Tributes have been pouring in for "remarkable composer" and Italian screen legend Ennio Morricone, following his death aged 91.
Fellow composer Hans Zimmer hailed Morricone as "an icon" and said "he was a major influence on me".
"Ennio was an icon and icons just don't go away, icons are forever," he said during an interview with BBC Breakfast.
"It really has taken me by surprise as he was still touring. I saw him about a year ago. He seemed strong. He was conducting at the O2."
He added: "He was a major influence on me. The first movie I ever saw was Once Upon A Time In The West. I heard the music and saw those images and I said, 'That’s what I want to do’."
"Ennio was an icon and icons just don't go away"
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) July 6, 2020
On #BBCBreakfast composer @HansZimmer reflects on the death of the film and TV music composer Ennio Morricone.https://t.co/poOdCoTrLs pic.twitter.com/njNK0irIch
Director Edgar Wright paid tribute on Twitter, praising the Oscar-winning composer for his ability to make "an average movie into a must-see".
He said: "Where to even begin with iconic composer Ennio Morricone?
"He could make an average movie into a must see, a good movie into art, and a great movie into legend.
"He hasn't been off my stereo my entire life. What a legacy of work he leaves behind."
Where to even begin with iconic composer Ennio Morricone? He could make an average movie into a must see, a good movie into art, and a great movie into legend. He hasn't been off my stereo my entire life. What a legacy of work he leaves behind. RIP. https://t.co/qZX6qE10ke
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 6, 2020
Film composer Daniel Pemberton commended Morricone's "heartbreaking melodies and raw emotion" and explained how he had a "huge influence" on his work.
"The way he mixed experimental sound, heartbreaking melodies and raw emotion into everything he did made him, for me, the greatest film composer EVER and a huge influence on my work," he said.
Damn. Ennio Morricone has left us. The way he mixed experimental sound, heartbreaking melodies and raw emotion into everything he did made him, for me, the greatest film composer EVER and a huge influence on my work..
— Daniel Pemberton (@DANIELPEMBERTON) July 6, 2020
Let's play some things loud.. 👇👇https://t.co/hRdBWyNitx
Dance music duo Orbital, who were among the early electronic acts inspired by Morricone's scores, described him as "one of the best film composers of all time".
So sad to hear that Ennio Morricone has died . He was a great influence . One of the best film composers of all time.
— Orbital (@orbitalband) July 6, 2020
New Order frontman Bernard Sumner said Morricone was one of his "musical heroes" and said his music "introduced me to albums".
"I saw with great sadness that one of my musical heroes, Ennio Morricone has passed away today. His music introduced me to albums and the first album I ever bought was one of his. He made beautiful emotional music and was the master of melody."
— New Order (@neworder) July 6, 2020
- Bernard Sumner pic.twitter.com/yBBK5GYDLe
French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre said Morricone had "a unique sound" and "magnificent melodies".
Ennio Morricone a unique sound magnificent melodies,a major influence & constant source of inspiration: Love and respect.
— Jean-Michel Jarre (@jeanmicheljarre) July 6, 2020
Ennio Morricone un son unique, des mélodies magnifiques, une influence majeure et une source d'inspiration constante: avec amour et respect.#EnnioMoricone pic.twitter.com/H9oiCXk0qa
A message on the Twitter account of Film4 said Morricone's spaghetti western scores left an "indelible mark on film history" and said his more recent work on films like 2019's One Upon a Time in Hollywood "was as magical as ever".
We're very sad to hear that legendary composer Ennio Morricone has died.
— Film4 (@Film4) July 6, 2020
His scores for spaghetti westerns made an indelible mark on film history and his more recent work on films like Baby Driver, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Love Witch was as magical as ever. pic.twitter.com/862FPCqi7a
The Royal Philharmonic Society posted a touching tribute to Morricone on Twitter, praising the "remarkable composer" for leaving "us all so much to cherish".
If proof were needed of orchestral music's enduring power and currency, imagine so many of the all-time great films without Ennio Morricone's colossal scores, giving so many of them their soul. We salute a remarkable composer who has left us all so much to cherish. pic.twitter.com/GOuNM0CXJV
— Royal Philharmonic Society (@RoyalPhilSoc) July 6, 2020
RTÉ broadcaster Marty Whelan said he felt a "real sense of loss" following Morricone's passing.
The late #EnnioMorricone who has passed away, feel a real sense of loss. His music is an essential part of my @RTElyricfm mornings. pic.twitter.com/eRzY9xgpO5
— Marty Whelan (@martylyricfm) July 6, 2020
