agnes Obel – Tokka | ||
Agnes Obel Falling Catching | ||
Agnes Obel Falling, Catching | ||
Agnes Obel Familiar | ||
Agnes Obel Fuel To Fire | ||
Agnes Obel It’s Happening Again | ||
Agnes Obel Just So | ||
Agnes Obel Mary | ||
Agnes Obel Riverside | ||
Agnes Obel September Song | ||
Agnes Obel Smoke And Mirrors | ||
Agnes Obel The Curse | ||
Agnes Obel Tokka | ||
Agnes Obel Words Are Dead | ||
Aguas De Março Jazz Piano Score Jobim | ||
Aha – Take On Me | ||
Ahead On Our Way Ff Vii (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Ahmad Jamal Poinciana Full score (Song of the Tree) | Ahmad Jamal Poinciana Full score (Song of the Tree) | |
Ahmad Jamal The Ahmad Jamal Collection (Artist Transcriptions) | Ahmad Jamal The Ahmad Jamal Collection Artist Piano Transcriptions contents Ahmad’s Blues, But Not For Me, The Canteen, For My Daughter, My Flower, New Rhumba, Night Mist Blues, Poinciana (Song Of The Tree), Sumayah, The Surrey With The Fringe On Top | |
Ahmad Jamal Wave from the album The Awakening | ||
Ai Mei – Rainie Yang | ||
Aimee Mann – Wise Up | ||
Ain’t Misbehavin’ Fats Waller As Played By Joe Pass (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Ainsi soit je (Mylène Farmer) | ||
Air on the G string, from BWV 1068 (10 string, Yepes tuning).mscz | ||
Air Supply Greatest Hits | AIR SUPPLY GREATEST | |
Airegin by Soony Rollins – Jazz Play Along with sheet music | Airegin | |
Akira Ifukube – Sonata for Violin and Piano I – Allegro | ||
Akira Ifukube End Titles Godzilla Vs Destoroyah | ||
Akira Ifukube Mesa March Godzilla | ||
Akira Yamaoka Silent Hill 2 Promise (Reprise) | ||
Akira Yamaoka, Silent Hill Room Of Angel (Piano) | Akira Yamaoka, Silent Hill Room Of Angel (Piano) | |
Aknin, Laurent Le Choix Du Coeur Easy Piano Solo (du film The Student and Mister Henri (L’Étudiante et Monsieur Henri) | Aknin-Laurent-Le-Choix-Du-Coeur-Easy-Piano-Solo | |
Al Di Meola – Guitar Technique SongBook with Tablature | Al Di Meola – Guitar technique SongBook | |
Al Di Meola A Guide To Guitar Chords Scales And Arpeggios Master Classes With Bob Aslanian | Al Di Meola A Guide To Guitar Chords Scales And Arpeggios Master Classes With Bob Aslanian | |
Al Di Meola Collection | al di meola collection songbook | |
Al Di Meola Enigma Of Desire (Guitar) | ||
Al Di Meola Guitar School Elegant Gypsy Songbook with Tablature | Al Di Meola Guitar School Elegant Gypsy Songbook | |
Al Di Meola Guitar Tabs Songbook Electric Rendezvous | Al Di Meola Guitar Tabs Songbook Electric Rendezvous | |
Al Di Meola Solace (Guitar) | Al Di Meola Solace (Guitar) | |
Al Di Meola Solos (Guitar) with Tablature | al di meola solos | |
Al Di Meola Super Guitarist Guitar Tabs Songbook | Al Di Meola Super Guitarist Guitar Tabs Songbook | |
Al Di Meola When Youre Gone | Al Di Meola When Youre Gone | |
Al Green – Let´s Stay Together Melody And Guitar Chords | ||
Al Green Let’s Stay Together | ||
Al Jarreau – Breakin’ Away | ||
Al Jarreau Spain (I can recall) Piano Vocal Guitar Chords | ||
Al Jarreau The Best Of Al Jarreau Piano Vocal Guitar chords | Al Jarreau The Best Of Book | |
Al Stewart – Time Passages | ||
Al Stewart – Year Of The Cat | ||
Al Stewart Greatest Songs Of Book | AL STEWART SONGBOOK | |
Aladdin – A Whole New World – Alan Menken | Aladdin – A Whole New World – Alan Menken | |
