11
January 2008
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Cue of the Week: “Star Trek: Stardock Refuel”

Here’s another selection from the Wii/PS2 game Star Trek Conquest. In contrast to last week’s anthemic musical selection, this cue has a more anticipatory flavor.

We composers often have to get creative in renaming cues for the listening public. Technically this piece is called “Menu Music Cue #2”. This is useful to the developers, who need to organize their game’s audio assets, but doesn’t quite inspire that sense of far-reaching wonderment we associate with the Star Trek franchise.

Film often presents a similar challenge; almost every cue starts out with a name like “Travis Shoots The Guy On The Motorcycle”. It’s up to the composer or album producer to add a little poetry to the soundtrack titles, while at the same time letting fans have a clue what the music originally accompanied. I might therefore rename the cue “High-Speed Pursuit”, but not Threnody On The Horrors of Violence in D Minor”.

Enough digression! Enjoy the music of… space.

(Click on the play button to stream, or the cue title to download.)

Stardock Refuel
 

04
January 2008
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Cue of the Week: “Star Trek Conquest”

This week’s music selection is the introductory theme from Star Trek Conquest, a game for the Nintendo Wii and Playstation 2. While I’m not a hardcore Trekkie, I’ve always been a big fan of the original-cast movies (particularly Star Trek II, which I regard as one of the best sci-fi movies ever) and the inspiring adventurous spirit of their scores.

My challenge here was to write something that fit in with a the existing Trek musical tradition, but also stood on its own legs as original music. I had hoped to drop in a nod to Alexander Courage’s classic theme, but alas, legal complexities prevented it. That aside, this score was a real treat to write.

(Click on the play button to stream, or the cue title to download.)

Star Trek Conquest
 

28
December 2007
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Cue of the Week: “You Can’t Go Back”

Continuing the theme of gentle/sentimental music for the holiday season, here’s a tender cue that’s always been one of my personal favorites. (I realize that I say that about most of the music I write, but this one is a favorite even given the inflated attachment a composer feels for his or her own work.) Next week we’ll have something a bit more ardenalized.

(Click on the play button to stream, or the cue title to download.)

You Can’t Go Back
 

21
December 2007
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Cue of the Week: “The Yard Sale”

Here’s something nostalgic and warm for the holiday season. This is one of my favorites from my score for Against Time – likely because it accompanies my favorite scene in the film. (I won’t give away the plot point, but let’s just say that I’m a sucker for time-travel father-and-son reunions.)

(Click on the play button to stream, or the cue title to download.)

The Yard Sale
 

14
December 2007
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Cue of the Week: “Good Guy Gears”

Welcome (back) to MikeMusicRadio! The Cue of the Week feature has been on hiatus during the construction of the new website (and a two-week sojourn to Cyprus on my part), but now that various strata of dust have settled this musical blog is back in business.

This week’s selection is what I call a “little brother” cue –  where a recurring major melody from a score appears in a lighter or more modest form. This cue, from the political thriller The F-Zone, introduces the affirmative theme that is heard throughout the score – most prominently in another cue featured on this site called Flying From Arcadia. Here the theme has a more mischievous quality, as well as a darker bridge section underscoring the sneaking-around portions of the scene.

(Click on the play button to stream, or the cue title to download.)

Good Guy Gears
 

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