Nino Rota (1911-79)
Like many fine
concert music composers, such as Prokofiev, Takemitsu and
Bernard Herrmann, Nino Rota created a unique film soundtrack style for
which he became known worldwide. He was born into a musical family: one
of his grandfathers was the pianist-composer Giovanni Rinaldi
(1840-1895), and he studied the piano, on which he was to become known
as a gifted improviser, with his mother. He also studied solfège and
began to compose at the early age of eight. His oratorio L'infanzia di S. Giovanni Battista for
soloists, chorus, and orchestra was performed in Milan and Lille in
1923, when he was only 12. Rota entered the Milan Conservatory in 1923
and wrote his (unperformed) first opera Il principe porcaro
in 1925. About this time he established a lifelong friendship with Igor
Stravinsky. He studied privately with Pizzetti and Casella, and
received his diploma at the Accademia di S. Cecilia in Rome in 1930. In
the U.S., he studied at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia from
1931-32, and received an arts degree at Milan University (1937). During
this time he composed several minor chamber works. He became a teacher
of harmony, solfège, and composition at the Taranto music school
(1937-1938) and the Bari Conservatory (1939-1950) where he became
director (in 1950). Rota's first film score was for Renato Castellani's
Zazà in 1944. He then went on
to create music for many classic films by Luchino Visconti, Franco
Zeffirelli, Mario Monicelli, H. Cass, Francis Ford Coppola, King Vidor,
René Clément, Edward Dmytrik, C. Borghesio, M. Soldati, L. Zampa, M.
Monicelli, S.F. Bondarchuk, and Eduardo de Filippo. His 80 scores for
Federico Fellini extended from The White Sheik (1952) to The Orchestra
Rehearsal (1979). He also composed the music for many theater
productions by Visconti, Zeffirelli, and de Filippo. These film scores
have a distinctive "Rota" sound made from clear, directly expressive
melodies and rhythms, unusual progressions of tonal chords, and often
an earthy humor. Of Rota's 10 operas, the exciting Il capello di paglia di Firenze (1946) and the philosophical allegory La visita meravigliosa (1970) were the most successful. Of his five choral works, the Mysterium (1962) and La vita di Maria (1970) are considered especially fine in compositional technique. He also composed five ballets, including Amor di poeta
(1978) for Maurice Bejart, many chamber and piano works, several
symphonies, and other orchestral works including the brilliant Harp Concerto (1948).- "Blue Gene" Tyranny, All Music Guide
COMPOSITIONS Rota Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Films Scores
Custodi nos Domine, female or children's chorus, 2vv, org (n.d.)
Preludio, piano (n.d.)
L'infanzia di San Giovanni Battista, oratorio for soli, chorus, orch, org (1922; rev. 1923)
Irminque, opera (1923, unperformed)
Fuga, string quartet, organ and string orchestra (1923)
Perche se spense la lampada, soprano/tenor and piano (1923)
II Martirio di San Giovanni Battista, oratorio for soli, chorus, org (1923-24; incomplete)
Illumina, tu, a fuoco, mezzo-soprano/baritone and piano (1924)
Cello Concerto (1925)
Il Presagio, mezzo-soprano/baritone and piano (1925)
La figliuola del re, soprano/tenor and piano (1925)
Die Maus, voice and small orchestra (1925)
II principe porcaro, opera (1925-26, unperformed)
II Presepio, su parole popolari toscane, soprano and string quartet (1928)
Due Mottetti, chorus (c. 1930)
Ippolito gioca, piano (1930)
Serenata per orchestra in quattro tempi, orchestra (1931-32)
Campane a sera, carillon (1931-32)
Balli, small orchestra (1932)
Invenzioni, string quartet (1932)
Campane a festa, carillon (1932-33)
Treno popolare, film score (1933)
Ballata e sonetto del Petrarca, soprano/tenor and piano (1933)
Sonata for viola and piano, G (1934-35, rev.1970)
Canzona, chamber ensemble (1935)
Quintet for fl, ob/vln, va, vc, hp (1935)
L'isola dei pappagalli. Can Bonaventura prigioniero degli antropofagi, incidental music (1936)
Sonata for violin and piano (1936-37)
Sonata for flute and harp (1937)
Sonata, chamber orchestra (1937-38)
Symphony No. l, G, orchestra (1935-39)
Symphony No. 2, F, "Anni di pellegrinaggioTarantina", orchestra (1937-39; rev.1975)
Bagatella, piano (1941)
Ariodante, opera (1938-42)
Giorno di nozze, film score (1942)
Il birichino di papà, film score (1943)
La donna della montagna (The Mountain Woman), film score (1943) √
Torquemada, opera (1943)
Piccola offerta musicale, wind quintet (1943)
Zazà, film score (1944) √
Il Suo Cavallo, incidental music (1944)
Fantasia in Do, piano (1944-45)
La freccia nel fianco (The Arrow), film score (1945) √
Lo sbaglio di essere vivo (My Widow and I), film score (1945)
Le miserie del Signor Travet (His Young Wife), film score (1945) √
Napoli milionaria, opera (dramma lirico) (1945; fp. 1977) [incl. music from film scores Napoli milionaria, Filumena Marturano,
Le noni di Cabiria, Plein soleil, La dolce vita, Rocco e i suoi fratelli, Le tentazioni del d. Antonio, Toby Dammit & Waterloo]
Intermezzo, viola and piano (1945)
Sonata, clarinet and piano (1945)
Sarabanda e Toccata, harp (1945)
Toccata, piano (1945)
Vanità, film score (1946) √
Albergo Luna, camera 34, film score (1946) √
