The complex world of Italian prog and new music

An entry you may be surprised to see in our forthcoming Italian music book "A Fistful Of Spaghetti"

Luis Enríquez Bacalov
Composer (born 1933, Buenos Aires, Argentina) who worked mostly doing film soundtracks. He did a lot of excellent scores before he discovered rock music, including some Spaghetti Westerns and a few Giallos. Some films with Bacalov music in our video collection: Django (1966), La Vittima Designata (The Designated Victim, 1971), Milano Calibro 9 (1972), Il Boss (Murder Inferno, 1973), Un Hombre Llamado Noon (The Man Called Noon, 1973), Shoot First... Die Later (1974), Colpo In Canna (Loaded Guns, 1975), La Città Sconvolta (Kidnap Syndicate, 1975), Gli Esecutori (Street People, 1976), and Vacanze Per Un Massacro (Madness, 1980).



Bacalov's complete discography is at least 60 albums, of which the majority are soundtracks or used in films. Aside from initally trying to imitate Ennio Morricone (with whom he also collaborated), Bacalov's range was wide, from pastoral orchestral through to weird avant-garde (of which PITTURAMUSICA is a good example) and experimental jazz (album DESBANDES featuring Gato Barbieri). He also did funky psychedelic soul (some pieces in the "La Seduzione" soundrack) and all sorts of rock and pop styles (of which "The Summertime Killer" showcases, including two pieces that sound like New Trolls). His trademarks in the 70s became rich symphonic strings and Bach inspired melodies mixed with dramatic themes and rock rhythms.




For prog fans, his best material is these three collaboration albums he did with rock groups: New Trolls CONCERTO GROSSO (1971), Osanna PRELUDIO TEMA VARIAZIONI CANZONA (1972) and Il Rovescio Della Medaglia CONTAMINAZIONE (1973), all Italian prog classics. The Osanna collaboration he was particularly fond of, and he re-used a lot of the Osanna sessions over and over, in at least four more films after Milano Calibro 9. The second New Trolls collaboration CONCERTO GROSSO Nº 2 (1976) wasn't up to the standard of the first, but has its moments. There is now also a third CONCERTO GROSSO and abridged newly re-recorded versions of the trilogy.




Different arrangements of Concerto Grosso material in the film La Vittima Designata with Tomas Milian on vocals

p.s. Of course the book version won't include the video links, but this will no doubt give a clue as to the range of music we intend to include, sewing up the 60s/70s scene and beyond. And, yes, there's a similar article on Ennio Morricone too, plus all the usual suspects of Italian prog, the Nuova Futurista and all related genres. It's still work in progress. No doubt I'll post some more tasters here too!