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.

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

	The Tension Mounts

This pretty – if I don’t say so myself – piece for string orchestra and English horn has a kind of warm holiday fuzziness to it. I therefore thought it would make a nice cue for today, as we head into season of end-of-year celebrations. (Perhaps a touch ironically, this was originally written to accompany a pharmaceuticals ad.)

Happy holidays!

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

	Unseen Landsacpes

Taiko drums have transcended their original ethnic connotations to become staples of contemporary action scoring. Though sometimes over-used, these instruments have a lot to offer: they pack a punch, but are more agile than the traditional orchestral bass drum. And as they come in different sizes, they offer a palette of different tones.

This percussion-based cue brings taikos back to the context of Japanese ceremonial and militaristic music, creating a musical portrait of growing conflict. I took some liberties with instrumentation, opting for some expressive sounds that probably weren’t regularly used in 13th century feudal Japan. (Please don’t tell the emperor!)

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

	Thunder Of War

This moody piece of music from the film Home Room features one of my favorite orchestral instruments, the bass flute. It’s a difficult instrument to play (and sometimes hard to find), but has a wonderfully dark and sensuous tone color. The instrument also requires a lot of breath in order to produce a tone, so it’s good idea to let the musician occasionally come up for air!

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

	TV Breakdown

Happy Thanksgiving to all my reader-listeners in the United States! My feeling is that the holiday calls for some music on the cheerful side. Here’s a warm and sentimental orchestral cue featuring wistful passages for winds, and a triumphant finale for the strings.

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

	Happy Reunion