Un americano in vacanza (A Yank in Rome), film score (1946)
Mio figlio professore (Professor My Son), film score (1946)
Roma città libera (Rome: Free City), film score (1946) √
Daniele Cortis (Elena), film score (1947)
Come persi la guerra (How I Lost the War), film score (1947)
Il Segreto di Don Giovanni, film score (1947)
Vivere in pace (To Live in Peace), film score (1947) √
Il delitto di Giovanni Episcopo (Flesh Will Surrender), film score (1947)
Harp Concerto (1947)
Improvviso, d, violin and piano (1947)
Molti sogni per le strade (Woman Trouble), film score (1948)
Arrivederci, papà!, film score (1948)
Fuga in Francia (Flight Into France), film score (1948)
Totò al giro d'Italia, film score (1948)
Amanti senza amore (Prelude to Madness), film score (1948)
Senza pietà (Without Pity), film score (1948)
Anni difficili (Difficult Years/The Little Man), film score (1948) [music by Franco Casavola, NOT Rota]
Proibito rubare (Hey Boy), film score (1948)
L'eroe della strada, film score (1948)
Sotto il sole di Roma (Under the Sun of Rome), film score (1948)
Come scopersi l'America, film score (1949)
The Glass Mountain, film score (1949) [incl. material from Sinfonia sopra una canzone d'amore]
Obsession (The Hidden Room), film score (1949) √
Campane a martello, film score (1949)
Children of Chance, film score (1949)
I pirati di Capri (Pirates of Capri), film score (1949)
È primavera... (It's Forever Springtime), film score (1949) √
Due mogli sono troppe (Honeymoon Deferred), film score (1950)
Napoli milionaria (Side Street Story), film score (1950)
È arrivato il cavaliere!, film score (1950)
Peppino e Violetta (Never Take No for an Answer), film score (1950) [1951] √
Vita da cani (A Dog's Life), film score (1950)
Her Favorite Husband (The Taming of Dorothy), film score (1950)
Donne e briganti (Of Love and Bandits/The King's Guerrillas), film score (1950) √
È più facile che un cammello... (His Last Twelve Hours), film score (1950) √
I due timidi, radio opera (1950)
La notte di un nevrastenico, dramma buffo [radio opera?] (1950; fp. 1960)
Cristallo di Rocca, incidental music for radio drama (1950)
Liliom, incidental music (1950)
Spiritismo Nella Vecchia Casa, incidental music (1950)
Variazioni e fuga nei 12 toni sul nome di Bach, orchestra (1950; also for piano)
Totò e i re di Roma (Toto and the King of Rome), film score (1951) √
Il monello della strada (Street Urchin), film score (1951)
Filumena Marturano, film score (1951)
Valley of Eagles (Valley of the Eagles), film score (1951)
Era lui... sì! sì! (It's Him!... Yes! Yes!), film score (1951)
The Small Miracle (Never Take No for an Answer), film score (1951)
Anna, film score (1951)
Napoleone, film score (1951)
Due Soldi di Speranze, film score (1951)
Honeymoon Deferred, film score (1951)
La regina di Saba (The Queen of Sheba), film score (1952)
Jolanda la figlia del corsaro nero (Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair), film score (1952) √
Marito e moglie (Husband and Wife), film score (1952)
Noi due soli (We Two Alone), film score (1952) √
Un ladro in paradiso, film score (1952)
Le meravigliose avventure di Guerrin Meschino (Wonderful Adventures of Guerrin Mescino), film score (1952)
Something Money Can't Buy, film score (1952)
Lo sceicco bianco (The White Sheik), film score (1952) [dir. Federico Fellini]
I tre corsari (Three Corsairs), film score (1952)
Gli angeli del quartiere (Angels of the District), film score (1952)
Venetian Bird (The Assassin), film score (1952)
Ragazze de Marito, film score (1952)
Gli uomini, che mascalzoni! (What Rascals Men Are), film score (1953) √
Melodie immortali - Mascagni (Immortal Melodies), film score (1953) [the music of Mascagni w/additional music by Rota]
La domenica della buona gente (Good Folk's Sunday), film score (1953) √
Scampolo '53, film score (1953) √
I sette dell'orsa maggiore (Hell Raiders of the Deep), film score (1953)
Fanciulle di lusso (Luxury Girls), film score (1953)
Le boulanger de Valorgue (The Wild Oat), film score (1953)
Riscatto, film score (1953) √
I vitelloni (The Young and the Passionate), film score (1953) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Anni facili (Easy Years), film score (1953)
L'ennemi public no 1 (The Most Wanted Man), film score (1953)
Musoduro (The Hunt), film score (1953) √
L'amante di Paride (Loves of Three Queens), film score (1953) √
La nave delle donne maledette (Ship of Lost Women), film score (1953) [1954] √
Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, orchestra (1953)
Allegro concertanre, chorus and orchestra (1953)
String Quartet (1948-54)
Via Padova 46, film score (1954)
La grande speranza (Submarine Attack/Torpedo Zone), film score (1954)
Cento anni d'amore (100 Years of Love), film score (1954) [segments "Garibaldina" and "Pendolin"]
Divisione Folgore (Folgore Division), film score (1954) √
La mano dello straniero (The Stranger's Hand), film score (1954)
Star of India, film score (1954)
Appassionatamente, film score (1954)
La strada (The Road), film score (1954) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Mambo, film score (1954)
Vergine moderna (Modern Virgin), film score (1954)
Le due orfanelle (The Two Orphans), film score (1954) √
Proibito (Forbidden), film score (1954) √
