Bruno Nicolai

Bruno Nicolai (20 May 1926 – 16 August 1991) was an Italian film music composer, orchestra director, conductor, pianist and musical editor, most active in the 1960s through the 1980s.

While studying piano and composition at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, he befriended Ennio Morricone and formed a long working relationship, with Nicolai eventually conducting for and co-scoring films with Morricone. Morricone noted in an interview discussing the Dollars Trilogy, "I chose a great musician and friend to be my conductor: Bruno Nicolai, who conducted almost every score of mine from that point on until 1974." Nicolai also scored a number of giallo exploitation films and wrote many scores for director Jesús Franco.

Collaboration with Ennio Morricone

Nicolai frequently collaborated with Morricone, conducting many of his scores, including those for Sergio Leone's "For a Few Dollars More" (1965) and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1966). Morricone praised Nicolai as a great musician and friend who conducted nearly all his scores until 1974. Their partnership eventually ended due to disagreements over credit attribution. His work was featured in the Quentin Tarantino films Kill Bill: Volume 2 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Independent career

Beyond his work with Morricone, Nicolai established himself as a distinguished composer, scoring over 100 films and numerous television productions. He was particularly noted for his contributions to the giallo and exploitation genres, collaborating with directors like Jesús Franco, Tinto Brass, and Alberto De Martino. Notable scores include "The Red Queen Kills Seven Times" (1972) and "The Case of the Bloody Iris" (1972).

Musical style and legacy

Nicolai's compositions are characterised by their rich orchestration and innovative use of instruments, including bells, anvils, and whips, elements that became synonymous with the spaghetti western sound. He also explored various musical styles, from classical to avant-garde, and was known for his work in library music, founding the labels Gemelli and Edi-Pan.

His music has experienced a resurgence in popularity, featuring in modern films such as Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill: Volume 2" (2004) and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (2019).

Later years and death

Nicolai continued to compose and conduct until his final years, with his last known score being for the 1988 TV series "La coscienza di Zeno." He died on 16 August 1991 in Rome. Despite being overshadowed during his lifetime, Nicolai's work has gained recognition posthumously, cementing his status as a significant figure in Italian film music.

