20
March 2020
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Cue of the Week: “The Treehouse”

In trying times, art keeps us connected to a long-term perspective of optimism that can be clouded by short-term stress. To do my part, in the coming weeks I’m going to present pieces whose moods are more uplifting or positive. (Don’t worry, I have plenty of horror and action music to share once real life feels calmer.)

This week’s cue comes from my score for the film Against Time, and accompanies a romantic moment amidst a gorgeous bucolic backdrop.

28
February 2020
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Cue of the Week: “A Lost Brother”

Written for a cemetery scene in the film The F-Zone, this cue is somber but has some lyrical qualities as well. In the middle section I harmonize a solo flute with four basses, rather than the more conventional approach of using all the low strings. It’s an interesting sound, almost medieval, and distinctly funereal.

14
February 2020
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Cue of the Week: “Down the Rabbit Hole”

This week’s music comes with a happy launch announcement: Down the Rabbit Hole, a game whose score I composed last year, has posted its trailer video in anticipation of a March release.

The game is billed as a prequel to Alice in Wonderland, and involves an adventurous girl (not Alice) navigating through Lewis Carroll’s imaginative world in search of a lost pet. It’s a virtual reality game, so you’ll need a device like an Oculus or Viveport for the full experience.

Anyway, onto what you all care about most, which is music. Today you can hear the trailer score, which reflects the game’s impish fairly tale aesthetic. Or better yet check out the trailer video to hear it in context!

13
February 2020
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“Down the Rabbit Hole” announced

I’m honored to have written the music for Down the Rabbit Hole, a delightful VR game based on Alice and Wonderland mythology, and which was announced today by Cortopia Studios.

This project was my second VR game in collaboration with the genius developers over at Moon Mode. The orchestral score is a blend of classical, Baroque, and contemporary fantasy music influences, all marinated with a healthy dose of humor.

If you’re lucky enough to have an Oculus or other major VR system, check the game out!

24
January 2020
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Cue of the Week: “The Story of Leo”

That’s not a cello you hear, but a contrabass played lyrically, courtesy of bassist Maggie Hasspacher. From the score of the film Emerald, Texas, this is the theme for Leo, a gentle soul who just wants to wear a blonde wig and avoid fights. Since he’s the film’s analog of the Cowardly Lion, this instrument seemed perfect — but I wrote for its upper register, to reflect the character’s softer side.

10
January 2020
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Cue of the Week: “Pour One, and Out”

This week’s selection from the film Emerald, Texas accompanies a triumphant moment where the travelers face down a bigot in a bar and make a speedy escape via pickup truck. Guitar performances come courtesy of Kyle Johnson; violin solo performed by Adrianne Pope.

03
January 2020
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Cue of the Week: “Driving Away”

In the film Emerald Texas, a moment of auto larceny slash teenage self assertion is accompanied by this spirited folk-rock cue. Guitars and mandolin are courtesy of Kyle Johnson and vocals are by Enrique Acosta. (My backing vocals may also be buried in the mix.)

31
December 2019
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Recent project roundup

I’ve been busy with a number of projects over the past few months, so I thought I’d do a quick roundup here.

I recently finished scoring filmmaker George Adams’ latest feature, Lady Usher. A modern setting of Edgar Allen Poe’s classic Fall of the House of Usher, the film was as macabre and dark as you’d expect — but with a redemptive arc that elevates it beyond a mere creepy vignette. We recorded a fantastic string quartet here in Los Angeles, supplemented by acoustic steel and nylon string guitar, giving the music a organic but intimate texture. I couldn’t be happier with the results and look forward to sharing the music with everyone.

On the interactive entertainment side, in recent months I scored my second VR game for Occulus. The title is undergoing some re-branding and will be formally launched in January, so mum’s the word at the moment. I wrote a larger-than-life orchestral score in a “dark fairytale” vein with an undercurrent of humor, matching the tone of the game itself.

At present I’m composing my next commissioned piece involving the guzheng, or chinese zither. Commissioned by the Ames Town & Gown Chamber Music society, the piece will combine the traditional Western sound of the string quartet with the traditional Eastern sound of the guzheng. I’m delighted that Su Chang (soloist in all my guzheng pieces so far) will be lending her talents to the piece, along with the renowned Telegraph Quartet. The piece will have its world premiere in Ames, IA on the first of May in 2020. Check out the Town & Gown website for more details.

Su Chang performing Michael's guzheng concerto

Also coming up in 2020, and also in the “I can’t talk about it… yet” file is my next game score for DESTINYbit. (I collaborated with them recently on the retro RTS game Empires Apart.) This promises to be a really unique game project, and I’m looking forward to approaching it musically.

That’s the latest and greatest on the music-for-media front. You can get more regular updates on my various social media sites (whose links you can find on this page). More news as events warrant.

Morituri Te Salutant // Michael Gordon Shapiro - Highlights
  1. Morituri Te Salutant // Michael Gordon Shapiro - Highlights
  2. Emerald, Texas // Highlights
  3. Mythic Battle // Highlights
  4. The Yard Sale // Michael Gordon Shapiro - Highlights
  5. Investigations // Highlights
  6. Home Room // Highlights
  7. Sands of Arabia // Highlights
  8. Spider Cult // Highlights
  9. Poker Night // Highlights