Meditazione, chorus and orchestra (1954)
II cappello di paglia di Firenze, farsa musicale (1945-55) [incl. material from film scores II birichino di papa,
Le miserie del signor Travet, Lo sceicco bianco, and from the stage revue II suo cavallo]
Io piaccio, film score (1955)
Un eroe dei nostri tempi (A Hero of Our Times), film score (1955)
Bella non piangere!, film score (1955)
Il bidone (The Swindle), film score (1955) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Amici per la pelle (Friends for Life), film score (1955)
La bella di Roma (The Belle of Rome), film score (1955)
Accadde al penitenziario, film score (1955)
Londra chiama Polo Nord (The House of Intrigue), film score (1955) √
Elegia, oboe and piano (1955)
Ragazze al mare, film score (1956)
Città di notte (City at Night), film score (1956) √
War and Peace, film score (1956)
Symphony No. 3, C, orchestra (1956-57)
Italia piccola, film score (1957)
Il medico e lo stregone (Doctor and the Healer), film score (1957)
Il momento più bello (The Most Wonderful Moment/Wasted Lives), film score (1957)
Le notti di Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria), film score (1957) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Le notti bianche (White Nights), film score (1957) [dir. Luchino Visconti]
L'impresario delle Smirne, incidental music (1957)
Balletto sulla musica delle Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, incidental music (1957)
Rappresentazione D'Adamo e Eva, ballet (1957)
Balletto sulla musica delle Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, ballet (1957)
Vocalizzi, light (leggero) soprano leggero and piano (1957)
This Angry Age (La Diga Sul Pacifico), film score (1958) [also songs by Sam Coslow, Billy Dawn, Leroy Kirkland, Alvy West]
Giovani mariti (Young Husbands), film score (1958) [music by Mario Zafred, NOT Rota]
El Alamein, film score (1958) [music by Roberto Nicolosi, NOT Rota]
Gli italiani sono matti (The Italians They Are Crazy), film score (1958)
La legge è legge (The Law Is the Law), film score (1958)
Fortunella, film score (1958)
La Loi c'est la Loi, film score (1958)
Barrage contre le Pacifique, film score (1958)
Angelo, proteggi la mia casa (Veglia la mia casa, Angelo), incidental music (1958)
La Contadina Furba, incidental music for radio fable (1958)
Trio, flute, violin/cello and piano (1958)
Un ettaro di cielo (Piece of the Sky), film score (1959)
La grande guerra (The Great War), film score (1959)
Scuola di guida, opera (1959)
La scoiattolo in gamba, opera (favola musicale) (1959)
Nonet, fl, ob, cl, bn, hn, vln, va, vc, db (1959; rev. 1974-77)
Concerto in C, piano and orchestra [formerly Partita] (1959-60)
La dolce vita, film score (1960) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Plein soleil (Purple Noon/Lust for Evil), film score (1960)
Sotto dieci bandiere (Under Ten Flags), film score (1960)
Rocco e i suoi fratelli (Rocco and His Brothers), film score (1960) [dir. Luchino Visconti]
Romeo and Juliet, incidental music (1960)
L'Arialda, incidental music (1960)
Fantasia sopra dodici note del 'Don Giovanni' di W.A. Mozart, piano and orchestra (1960) [also for 2 pianos]
Messa 'Mariae dicara', chorus and orchestra (or organ) (1960)
Fantasia tricromatica - soggetto di U. Dell'Ara sulla musica delle Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, ballet (1953-61)
Concerto in F, "Concerto Festivo", orchestra (1958-61)
Il brigante (The Brigand), film score (1961)
Fantasmi a Roma (Ghosts of Rome), film score (1961)
Dommage qu'elle soit une p... , incidental music (1961)
Concerto soiree, piano and orchestra (1961-62) [Choreographed, 2001, by Richard Tanner]
Boccaccio '70, film score (1962) [segments "Il lavoro" and "Le tentazioni del dottor Antonio"] [dir. Federico Fellini]
Le tentazioni del dottor Antonio (Fellini), film score (1962) [in Boccaccio '70, film a episodi]
The Best of Enemies, film score (1962) √
The Reluctant Saint, film score (1962)
L'isola di Arturo (Arturo's Island), film score (1962)
Mysterium (Mysterium Catholicum), oratorio, soli, chorus, children's vv, orch (1962)
- Unum panem, male chorus and organ (1962) [from oratorio Mysterium, 1962]
Messa (senza Gloria), chorus (1962)
Il maestro di Vigevano (The Teacher from Vigevano), film score (1963)
8½, film score (1963) [incl. material from Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, Concerto Soiree] [dir. Federico Fellini]
Il gattopardo (The Leopard), film score (1963) [incl. material from Sinfonia sopra una canzone d'amore, and
from film score Appassionatamente] [dir. Luchino Visconti]
La Fiera di Bari, overture for orchestra (1963)
Il giornalino di Gian Burrasca (Gian Burrasca's Diary), TV film score (1964)
Audi Judex, chorus (1964)
15 Preludi, piano (1964)
Aladino e la lampada magica (Aladdin and the Magic Lamp) , opera (1963-65)
Concerto for Strings (1964-65, rev. 1977)
Oggi, domani, dopodomani (Kiss the Other Sheik/The Man,the Woman &the Money), film score (1965) [segment "L'ora di punta"]
Giulietta degli spiriti (Juliet of the Spirits), film score (1965) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Much Ado About Nothing, incidental music (1965)
[incl. material from film scores La sceicco bianco, Plein soleil and Le tentazioni del dottor Antonio] [and Il Bidone?]