Aladdin – Arabian Nights (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Aladdin – Broadway Musical Songbook – Alan Menken | Aladdin – Broadway Musical Songbook – Alan Menken | |
Alain Barriere – Les Guinguettes | ||
Alain Barrière – Emporte Moi (Y Volveré) | ||
Alain Barriere – Tu T’en Vas | ||
Alain Chamfort Songbook Book | ALAIN CHAMFORT SONGBOOK | |
Alain Souchon Au Ras Des Paquerettes Piano Vocal Guitar TAB | Alain Souchon Au Ras Des Paquerettes Piano Vocal Guitar TAB | |
Alain Souchon Ecoutez d’où Ma Peine Vient Piano Vocal Guitar chords | Alain Souchon Ecoutez d’où Ma Peine Vient Piano Vocal Guitar chords | |
Alain Souchon les plus grands succès de (partitions, sheet music) Piano Vocal | Alain Souchon les plus grands succès de (partitions, sheet music) Piano Vocal | |
Alan Belkin – Una Guía Práctica de Composición Musical (Spanish) | Book Theory | |
Alan Jackson – Between the Devil and Me | ||
Alan Jackson – Buicks to the Moon | ||
Alan Jackson – I’ll Go On Loving You | ||
Alan Jackson – It’s Five Oclock Somewhere | ||
Alan Jackson – Little Bitty | ||
Alan Jackson – Once In A Lifetime Love | ||
Alan Jackson – Remember When | ||
Alan Jackson – That’d Be Alright | ||
Alan Jackson – There Goes | ||
Alan Jackson – Where I Come From | ||
Alan Jackson Remember When Piano Solo | ||
Alan Lomax – The Penguin Book Of American Folk Songs (GUITAR) | Alan Lomax – The Penguin Book Of American Folk Songs GUITAR) | |
Alan Menken – A Christmas Carol A Place Called Home | ||
Alan Menken – Beauty and the Beast (easy piano) Complete score arr. piano & guitar chords | Alan Menken – Beauty and the Beast (easy piano) | |
Alan Menken – Little Shop Of Horrors | Alan Menken – Little Shop Of Horrors | |
Alan Menken – Songbook | Alan Menken songbook sheet music | |
Alan Menken – Tangled (Disney) Rapunzel songbook | Tangled | |
Alan Menken A Christmas Carol (The Musical) | ||
Alan Menken Aladdin (songbook) | Alan Menken Aladdin | |
Alan Menken I see the light (Tangled-Disney) | Alan Menken I see the light (Tangled-Disney) | |
Alan Menken My Christmas Tree from Home Alone 2 Lost In New York | ||
Alan Menken The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (Disney) | Alan Menken The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (Disney) | |
Alan Menken The Little Mermaid Piano Vocal Score (The Musical) | Alan Menken The Little Mermaid Piano Vocal Score (The Musical) | |
Alan Parsons – Eye in the Sky | ||
Alan Parsons Project – Don’t Answer Me | ||
Alan Parsons Project – Eye In The Sky | ||
Alan Parsons Project – Time | ||
Alan Parsons Project – Eve (Piano, Vocal, Guitar) Songbook | Alan Parsons Project – Eve (Piano, Vocal, Guitar) Songbook | |
Alan Parsons Project – Eye In the Sky (Piano, Vocal, Guitar Songbook) | Alan Parsons Project – Eye In the Sky (Piano, Vocal, Guitar Songbook) | |
Alan Parsons Project – I Robot (Piano, Vocal, Guitar) Songbook | Alan Parsons Project – I Robot (Piano, Vocal, Guitar) Songbook | |
Alan Parsons Project – The Essential | Alan Parsons Project | |
Alan Parsons Project Gaudí Piano Vocal Guitar chords | Alan Parsons Project Gaudí Piano Vocal Guitar chords | |
Alan Silvestri – Avengers Infinity War Medley – Piano Solo | Alan Silvestri – Avengers Infinity War Medley – Piano Solo | |
Alan Silvestri – Contact Main Theme |