Happy 82nd birthday to Ennio Morricone, in my opinion the greatest of all film composers. He may be slowing down a bit—last year he was only credited with seven scores—but he should hit his 500th film score in the next year or two. Of course quantity doesn’t trump quality, and his oeuvre is endlessly inventive: the music that first won him international attention, for Sergio Leone’s westerns of the 1960s, was as innovative as anything being done by the Beatles, with his penchant for unusual instrumentations and percussive effects.

His most famous tune (feel free to whistle along)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG1fmfZGuWw

Conducting “Deborah’s Theme” from Once Upon a Time in America
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmsRFrN97ek&feature=related

At the opposite end of the spectrum, a galloping cover of “Ecstasy of Gold,” from The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, as performed by Metallica
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqb2X3zmNB0

Great use of a chorus in this memorable piece from The Mission, “On Earth As It Is In Heaven”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nye62rh7aaQ&feature=related

More from The Mission peformed by Yo-Yo Ma
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XISBJ-MJ0HI

Goofy psychedelia from Mario Bava’s Danger: Diabolik
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pADetrjbX6E&feature=related

A live clip of avant garde musician John Zorn and his ensemble performing a theme from Battle of Algiers
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jC1hMEDzKo

Rousing theme from Brian DePalma’s The Untouchables:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsT-0vhkxsg&feature=related

Just a gorgeously sad melody, from the Jean-Paul Belmondo vehicle The Professional:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skk9vfoUJXc

I could do this all day (I’ve barely scratched the surface), but here’s a whole Morricone playlist to brighten up your day,
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNGe7iK1O-4&feature=list_related&a=GxdCwVVULXcRwFDizMtsH6lRzUt7N9HM&list=ML&playnext=1