II giornalino di Gian Burrasca, incidental music (1965)
Spara forte, più forte, non capisco (Shoot Loud, Louder... I Don't Understand), film score (1966)
La strada, ballet (1966) [incl. material from various film scores] [also Suite from La Strada, orchestra, 1966]
Trombone Concerto (1966; fp. 1969)
"La tormenta", TV series score (1967)
Much Ado About Nothing, TV film score (1967) [?from incidental music, 1965]
The Taming of the Shrew, film score (1967) [dir. Franco Zeffirelli]
Romeo and Juliet, film score (1968) [dir. Franco Zeffirelli]
Histoires extraordinaires (Spirits of the Dead), film score (1968) [segment "Toby Dammit" (Fellini) in Tre passi nel deliria]
Canto di gloria, children's chorus and piano (1968) [arr. from film score The Taming of the Shrew]
Il Contratto, incidental music (1968)
La visita meravigliosa (The Marvelous Visitation/The Wonderful Visitor), opera (1965-69)
Block-notes di un regista (Fellini: A Director's Notebook), TV film score (1969)
Fellini: A Director's Notebook (NBC Experiment in Television, 1 episode), TV score (1969)
Fellini Satyricon, film score (1969) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Improvviso, violin and piano (1969)
II Natale degli innocenti, oratorio (1968-70) [see La vita di Maria]
La vita di Maria, oratorio, soli, vv, orchestra (1968-70)
[incl.Il Natale degli innocenti, marerial from ballet La strada and film score Romeo and Juliet]
Paranoia (A Quiet Place to Kill), film score (1970) [music by Gregorio Garcia Segura and Nino Rota]
I clowns (The Clowns), doc. TV score (1970)[incl. material from La sceicco bianco, I vitelloni, Giulietta degli spiriti] [dir. Fellini]
Waterloo, film score (1970)
Due momenti (Divertimenti) musicali, small orchestra (1970)
Roma capomunni, cantata, baritone, vv, orchestra (1970-71)
Il Monumento, incidental music (1971)
Ogni Anno Punto e da Capo, incidental music (1971)
Aci e Galatea, ballet (1971)
7 Pezzi (difficili) per bambini, piano (1971)
Roma (Fellini's Roma), film score (1972) [incl. material from La sceicco bianco, Rocco e i suoi fratelli, Satyricon] [dir. Fellini]
The Godfather, film score (1972) [incl. matrl from Daniele Cortis, Fortunella, I clowns, and orat. Mysterium] [dir. Coppola]
- Love theme from The Godfather, harp (1972)
Sinfonia sopra una canzone d'amore, orchestra (1947-72) [inc. material from films La donna della montagna]
Cello Concerto No. 1 (1972)
5 Pezzi facili, flute and piano (1972)
Cantico in memoria di Alfredo Casella, voice, trumpet, guitar and organ (1972)
Divertimento concettante, double bass and orchestra (or piano) (1968-73) [formerly Serenata]
3 Pezzi, 2 flutes (1972-73)
Hi wa shizumi, hi wa noboru (Sunset, Sunrise), film score (1973)
Film d'amore e d'anarchia, ovvero 'stamattina alle 10 in via dei Fiori... (Love and Anarchy), film score (1973)
[incl. material from the film score Fantasmi a Roma]
Amarcord, film score (1973) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Cello Concerto No. 2 (1973)
Concerto in E, "Piccolo mondo antico", piano and orchestra (1973)
Trio, d, clarinet, cello and piano (1973)
The Abdication, film score (1974)
The Godfather: Part II, film score (1974) [incl. material from incid. music L'impresario delle Smirne] [dir. Francis Ford Coppola]
Castel del Monte, ballad for horn and orchestra (1974)
E il Casanova di Fellini?, TV film score (1975)
Due valzer sul nome di Bach, piano (1975)
Ragazzo di Borgata (Slow Boy), film score (1976)
Caro Michele (Dear Michael), film score (1976)
Alle origini della mafia (Origins of the Mafia), TV mini-series score (1976) [unknown episodes]
Il Casanova di Federico Fellini (Fellini's Casanova), film score (1976) [dir. Federico Fellini]
[incl. material from film scores II brigante, I clowns, and from Due valzer suI nome di Bach]
Guardando il Fujiyama (Pensiero per Hiroshima) (Looking at Mt. Fuji - Thinking of Hiroshima), orchestra (1976)
Le Moliere imaginaire, ballet (1976) [incl. material from film score Caro Michele] [also Suite from ballet, orch, 1976]
Bassoon Concerto (1974-77)
Las alegres chicas de 'El Molino', film score (1977)
The Godfather: A Novel for Television, TV mini-series score (1977) [unknown episodes]
Rabelaisiana (3 songs), voice and orchestra (1977)
Kontakt, film score (1978) [arr. of theme from "The Godfather"]
Il furto della Gioconda, TV mini-series score (1978)
Death on the Nile, film score (1978) [incl. material from orat. Mysterium]
Prova d'orchestra (Orchestra Rehearsal), film score (1978) [incl. Material from La sceicco bianco, II bidone] [dir. Federico Fellini]
Quei figuri di tanti anni fa, TV film score (1978)
