No, that’s not the title of a Bond film. This piece is part of Empire Earth 3, and accompanies a foreboding image of the Earth spinning in space. The tone is initially ethereal, then grows with militaristic intensity.

Any composer writing this kind of music faces an artistic challenge: try not to rip off Holst. I didn’t fare too badly here. There are a few voices-and-celeste moments that are reminiscent of the later movements of the Planets symphony, but by and large I don’t think I gave Gustov’s estate much legal ammunition.

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	Above the World

A short and sweet little tune for harpsichord, recorders, and glockenspiel. There’s something of a “once upon a time” feeling at work here.

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	Little Village

This week’s selection is a dark and brooding cue for piano, cello, and strings, written for a thriller film a few years back. I’m indebted to studio veteran John Acosta for his fabulous cello performance.

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	The Final Painting

No, we can’t all get along! This week’s selection musically accompanies aggressive battle between ancient Korea and Japan, and thus features percussion indigenous to both cultures: the Japanese taikos and Korean hourglass drum (played here by ethno-percussive guru M.B. Gordy).

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	Attack of the Yen

This week’s musical selection has something of a storybook flavor to it – conveying drama, but in a lighthearted world. This is actually a montage of two cues, which starts with a dramatic orchestral introduction and then switches to a more driving action theme.

Buried in the ensemble is an instrument called a Wagner tuba – akin to a french horn, but with a bit more bite. It isn’t very prominent in this particular cue, but sharp-eared listeners might enjoy trying to pick it out.

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	The Tension Mounts