I’m happy to re-launch my Cue of the Week blog! By re-launch I mean resume, after a long period of neglect. Other than a few cosmetic details, nothing has changed; you’ll still hear a weekly selection of my music for film, games, concert music and other media.

Music for media by nature is bundled with its host project, and to be honest I’ve been lax about publishing soundtrack albums. This blog allows me to share work I’m proud of which you might not otherwise easily be able to hear.

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Enough preamble! As I’m currently scoring a new feature film by my longtime collaborator George Adams, I thought I’d share the opening music from our previous film, Emerald, Texas. As this opener suggests, the score is a mix of Americana, chamber orchestra, and oddball sound design.

Guitars (as throughout the score) courtesy of the multitalented Kyle Johnson.

In the movie Siren, a groupie approaches a married band member in a too-close-for-comfort manner. I scored the moment of temptation with ambient electric guitar and vocals, respectively performed by Tom Strahle and Hilary Hearty.

This week’s music is another excerpt from my guzheng concerto, Identity: Zhongshan Zhuang. This passage, from the second movement, is the musical equivalent of a nostalgic flashback to happier times. The darker turn at the end presages moodier material ahead.

Want to hear more of the sound of this unique Chinese instrument? Stream the concerto via Apple Music or Spotify.

This week’s music is a third excerpt from my guzheng concerto, Identity: Zhongshan Zhuang. This is a playful duet between guzheng soloist and piccolo. (It’s meant to evoke the imagery of two children playing.) The climactic build at the end presages the beginning of the finale.

The concerto has been performed by the San Francisco Symphony, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the China National Orchestra, as well as regional orchestras in the US, Canada, and China. You can find it online from all major music vendors and streaming services.

This week’s music is a second excerpt from the guzheng concerto I composed with Victor Cheng, Identity: Zhongshan Zhuang. In contrast to the triumphant character of last week’s excerpt, this passage is more introspective and poignant.

In writing this I was particularly interested in the similarities and contrast between the guzheng and orchestral harp. You can hear the harp playing accompaniment on the left stereo side of the recording.

The full album is available for streaming or purchase at Apple Music/iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and the other usual suspects.