Il teatro di Eduardo, TV film score (1978)
Dichterliebe - Amore di Poeta, ballet (1978)
La dodicesima notte (Twelfth Night), incidental music (1978-79) [w/music also by Caterina D'Amico]
[incl. material from film score Le notti di Cabiria]
Hurricane (Forbidden Paradise), film score (1979)
Ciao Marcello, ballet [choreographed, 1997, by Val Caniparoli]
WORKS BY GENRE Rota Links ~ ~ ~ Films Scores ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Irminque, opera (1923, unperformed)
II principe porcaro, opera (1925-26, unperformed)
Ariodante, opera (1938-42)
Torquemada, opera (1943)
Napoli milionaria, opera (dramma lirico) (1945; fp. 1977) [incl. music from film scores Napoli milionaria, Filumena Marturano,
Le noni di Cabiria, Plein soleil, La dolce vita, Rocco e i suoi fratelli, Le tentazioni del d. Antonio, Toby Dammit & Waterloo]
I due timidi, radio opera (1950)
La notte di un nevrastenico, dramma buffo [radio opera?] (1950; fp. 1960)
II cappello di paglia di Firenze, farsa musicale (1945-55) [incl. material from film scores II birichino di papa,
Le miserie del signor Travet, Lo sceicco bianco, and from the stage revue II suo cavallo]
Scuola di guida, opera (1959)
La scoiattolo in gamba, opera (favola musicale) (1959)
Aladino e la lampada magica (Aladdin and the Magic Lamp) , opera (1963-65)
La visita meravigliosa (The Marvelous Visitation/The Wonderful Visitor), opera (1965-69)
Ballets
Rappresentazione D'Adamo e Eva, ballet (1957)
Balletto sulla musica delle Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, ballet (1957)
Fantasia tricromatica - soggetto di U. Dell'Ara sulla musica delle Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, ballet (1953-61)
La strada, ballet (1966) [incl. material from various film scores]
Aci e Galatea, ballet (1971)
Le Moliere imaginaire, ballet (1976) [incl. material from film score Caro Michele]
Dichterliebe - Amore di Poeta, ballet (1978)
Ciao Marcello, ballet [choreographed, 1997, by Val Caniparoli]
Concerto soiree, piano and orchestra (1961-62) [Choreographed, 2001, by Richard Tanner]
Orchestra
Fuga, string quartet, organ and string orchestra (1923)
Serenata per orchestra in quattro tempi, orchestra (1931-32)
Balli, small orchestra (1932)
Sonata, chamber orchestra (1937-38)
Symphony No. l, G, orchestra (1935-39)
Symphony No. 2, F, "Anni di pellegrinaggioTarantina", orchestra (1937-39; rev.1975)
Sinfonia sopra una canzone d'amore, orchestra (1947-72) [inc. material from films La donna della montagna]
Variazioni e fuga nei 12 toni sul nome di Bach, orchestra (1950; also for piano)
Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, orchestra (1953)
Symphony No. 3, C, orchestra (1956-57)
Concerto in F, "Concerto Festivo", orchestra (1958-61)
La Fiera di Bari, overture for orchestra (1963)
Concerto for Strings (1964-65, rev. 1977)
La Strada, suite for orchestra (1966) [from ballet]
Due momenti (Divertimenti) musicali, small orchestra (1970)
Guardando il Fujiyama (Pensiero per Hiroshima) (Looking at Mt. Fuji - Thinking of Hiroshima), orchestra (1976)
Suite from Le Moliere imaginaire, ballet (1976) [incl. material from film score Caro Michele]
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Cello Concerto (1925)
Harp Concerto (1947)
Fantasia sopra dodici note del 'Don Giovanni' di W.A. Mozart, piano and orchestra (1960) [also for 2 pianos]
Concerto in C, piano and orchestra [formerly Partita] (1959-60)
Concerto soiree, piano and orchestra (1961-62)
Trombone Concerto (1966; fp. 1969)
Cello Concerto No. 1 (1972)
Divertimento concettante, double bass and orchestra (1968-73) [formerly Serenata]
Cello Concerto No. 2 (1973)
Concerto in E, "Piccolo mondo antico", piano and orchestra (1973)
Castel del Monte, ballad for horn and orchestra (1974)
Bassoon Concerto (1974-77)
Chorus w/Orchestra
L'infanzia di San Giovanni Battista, oratorio for soli, chorus, orch, org (1922; rev. 1923)
II Martirio di San Giovanni Battista, oratorio for soli, chorus, org (1923-24; incomplete)
Allegro concertanre, chorus and orchestra (1953)
Meditazione, chorus and orchestra (1954)
Messa 'Mariae dicara', chorus and orchestra (1960)
Mysterium (Mysterium Catholicum), oratorio, soli, chorus, children's vv, orch (1962)
II Natale degli innocenti, oratorio (1968-70) [see La vita di Maria]
La vita di Maria, oratorio, soli, vv, orchestra (1968-70)
[incl.Il Natale degli innocenti, marerial from ballet La strada and film score Romeo and Juliet]
Roma capomunni, cantata, baritone, vv, orchestra (1970-71)
Choral
Custodi nos Domine, female or children's chorus, 2vv, org (n.d.)
