Luis Bacalov - the composer and his film music

Luis Enriquez Bacalov was born in Argentina and now lives and works in Italy. He has composed the music for numerous Italian language films, including some early Spaghetti Westerns where he followed the work of Ennio Morricone. He is also an accomplished pianist and has recorded some of the classical piano works of Nino Rota. Although it was released with subtitles, the composer's academy award-winning music for "Il Postino" (The Postman) put his work firmly on the map as far as English-speaking countries are concerned. The score has more or less one single theme. Yet arranged for different instrumental groupings (with accordian often playing a central role) and with a varied accompaniment it always seems fresh and new, a thoughtful comment on the touching story of the postman.

In a way this style of film-making and music is reminiscent of Morricone's music for "Cinema Paradiso" or Nicola Piovani's "Life is Beautiful", and refreshingly far removed from the standard offerings frequently emerging from Hollywood. Another film score by Bacalov in a similar vein is "The Love Letter" which has a great Tango theme. Along with Morricone, Bacalov has had some of his music used by Tarantino on the "Kill Bill" films, including his music from "The Grand Duel" and "Summertime Killer". The recent "Sea of Dreams" is very dreamy with pan-pipes and slow melodies like some of Morricone, though it has similar Mediterranean instrumental references to "Il Postino". There are some some vocals and moment of darkness, but the majority of this score could be described as pleasant and beautiful.

Being Argentinian by birth, it is no surprise that Bacalov has an affinity with the Tango. He has composed several Tangos and these can be found on various albums. There is a Tango for example in "Love Letter" and Bacalov scored "Assassination Tango".

Films by Luis Bacalov:

• The Empty Canvas
• The Gospel According to St. Matthew
• Kiss the Other Sheik
• Django - with electric guitar for this Spaghetti Western
• Una questione d'onore (A Question of Honour)
• A Bullet for the General
• We Still Kill the Old Way
• Halleluja for Django
• Ghosts - Italian Style
• Catch as Catch Can

• All Out
• The Vatican Affair
• Rebus
• The Price of Power
• The Designated Victim
• Lo chiamavano King
• Roma bene
• Summertime Killer - sharing the music credits with Sergio Bardotti
• Caliber 9
• Il Grande Duello (The Grand Duel) - again sharing with Sergio Bardotti in this Western starring Lee Van Cleef

• The Boss
• The Man Called Noon
• Stateline Motel - starring Eli Wallach and Ursula Andress
• La seduzione
• Colpo in canna
• My Mother's Friend
• Street People
• Rulers of the City
• Madness
• La Citta delle Donne (City of Women)

• Entre Nous
• Ars amandi
• The Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway
• The Red Rose
• Loaded Guns
• Sugar Colt - and another Western soundtrack
• Deceptions
• La Tregua (The Truce)
• Leonardo's Dream
• Il Postino - delicate music reflecting a simple life yet full of character and pathos
• Polish Wedding

• B. Monkey
• The Love Letter - some equally delicate music with harp, mandolin and accordian and a witty tango
• Secret of the Andes
• The Children of the Century
• Il Cielo Cade (The Sky Falls)
• It Had to be You
• Woman on Top
• Assassination Tango
• Kill Bill: Volumes 1 and 2 - various tracks, many in the first film coming from "The Grand Duel"
• The Dust Factory
• Sea of Dreams - highly recommended and a complete contrast to his early music for Westerns

TV Music by Luis Bacalov:

Bacalov has also provided music for a number of TV series and movies for Italian television, the latest being "Caravaggio" in 2007 which has had a soundtrack release.

• Caravaggio - TV movie

Luis Bacalov - Recommendations:

The following examples are good examples of soundtracks available by Luis Bacalov:

• Il Postino (The Postman) - from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• The Love Letter - from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Sea of Dreams - from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Polish Wedding - from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• La Citta delle Donne (City of Women) - from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• La Tregua (The Truce) - from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• The Italian Western of Luis Bacalov - from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
• Django - from Amazon.com
• Il Grande Duello (The Grand Duel) - from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com