Ennio Morricone, the Italian composer whose symphonic scores backed everything from spaghetti westerns to romance, horror and sci-fi films, has died aged 91. He had broken his femur days earlier and died during the night in a clinic in Rome, his lawyer Giorgio Assumma confirmed.

In a statement, Assumma said the composer died at dawn on July 6 in Rome, preserving full lucidity and great dignity until the final moment. He said goodbye to his wife Maria and thanked his children and grandchildren.

Morricone wrote his own obituary, which was read out by Assumma. It begins: “I, Ennio Morricone, am dead. Thus I announce it, to all my friends who have always been close to me,” and goes on to thank those around him.

His work helped define the western, but he went on to work across all film genres, from period drama to horror, in a career that brought him an Academy Award.