Due Mottetti, chorus (c. 1930)
Messa 'Mariae dicata', chorus and organ (1960)
Unum panem, male chorus and organ (1962) [from oratorio Mysterium, 1962]
Messa (senza Gloria), chorus (1962)
Audi Judex, chorus (1964)
Canto di gloria, children's chorus and piano (1968) [arr. from film score The Taming of the Shrew]
Chamber
Invenzioni, string quartet (1932)
Canzona, chamber ensemble (1935)
Quintet for fl, ob/vln, va, vc, hp (1935)
Piccola offerta musicale, wind quintet (1943)
String Quartet (1948-54)
Trio, flute, violin/cello and piano (1958)
Nonet, fl, ob, cl, bn, hn, vln, va, vc, db (1959; rev. 1974-77)
Divertimento concertanto, double bass and piano (1968-73) [formerly SerenataJ
3 Pezzi, 2 flutes (1972-73)
Trio, d, clarinet, cello and piano (1973)
Solo Instrument
Campane a sera, carillon (1931-32)
Campane a festa, carillon (1932-33)
Sonata for viola and piano, G (1934-35, rev.1970)
Sonata for violin and piano (1936-37)
Sonata for flute and harp (1937)
Intermezzo, viola and piano (1945)
Sonata, clarinet and piano (1945)
Sarabanda e Toccata, harp (1945)
Improvviso, d, violin and piano (1947)
Elegia, oboe and piano (1955)
Improvviso, violin and piano (1969)
5 Pezzi facili, flute and piano (1972)
Love theme from The Godfather, harp (1972)
Piano
Preludio, piano (n.d.)
Ippolito gioca, piano (1930)
Bagatella, piano (1941)
Fantasia in Do, piano (1944-45)
Toccata, piano (1945)
15 Preludi, piano (1964)
7 Pezzi (difficili) per bambini, piano (1971)
Due valzer sul nome di Bach, piano (1975)
Vocal
Perche se spense la lampada, soprano/tenor and piano (1923)
Illumina, tu, a fuoco, mezzo-soprano/baritone and piano (1924)
Il Presagio, mezzo-soprano/baritone and piano (1925)
La figliuola del re, soprano/tenor and piano (1925)
Die Maus, voice and small orchestra (1925)
II Presepio, su parole popolari toscane, soprano and string quartet (1928)
Ballata e sonetto del Petrarca, soprano/tenor and piano (1933)
Vocalizzi, light (leggero) soprano leggero and piano (1957)
Cantico in memoria di Alfredo Casella, voice, trumpet, guitar and organ (1972)
Rabelaisiana (3 songs), voice and orchestra (1977)
Film Scores Rota Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Treno popolare, film score (1933)
Giorno di nozze, film score (1942)
Il birichino di papà, film score (1943)
La donna della montagna (The Mountain Woman), film score (1943) √
Zazà, film score (1944) √
La freccia nel fianco (The Arrow), film score (1945) √
Lo sbaglio di essere vivo (My Widow and I), film score (1945)
Le miserie del Signor Travet (His Young Wife), film score (1945) √
Vanità, film score (1946) √
Albergo Luna, camera 34, film score (1946) √
Un americano in vacanza (A Yank in Rome), film score (1946)
Mio figlio professore (Professor My Son), film score (1946)
Roma città libera (Rome: Free City), film score (1946) √
Daniele Cortis (Elena), film score (1947)
Come persi la guerra (How I Lost the War), film score (1947)
Il Segreto di Don Giovanni, film score (1947)
Vivere in pace (To Live in Peace), film score (1947) √
Il delitto di Giovanni Episcopo (Flesh Will Surrender), film score (1947)
Molti sogni per le strade (Woman Trouble), film score (1948)
Arrivederci, papà!, film score (1948)
Fuga in Francia (Flight Into France), film score (1948)
Totò al giro d'Italia, film score (1948)
Amanti senza amore (Prelude to Madness), film score (1948)
Senza pietà (Without Pity), film score (1948)
Anni difficili (Difficult Years/The Little Man), film score (1948) [music by Franco Casavola, NOT Rota]
Proibito rubare (Hey Boy), film score (1948)
L'eroe della strada, film score (1948)
Sotto il sole di Roma (Under the Sun of Rome), film score (1948)
Come scopersi l'America, film score (1949)
The Glass Mountain, film score (1949) [incl. material from Sinfonia sopra una canzone d'amore]
Obsession (The Hidden Room), film score (1949) √
Campane a martello, film score (1949)
Children of Chance, film score (1949)
I pirati di Capri (Pirates of Capri), film score (1949)
È primavera... (It's Forever Springtime), film score (1949) √
Due mogli sono troppe (Honeymoon Deferred), film score (1950)
Napoli milionaria (Side Street Story), film score (1950)
È arrivato il cavaliere!, film score (1950)
Peppino e Violetta (Never Take No for an Answer), film score (1950) [1951] √
Vita da cani (A Dog's Life), film score (1950)
Her Favorite Husband (The Taming of Dorothy), film score (1950)
Donne e briganti (Of Love and Bandits/The King's Guerrillas), film score (1950) √
È più facile che un cammello... (His Last Twelve Hours), film score (1950) √
Totò e i re di Roma (Toto and the King of Rome), film score (1951) √
Il monello della strada (Street Urchin), film score (1951)
Filumena Marturano, film score (1951)
Valley of Eagles (Valley of the Eagles), film score (1951)
Era lui... sì! sì! (It's Him!... Yes! Yes!), film score (1951)
The Small Miracle (Never Take No for an Answer), film score (1951)
Anna, film score (1951)
Napoleone, film score (1951)
Due Soldi di Speranze, film score (1951)
Honeymoon Deferred, film score (1951)
La regina di Saba (The Queen of Sheba), film score (1952)
Jolanda la figlia del corsaro nero (Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair), film score (1952) √
Marito e moglie (Husband and Wife), film score (1952)
Noi due soli (We Two Alone), film score (1952) √
