In this selection from the score of Emerald, Texas, we’re introduced to bail bond bounty hunter Elva West, a modern reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s wicked antagonist. She’s musically characterized with a motive for low-register electric guitar, accompanying mandolin, vibes, and “witchy” counterlines for solo violin.

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

	Elva Arrives

In one scene from the film Emerald, Texas, protagonist Dee pauses for reflection while her more carefree friends play in a parking lot. Like much of the score, this cue mixes acoustic guitar with strings to reflect both contemporary Americana and the Wizard of Oz parallels of the story.

Guitar solo by Kyle Johnson.

A teary-eyed moment late in the film Emerald, Texas. Here I chose to give the cue’s main melody to the viola rather than the usual suspects, the violin or cello. The viola has a more raw and less polished sound than its more celebrated siblings, and I felt that a touch of raw longing was just what the scene needed.

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

	Goodbye

A self-styled miracle man resides across a shady forest. The ragtag companions of Emerald, Texas set out through the woods to what they hope will be their quest’s end. The score grows from a mysterious agitation in the strings to a bold statement of the film’s main theme… and back to mystery at the end as the friends approach their destination.

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

	Leaving Ozana

Here’s the next selection from the score for Emerald, Texas. Two friends kick the can down a dusty Kansas lane. The music blends American folk influence with the chamber string sound that will recur throughout the score.

For those of you with an ear for detail, I’ll mention that the string harmonies come from playing several notes of the film’s main melody simultaneously. Composers employ sneaky tricks like this to create a sense of subtle familiarity throughout a score.

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

	Kick the Can