A magic battle, that is. This week’s cue comes from the game Wizard Ops: Part One. The wizard is doing a kind of sideways walk while being buffeted by enemy fire, so for fun I picked an asymmetrical meter that paralleled the rhythm of walking sideways. (Yes, it’s possible to overthink these things, but in this case I thought the musical analogy worked.)

Terminology corner: this is an example of a “hybrid cue”, meaning one that combines traditional orchestral and contemporary rhythmic elements.

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	Battle on the Shore

That’s not a solo cello you hear, but a contrabass played lyrically with a bow, courtesy of bassist Maggie Hasspacher. This is the theme for Leo, a gentle soul who just wants to wear a blonde wig and avoid fights. Since he’s Emerald, Texas‘s analogue to the cowardly lion, I gave him the growly timbre of a bass, but put it in its uppermost register to reflect the character’s softer side.

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	The Story of Leo

The music for Emerald, Texas‘s last scene has a happy-go-lucky vibe, with guitars segueing into a finale for piano and strings. (The film’s denouement is less straightforward than this cue suggests!)

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	Postcard Therapy

Just your basic ambient percussive quasi-ethnic forest hippie music.

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	Welcome to Ozana

This week’s selection, from the score of Emerald, Texas, uses a southwestern guitar feel to accompany a drive in the desert at night. (It took some self-restraint for me not to add a rattlesnake sound.)

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	Driving at Night