ENNIO MORRICONE

Ennio Morricone – Vinyl

Ennio Morricone – Marco Polo (Original Soundtrack)

Label: Ariola – 204 699-320
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: Europe
Released: 1982
Genre: Classical
Style: Contemporary

Expanded Release Background:

Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack to Marco Polo (1982) represents one of his most ambitious and panoramic works from the early 1980s. Composed for the lavish Italian TV miniseries detailing the life and travels of the Venetian explorer, the score merges Morricone’s classical discipline with sweeping cinematic motifs and touches of Eastern-influenced instrumentation. Far from being a simple historical accompaniment, the music reinforces the series’ vast geographical scope — from Venice to the Silk Road, Persia, Mongolia, and the court of Kublai Khan.

This European Ariola gatefold LP edition is notable for its high-quality pressing and elegant package design, often considered one of the most visually appealing versions of the soundtrack. Unlike some later reissues, the original 1982 vinyl captures the warmth, dynamics, and wide spatial arrangements characteristic of Morricone’s early-80s orchestral recording style.

Musically, the album offers a blend of dramatic main themes, delicate romantic cues, ritualistic ceremonial pieces, and atmospheric travel sequences. Tracks such as “Marco Polo (Maintheme)” and “The Great March of Kublai” showcase Morricone’s mastery of rhythm and orchestration, while pieces like “Monica,” “The First Love,” and “Nostalgia of the Father” highlight his gift for intimate, lyrical expression. The recurring variations of “Marco’s Theme” serve as emotional anchors, tracking the character’s transformation through hope, danger, discovery, and reflection.

Fans and collectors regard this LP as one of the more underrated Morricone releases of the period. Its combination of thematic richness, storytelling, cultural colour, and the composer’s signature melodic depth makes it essential for admirers of his more expansive, narrative-driven works.

Tracklist

A1 – Marco Polo (Maintheme)
3:21

A2 – On The Way To The Orient
3:54

A3 – Monica
6:03

A4 – The Legend Of The Great Wall
2:02

A5 – Mai-Li's Song
2:33

A6 – The South Burns
2:59

A7 – Marco Polo (Hormuz)
0:57

A8 – Farewell To The Mother
1:27

A9 – The Crusaders
4:16

B1 – The First Love
3:53

B2 – The Forbidden City
1:44

B3 – Marco's Theme (Death In The Wind)
1:45

B4 – On The Way To The Orient (Trip)
5:37

B5 – Nostalgia Of The Father
1:13

B6 – The Great March Of Kublai
3:02

B7 – The Holy Sepulchre
3:29

B8 – The Mongolia
1:11

B9 – Marco's Theme (Dialogue)
1:01

B10 – The Dream
0:54

B11 – Adolescence
3:32

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