Un ladro in paradiso, film score (1952)
Le meravigliose avventure di Guerrin Meschino (Wonderful Adventures of Guerrin Mescino), film score (1952)
Something Money Can't Buy, film score (1952)
Lo sceicco bianco (The White Sheik), film score (1952) [dir. Federico Fellini]
I tre corsari (Three Corsairs), film score (1952)
Gli angeli del quartiere (Angels of the District), film score (1952)
Venetian Bird (The Assassin), film score (1952)
Ragazze de Marito, film score (1952)
Gli uomini, che mascalzoni! (What Rascals Men Are), film score (1953) √
Melodie immortali - Mascagni (Immortal Melodies), film score (1953) [the music of Mascagni w/additional music by Rota]
La domenica della buona gente (Good Folk's Sunday), film score (1953) √
Scampolo '53, film score (1953) √
I sette dell'orsa maggiore (Hell Raiders of the Deep), film score (1953)
Fanciulle di lusso (Luxury Girls), film score (1953)
Le boulanger de Valorgue (The Wild Oat), film score (1953)
Riscatto, film score (1953) √
I vitelloni (The Young and the Passionate), film score (1953) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Anni facili (Easy Years), film score (1953)
L'ennemi public no 1 (The Most Wanted Man), film score (1953)
Musoduro (The Hunt), film score (1953) √
L'amante di Paride (Loves of Three Queens), film score (1953) √
La nave delle donne maledette (Ship of Lost Women), film score (1953) [1954] √
Via Padova 46, film score (1954)
La grande speranza (Submarine Attack/Torpedo Zone), film score (1954)
Cento anni d'amore (100 Years of Love), film score (1954) [segments "Garibaldina" and "Pendolin"]
Divisione Folgore (Folgore Division), film score (1954) √
La mano dello straniero (The Stranger's Hand), film score (1954)
Star of India, film score (1954)
Appassionatamente, film score (1954)
La strada (The Road), film score (1954) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Mambo, film score (1954)
Vergine moderna (Modern Virgin), film score (1954)
Le due orfanelle (The Two Orphans), film score (1954) √
Proibito (Forbidden), film score (1954) √
Io piaccio, film score (1955)
Un eroe dei nostri tempi (A Hero of Our Times), film score (1955)
Bella non piangere!, film score (1955)
Il bidone (The Swindle), film score (1955) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Amici per la pelle (Friends for Life), film score (1955)
La bella di Roma (The Belle of Rome), film score (1955)
Accadde al penitenziario, film score (1955)
Londra chiama Polo Nord (The House of Intrigue), film score (1955) √
Ragazze al mare, film score (1956)
Città di notte (City at Night), film score (1956) √
War and Peace, film score (1956)
Italia piccola, film score (1957)
Il medico e lo stregone (Doctor and the Healer), film score (1957)
Il momento più bello (The Most Wonderful Moment/Wasted Lives), film score (1957)
Le notti di Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria), film score (1957) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Le notti bianche (White Nights), film score (1957) [dir. Luchino Visconti]
This Angry Age (La Diga Sul Pacifico), film score (1958) [also songs by Sam Coslow, Billy Dawn, Leroy Kirkland, Alvy West]
Giovani mariti (Young Husbands), film score (1958) [music by Mario Zafred, NOT Rota]
El Alamein, film score (1958) [music by Roberto Nicolosi, NOT Rota]
Gli italiani sono matti (The Italians They Are Crazy), film score (1958)
La legge è legge (The Law Is the Law), film score (1958)
Fortunella, film score (1958)
La Loi c'est la Loi, film score (1958)
Barrage contre le Pacifique, film score (1958)
Un ettaro di cielo (Piece of the Sky), film score (1959)
La grande guerra (The Great War), film score (1959)
La dolce vita, film score (1960) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Plein soleil (Purple Noon/Lust for Evil), film score (1960)
Sotto dieci bandiere (Under Ten Flags), film score (1960)
Rocco e i suoi fratelli (Rocco and His Brothers), film score (1960) [dir. Luchino Visconti]
Il brigante (The Brigand), film score (1961)
Fantasmi a Roma (Ghosts of Rome), film score (1961)
Boccaccio '70, film score (1962) [segments "Il lavoro" and "Le tentazioni del dottor Antonio"] [dir. Federico Fellini]
Le tentazioni del dottor Antonio (Fellini), film score (1962) [in Boccaccio '70, film a episodi]
The Best of Enemies, film score (1962) √
The Reluctant Saint, film score (1962)
L'isola di Arturo (Arturo's Island), film score (1962)
Il maestro di Vigevano (The Teacher from Vigevano), film score (1963)
8½, film score (1963) [incl. material from Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, Concerto Soiree] [dir. Federico Fellini]
Il gattopardo (The Leopard), film score (1963) [incl. material from Sinfonia sopra una canzone d'amore, and
from film score Appassionatamente] [dir. Luchino Visconti]
Il giornalino di Gian Burrasca (Gian Burrasca's Diary), TV film score (1964)
Oggi, domani, dopodomani (Kiss the Other Sheik/The Man,the Woman &the Money), film score (1965) [segment "L'ora di punta"]
Giulietta degli spiriti (Juliet of the Spirits), film score (1965) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Spara forte, più forte, non capisco (Shoot Loud, Louder... I Don't Understand), film score (1966)
"La tormenta", TV series score (1967)
