Nino Rota - Giulietta Degli Spiriti (1965)e

This a very rich score for my favorite film "JULIET OF THE SPIRITS" directed by Federico Fellini. Nino Rota, composer of many of Fellini's films has done an exquisite job here. The film deals with a woman's quest for peace within herself and how she fights her inner demons(lust and desires), and how she deals with her husbands infidelity. She delves in the world of spirits, seances, and prophets as she is found out to have the ability to "speak" to spirits. Whether that is happening or it's in the mind of Juliet who is becoming crazy is up to the viewer's discretion. Juliet embroils herself in a world of fantasy and images of whimsy- some beautiful and some frightening. The uptempo, 60's jazzy music has an ethereal feel as angelic sopranos are singing in the background- you'll know what I mean when you hear it(I think there are 2 tracks that sound like this). Nino Rota has a certain trademark style which is his compositions utilize very heavy eclectic organ sounds(as showcased in the main theme which pops up in some variation or another in the other tracks) alongside the conventional instruments. Alot of his music sounds weird and mysterious which is complimentary to the films scenes. "ROSA AURATA" is one of favorite tracks- it's romantic and shows how Juliet is lusting over her husband's freind who has come for a visit. The circus style music is a staple in many of Fellini's films and here it is used when Juliet is flashbacking to her childhood when they went to the circus and the grandfather takes a liking to Fanny, a beautiful circus entertainer. There's music to symbolize Juliet's coming to terms with herself; ripping the bondages in a childhood play where she was the martyred saint- as if she was finally freeing her soul and realizing she doesn't have to be intimidated by her mother ever again.