Selected filmography Year Film Directed by Notes Latest CD / Digital Release 1964 Romeo and Juliet Riccardo Freda Mondo Inferno Antonio Margheriti with Marco Vicario Beat Records / BCM9587 / 2019 Vita Di Michelangelo Silverio Blasi Kronos Records / KRONGOLD007 / 2014 1965 $100,000 for Ringo Alberto De Martino GDM / CD CLUB 7009 / 2002 1966 K.O. va e uccidi Carlo Ferrero Saimel Bandas Sonoras / 3998920 / 2011 The Spy with Ten Faces Alberto De Martino Quartet Records / QR337 / 2018 Kiss Kiss...Bang Bang Duccio Tessari Quartet Records / QR337 / 2018 Django Shoots First Alberto De Martino GDM / GDM 4149 / 2012 Special Mission Lady Chaplin Alberto De Martino Digitmovies / CDDM082 / 2007 The Christmas That Almost Wasn't Rossano Brazzi Digitmovies / CDDM047 / 2006 El Cisco Sergio Bergonzelli Digitmovies / CDDM073 / 2006 1967 Day of Violence Alfonso Brescia GDM / CD CLUB 7016 / 2003 Lucky, the Inscrutable Jesús Franco Quartet Records / QR337 / 2018 Dirty Heroes Alberto De Martino Beat Records / CDCR 86 / 2009 1968 Gentleman Killer Giorgio Stegani as George Finley Digitmovies / CDDM036 / 2005 Run, Man, Run Sergio Sollima Digitmovies / CDDM095 / 2007 Bandits in Rome Alberto de Martino a.k.a. Bandits in Rome Quartet Records / QR441 / 2021 Phenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankhamen Ruggero Deodato as Roger Rockefeller Digitmovies / CDDM079 / 2007 The Last Mercenary Mel Welles as Dieter Müller Beat Records / CDCR 32 / 1996 1969 99 Women Jesús Franco Digitmovies / CDDM034 / 2005 Marquis de Sade: Justine Jesús Franco Digitmovies / CDDM268 / 2014 Desert Assault Mino Loy Digitmovies / CDDM049 / 2006 Carnal Circuit Alberto De Martino a.k.a. Femmine Insaziabili Quartet Records / QR463 / 2021 Flashback Raffaele Andreassi Geminus Luciano Emmer Edipan / PANCD2506 / 2014 Zenabel Ruggero Deodato Saimel Bandas Sonoras / 3997610 / 2006 Love Birds - Una strana voglia d'amare Mario Caiano GDM / GDM 4106 / 2007 1970 Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion Jesús Franco Digitmovies / CDDM030 / 2005 Land Raiders Nathan Juran Digitmovies / CDDM190 / 2011 Nightmares Come At Night Jesús Franco Digitmovies / CDDM117 / 2008 Arizona Colt Returns Sergio Martino Saimel Bandas Sonoras / 3998010 / 2007 The Bloody Judge Jesús Franco Lucertola Media / LMCD 011 / 1998 Count Dracula Jesús Franco Digitmovies / CDDM319 / 2022 Adiós, Sabata Gianfranco Parolini Quartet Records / QR198 / 2015 Have a Good Funeral, My Friend... Sartana Will Pay Giuliano Carnimeo as Anthony Ascott Beat Records / CDCR 39 / 2005 Apocalypse Joe Leopoldo Savona Beat Records / CDCR 45 / 1998 Cloud of Dust... Cry of Death... Sartana Is Coming Giuliano Carnimeo Saimel Bandas Sonoras / 3997910 / 2007 1971 Christ from the ocean Ramon Fernández Digitmovies / CDDM159 / 2010 And the Crows Will Dig Your Grave Juan Bosch as John Wood Saimel Bandas Sonoras / 3998010 / 2007 The Case of the Scorpion's Tail Sergio Martino Digitmovies / CDDM028 / 2004 The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave Emilio Miraglia Digitmovies / CDDM040 / 2005 Dead Men Ride Aldo Florio GDM / GDM 4150 / 2012 Civilta Del Mediterraneo Kronos Records / KRONGOLD039 / 2021 1972 When Women Lost Their Tails Pasquale Festa Campanile Digitmovies / DGST025 / 2017 All the Colors of the Dark Sergio Martino Digitmovies / CDDM019 / 2004 His Name Was Holy Ghost Giuliano Carnimeo as Anthony Ascott Beat Records / CDCR 127 / 2014 The French Sex Murders Ferdinando Merighi God in Heaven... Arizona on Earth Juan Bosch as John Wood A Virgin Among the Living Dead Jesús Franco GDM / GDM 4150 / 2012 Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key Sergio Martino Digitmovies / CDDM016 / 2004 The Case of the Bloody Iris Giuliano Carnimeo Digitmovies / CDDM013 / 2004 My Horse, My Gun, Your Widow Juan Bosch as John Wood The Red Queen Kills Seven Times Emilio Miraglia Cam Sugar / CS009RSD / 2022 Ubalda, All Naked and Warm Mariano Laurenti Digitmovies / CDDM055 / 2006 1973 The Big Family Tonino Ricci Edipan / PAN CD 2504 / 1997 A Full Day's Work Jean-Louis Trintignant GDM / GDM 2019 / 2019 Man Called Invincible Giuliano Carnimeo Beat Records / CDCR 117 / 2012 Forbidden to Know Nadine Trintignant Digitmovies / CDDM132 / 2009 The Bloody Vultures of Alaska Harald Reinl Silverio Blasi Edipan / PAN CD 2507 / 2014 My Name Is Shanghai Joe Mario Caiano GDM / GDM 4174 / 2014 1974 And Then There Were None Peter Collinson Digitmovies / CDDM320 / 2023 1975 Eyeball Umberto Lenzi Quartet Records / QR554 / 2024 Manhunt in the City Umberto Lenzi Digitmovies / CDDM100 / 2007 Then, The Train Emilio Marsili CAM / Digital / 2025 1977 Don Giovanni In Sicilia Guglielmo Morandi Kronos Records / KRONGOLD012 / 2015 1979 Caligula Tinto Brass as Paul Clemente Cimmerian Records / CRCD023 / 2017 1982 Cammina, cammina Ermanno Olmi