Much Ado About Nothing, TV film score (1967) [?from incidental music, 1965]
The Taming of the Shrew, film score (1967) [dir. Franco Zeffirelli]
Romeo and Juliet, film score (1968) [dir. Franco Zeffirelli]
Histoires extraordinaires (Spirits of the Dead), film score (1968) [segment "Toby Dammit" (Fellini) in Tre passi nel deliria]
Block-notes di un regista (Fellini: A Director's Notebook), TV film score (1969)
Fellini: A Director's Notebook (NBC Experiment in Television, 1 episode), TV score (1969)
Fellini Satyricon, film score (1969) [dir. Federico Fellini]
Paranoia (A Quiet Place to Kill), film score (1970) [music by Gregorio Garcia Segura and Nino Rota]
I clowns (The Clowns), doc. TV score (1970)[incl. material from La sceicco bianco, I vitelloni, Giulietta degli spiriti] [dir. Fellini]
Waterloo, film score (1970)
Roma (Fellini's Roma), film score (1972) [incl. material from La sceicco bianco, Rocco e i suoi fratelli, Satyricon] [dir. Fellini]
The Godfather, film score (1972) [incl. matrl from Daniele Cortis, Fortunella, I clowns, and orat. Mysterium] [dir. Coppola]
Hi wa shizumi, hi wa noboru (Sunset, Sunrise), film score (1973)
Film d'amore e d'anarchia, ovvero 'stamattina alle 10 in via dei Fiori... (Love and Anarchy), film score (1973)
[incl. material from the film score Fantasmi a Roma]
Amarcord, film score (1973) [dir. Federico Fellini]
The Abdication, film score (1974)
The Godfather: Part II, film score (1974) [incl. material from incid. music L'impresario delle Smirne] [dir. Francis Ford Coppola]
E il Casanova di Fellini?, TV film score (1975)
Ragazzo di Borgata (Slow Boy), film score (1976)
Caro Michele (Dear Michael), film score (1976)
Alle origini della mafia (Origins of the Mafia), TV mini-series score (1976) [unknown episodes]
Il Casanova di Federico Fellini (Fellini's Casanova), film score (1976) [dir. Federico Fellini]
[incl. material from film scores II brigante, I clowns, and from Due valzer suI nome di Bach]
Las alegres chicas de 'El Molino', film score (1977)
The Godfather: A Novel for Television, TV mini-series score (1977) [unknown episodes]
Kontakt, film score (1978) [arr. of theme from "The Godfather"]
Il furto della Gioconda, TV mini-series score (1978)
Death on the Nile, film score (1978) [incl. material from orat. Mysterium]
Prova d'orchestra (Orchestra Rehearsal), film score (1978) [incl. Material from La sceicco bianco, II bidone] [dir. Federico Fellini]
Quei figuri di tanti anni fa, TV film score (1978)
Il teatro di Eduardo, TV film score (1978)
Hurricane (Forbidden Paradise), film score (1979)
Incidental Music
23 works for stage, radio and TV, including:
L'isola dei pappagalli. Can Bonaventura prigioniero degli antropofagi, incidental music (1936)
Il Suo Cavallo, incidental music (1944)
Cristallo di Rocca, incidental music for radio drama (1950)
Liliom, incidental music (1950)
Spiritismo Nella Vecchia Casa, incidental music (1950)
L'impresario delle Smirne, incidental music (1957)
Balletto sulla musica delle Variazioni sopra un tema gioviale, incidental music (1957)
Angelo, proteggi la mia casa (Veglia la mia casa, Angelo), incidental music (1958)
La Contadina Furba, incidental music for radio fable (1958)
Romeo and Juliet, incidental music (1960)
L'Arialda, incidental music (1960)
Dommage qu'elle soit une p... , incidental music (1961)
Much Ado About Nothing, incidental music (1965)
[incl. material from film scores La sceicco bianco, Plein soleil and Le tentazioni del dottor Antonio] [and Il Bidone?]
II giornalino di Gian Burrasca, incidental music (1965)
Il Contratto, incidental music (1968)
Il Monumento, incidental music (1971)
Ogni Anno Punto e da Capo, incidental music (1971)
La dodicesima notte (Twelfth Night), incidental music (1978-79) [w/music also by Caterina D'Amico]
[incl. material from film score Le notti di Cabiria]
ROTA LINKS Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Films Scores ~ top of page ~
Concertos by Nino Rota (Michael Markowitz, Andante.com)
Enrico Bronzi on the Music of Nino Rota (PMS 286 Appreciation Society, Naxos)
Film Music Composers I: Nino Rota (Sandra Pianin, MatchFlick)
Godfather of Italian Music (John L Walters, The Guardian)
Composer's website
Rota @ Wikipedia
Rota @ AMC (American Movie Classics)
Rota @ Answers.com
Rota @ Bach Cantatas
Rota @ CITWF / Complete Index to World Film
Rota @ Classic Cat
Rota @ Classical Archives
Rota @ Classical Composers Database
Rota @ Classical Net
Rota @ ClassicsToday
Rota @ Dante Alighieri Society
Rota @ Dilettante Music
Rota @ 8notes
Rota @ Fandango
Rota @ Film Reference
Rota @ Films101
Rota @ Film Score Click Track
Rota @ IBDB (Internet Broadway Database)
Rota @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Rota @ InstantEncore
Rota @ mfiles
Rota @ Movie Music UK
Rota @ MSN Encarta
Rota @ MSN Music
Rota @ MusicWeb International
Rota @ musicianguide.com
Rota @ MySpace
Rota @ Naxos
Rota @ The New York Times
Rota @ NNDB
Rota @ Real.com
Rota @ Schott Music
Rota @ SoundtrackCollector
Rota @ Soundtrack Express also here (via google)
Rota @ SoundtrackNet
Rota @ SoundUnwound
Rota @ Starpulse.com
Rota @ Stylus
Rota @ Urban Cinefile
Rota @ Variety
Streaming Audio
Rota @ Classical Archives
Rota @ last.fm
Rota @ Rhapsody
Recordings
Rota @ ArkivMusic
Rota @ ClassicsOnline
Rota @ Discogs
Rota @ YouTube