Cue of the Week: “Emerald, Texas (main theme)”

A self-styled miracle man resides across a shady forest. The ragtag companions of Emerald, Texas set out through the woods towards what they hope will be their quest’s end.

The scene provides the occasion for the film’s main theme, which had been previously hinted at in fragments. The melody emerges from a mysterious rural introduction and subsequent agitated string passage. The intro, by the bye, was given to the viola rather than violin, for a more more raw and haunting sound.

There were only a few string players on the recording, which we tracked multiple times to give the music a bigger sound. The resulting chamber orchestra feel worked well for the film’s intimate contemporary-fantasy sensibility.