Departures of note

Bruno Battisti D’Amario (5 October 1937 – 5 August 2026) was an Italian classical guitarist, composer and educator who became one of the most respected guitarists in Italy and internationally. He studied at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome, where he earned diplomas in both guitar and composition, and began a prolific career performing in concert halls, collaborating with leading conductors and chamber musicians. D’Amario was a member of the Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza and performed with orchestras under conductors such as Pierre Boulez and Franco Ferrara.

From the 1960s onward, D’Amario worked closely with film composer Ennio Morricone, providing classical and electric guitar parts for many iconic western soundtracks, including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, For a Few Dollars More, A Fistful of Dollars and Once Upon a Time in the West. His distinctive guitar sound helped shape the atmospheric scores that defined the spaghetti‑western genre. He also recorded solo albums, taught guitar at several Italian conservatories, and authored instructional works and compositions, including a tarot‑inspired suite released in 2011.

Beyond his musical achievements, D’Amario was a founding member of a Masonic lodge of the Grande Oriente d’Italia in Rome and composed the organization’s official anthem. He died in Rome at the age of 87. His funeral at the Church of Artists in Piazza del Popolo was halted by the cardinal vicario of Rome after his Masonic affiliation became public, limiting the ceremony to a brief prayer.