Italian pianist Marco Fumo offers a unique and personal insight into the music of his friend, Ennio Morricone, including Rag in frantumi, a piece dedicated to him by the composer.

Marco Fumo has performed the music of Ennio Morricone on many occasions, but has never recorded his interpretations until now. Rag in frantumi was dedicated to Fumo in 1986, at an early stage in this special collaboration and friendship. Alongside this piece, Fumo performs an array of film themes by the celebrated composer, as well as the famous ‘Love Theme’ from Cinema Paradiso composed by Morricone’s son, Andrea.

The friendship between Marco Fumo and Ennio Morricone, immortalised on this album, began when Fumo was working with the Florentine musicologist Sergio Micelli, who in turn was collaborating with Morricone. Fumo, a ragtime specialist, asked Morricone if he might consider writing a piece inspired by ragtime, and Rag in frantumi was the result.

The two artists met up increasingly frequently, and Morricone began to ask Fumo if he would perform transcriptions of his film scores. Fumo became like part of the family, staying with Morricone and his wife and children whenever he was visiting Rome.

Marco Fumo brings this exceptional insight into Morricone’s music and character to the performances on this album. The repertoire includes Morricone’s Four Preludes (‘Cane Bianco’; ‘Star System’; ‘Metti, una sera a cena’; ‘Indagine’) and Four Studies (‘Il deserto dei tartari’, Le due stagioni della vita’; ‘Gott mit Uns’; ‘Il potere degli Angeli’), all of which Fumo has performed in front of the composer on numerous occasions.

Marco Fumo says of this unique and intimate recording: “I would like to dedicate this tribute to Ennio, a careful, helpful, affectionate musician and man, to whom I feel greatly indebted.”