Francesco De Masi

Francesco De Masi (11 January 1930 – 6 November 2005) was an Italian conductor and film score composer.

Biography He studied composition at the San Pietro a Maiella Conservatory in Naples under the guidance of Achille Longo, his uncle. De Masi became interested in film music when Longo was asked to compose a soundtrack for a film, and he asked De Masi to be his assistant. De Masi's filmography includes scores for over 200 films and TV series, ranging from Spaghetti Westerns and sword and sandal epics to gialli and horror films, such as Lucio Fulci's Lo squartatore di New York (The New York Ripper).

De Masi also scored several action films, such as Enzo G. Castellari's Quel maledetto treno blindato (The Inglorious Bastards), but he is best remembered for his work on Spaghetti Westerns. Unlike most other composers, De Masi started writing western scores slightly earlier than the genre's most influential musician, Ennio Morricone. As De Masi's music was less influenced by Morricone, his style had a distinctive sound. Many of his songs were performed by the low-voiced member of the I Cantori Moderni choir, Ettore "Raoul" Lovecchio.

De Masi was also very interested in classical music. He taught at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, also conducting the conservatory's orchestra. In an interview, De Masi listed Palestrina, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Ravel and Shostakovich as his main classical influences.

De Masi died of cancer at the age of 75.

Selected filmography Year Film Directed by Singles Latest CD / Digital Release 1962 Kerim, Son of the Sheik Mario Costa Digitmovies / CDDM160 / 2010 Toto vs. Maciste Fernando Cerchio Digitmovies / DGST027 / 2017 Harald Reinl Saimel / 3998956 / 2020 Colossus of the Arena Michele Lupo Tiko and the Shark Folco Quilici Beat Records Company / BCM 9537 / 2014 1963 The Ghost Riccardo Freda Digitmovies / CDDM122 / 2008 Hercules the Invincible Alvaro Mancori, Lewis Mann The Sign of the Coyote Mario Caiano Goliath and the Sins of Babylon Michele Lupo Digitmovies / CDDM234 / 2013 1964 Man of the Cursed Valley Siro Marcellini, Primo Zeglio Beat Records / CDCR149 / 2023 Maciste in King Solomon's Mines Piero Regnoli Digitmovies / CDDM160 / 2010 The Lion of Thebes Giorgio Ferroni Seven Slaves Against the World Michele Lupo La vendetta di Spartacus Michele Lupo Massacre at Marble City Paul Martin (director) 1965 Seven Rebel Gladiators Michele Lupo Mutiny in the South Seas Wolfgang Becker Beat Records / BCM9555 / 2015 Serenade for Two Spies Michael Pfleghar, Alberto Cardone Beat Records / BCM 9552 / 2014 Desperate Mission (1965 film) Roberto Bianchi Montero A Coffin for the Sheriff Mario Caiano Beat Records / CDCR 95 / 2011 1966 Seven Dollars on the Red Alberto Cardone, Melchiade Coletti Beat Records / CDCR121 / 2012 The Murder Clinic Elio Scardamaglia Digitmovies / CDDM122 / 2008 FBI Operation Yellow Viper Alfredo Medori, Wolfgang Schleif Beat Records / BCM 9546 / 2014 An Angel for Satan Camillo Mastrocinque The Third Eye Mino Guerrini Ringo, the Mark of Vengeance Mario Caiano GDM / GDM 2060 / 2005 Arizona Colt Michele Lupo Beat Records / CDCR 96 / 2012 Alla scoperta dell'Africa (TV Movie) Folco Quilici Beat Records / BCM 9547 / 2015 India (TV Movie) Folco Quilici Cometa Edizioni Musicali / CMT 10028-10029 / 2012 1967 Two Crosses at Danger Pass Rafael Romero Marchent Seven Pistols for a Massacre Mario Caiano Any Gun Can Play Enzo G. Castellari Beat Records / CDCR 91 / 2011 Your Turn to Die Michele Lupo Digitmovies / CDDM024 / 2004 1968 Johnny Hamlet Enzo G. Castellari Seven Winchesters for a Massacre Enzo G. Castellari The Moment to Kill Giuliano Carmineo A Taste of Death Sergio Merolle Kill Them All and Come Back Alone Enzo G. Castellari Beat Records / CDCR 92 / 2011 1969 Lesbo Edoardo Mulargia Beat Records / CDCR 99 / 2010 Eagles Over London Enzo G. Castellari Ariete / AR 8008: La Battaglia D'Inghilterra / Tema Di Meg Beat Records / CDCR 62 / 2002 1970 Una storia d'amore (1969 film) Michele Lupo Beat Records / BCM 9553 / 2015 Sartana's Here… Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin Giuliano Carnimeo The Weekend Murders Michele Lupo Beat Records / BCM9512 / 2013 1971 Terrible Day of the Big Gundown Sergio Garrone FBI Operation Pakistan Harald Reinl Beat Records / BCM9542 / 2015 African Story Marino Girolami Digitmovies / CDDM169 / 2010 1972 The Weapon, the Hour & the Motive Francesco Mazzei Crime Boss (film) Alberto De Martino Beat Records / CDCR 139 / 2018 The House of the Doves Claudio Guerin Hector the Mighty Enzo G. Castellari Beat Records / CDCR 111 / 2011 1973 The Big Game (1973 film) Robert Day Chris' Soundtrack Corner / CSC001 / 2007 The Hanging Woman José Luis Merino Bawdy Tales Sergio Citti 1974 The Arena Steve Carver, Michael Wotruba Digitmovies / CDDM160 / 2010 1975 Private Vices, Public Virtues Miklós Jancsó 1977 Nazi Love Camp 27 Mario Caiano Weapons of Death Mario Caiano Beat Records / CDCR 83 / 2007 Kid Vengeance Joseph Manduke 1978 The Inglorious Bastards Enzo G. Castellari 1980 The European Man Folco Quilici Kronos Records / KRONGOLD038 / 2020 1982 The New York Ripper Lucio Fulci Beat Records / CDCR154 / 2024 Invaders of the Lost Gold Alan Birkinshaw 1983 Rush (1983 film) Tonino Ricci Thor the Conqueror Tonino Ricci Lone Wolf McQuade Steve Carver Beat Records / CDCR 26 / 1995 Escape from the Bronx Enzo G. Castellari Beat Records / CDCR146 / 2021 Thunder Warrior Fabrizio De Angelis Beat Records / CDCR 87 / 2008 1984 Mad Dog Fabrizio De Angelis Kronos Records / KRONCD009 / 2012 1985 Formula for a Murder Alberto De Martino Beat Records / CDCR 29 / 1996 1986 Operation Nam Fabrizio De Angelis 1988 Thunder Warrior III Fabrizio De Angelis Beat Records / CDCR 87 / 2008 1989 Mortacci (Death to You) Sergio Citti