Tepepa. Ennio Morricone

In Mexico, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the eponymous revolutionary Jesus Maria ‘Tepepa’ Moran (Tomas Milian), who is due to be executed by the corrupt police chief Coronel Cascorro (Orson Welles). Tepepa is unexpectedly saved by Doctor Henry Price (John Steiner), an English doctor, but before long it becomes clear that Price only saved him so that he could kill him himself, as he believes Tepepa was responsible for the death of his fiancée.

The main theme, “Viva La Revolución,” is a wonderful piece of traditional Mexicana, but also quite conventional compared to some of the other western themes in the Morricone canon. It builds from a slow, pastoral, almost lullabyish melody for woodwinds and guitars, but becomes increasingly grand and expansive as it develops, making excellent use of larger orchestral forces and a more prominent piano as it grows.