02
December 2016
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Cue of the Week: “Audrey and Einstein (End Title)”

This week’s selection is the end-credit music for Audrey and Einstein. Rhythm acoustic guitar, accordion, piano, and glockenspiel join forces in an upbeat whimsical wrap-up. I usually like to recap a film’s main theme in its end title, but in this case the main theme didn’t quite click with the cheerful mood of the finale. (I do smuggle the theme into the cue’s “B” section, however.)

Accordion performed by Bear McCreary, and guitar by Tom Strahle.

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18
November 2016
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Cue of the Week: “The Cram Session”

Continuing the series from the romantic comedy Audrey and Einstein, this is a sprightly cue for solo strings and a collection of colorful percussion instruments.

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11
November 2016
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Cue of the Week: “The Uninvited Guest”

This week’s selection is another cue from the romantic comedy Audrey and Einstein, whose main theme I posted last week. This solo piano waltz continues the score’s humorous/romantic approach.

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09
November 2016
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Guzheng concerto performed by China National Symphony Orchestra

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I’m very pleased that the Identity guzheng concerto will be performed by the China National Symphony Orchestra on November 13th in Beijing. The concerto will be included with a handful of other pieces for a concert celebrating the 150th birthday of Sun Yat-Sen. The CNSO had previously performed the concerto in 2011.

To use the piece’s full name, Identity: Zhongshan Zhuang is a concerto for guzheng and orchestra that I wrote with Chinese producer/composer Victor Cheng. Since 2010 we’ve been fortunate enough to see it performed many times both in the United States and China, including by prestigious ensembles like the San Francisco Symphony and Chicago Sinfonietta.

Guzheng virtuoso Su Chang has been our soloist since the very first performance, and she’ll be returning once again for this concert.

If you’d like to hear the piece or are just curious what a guzheng sounds like, you can find the album on Amazon or iTunes. (It also appears to be available for streaming via Apple Music, but I can’t figure out how to link to it.)

04
November 2016
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Cue of the Week: “Audrey and Einstein”

This week’s cue is the opening theme for a short film I scored many years ago, a charming romantic comedy about a lonely woman’s bond with a fish. It racked up several well-deserved awards.

On the accordion is celebrated film/TV composer Bear McCreary, whose many talents include a wicked fluency in Zydeco folk music.

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14
October 2016
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Cue of the Week: “Playground Groove II”

Admin: you can now go directly to this blog via
cueoftheweek.com !

Onto the music. This week’s selection is a playful bit of electronic pop which includes that timeless musical element, vinyl record-scratching.

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30
September 2016
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Cue of the Week: “The Yard Sale”

This week’s selection is a lyrical and nostalgic cue from the film Against Time. The scene’s heart was a particularly moving performance by Craig T. Nelson, which made it easy to find musical inspiration.

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23
September 2016
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Cue of the Week: “Gideon’s Ride”

This week’s selection comes from a concert project I’ve been tinkering with for years, called Gideon and the Blundersnorp. This is a fantasy story for narrator and orchestra, in the tradition of Peter and the Wolf but targeted at an older audience. The orchestra accompanies the narrator like a score for a film, occasionally coming to the forefront.

Gideon had a premiere performance a number of years ago, and now sits patiently waiting for me to have enough time to return to it.

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Morituri Te Salutant // Michael Gordon Shapiro - Highlights
  1. Morituri Te Salutant // Michael Gordon Shapiro - Highlights
  2. Emerald, Texas // Highlights
  3. Mythic Battle // Highlights
  4. The Yard Sale // Michael Gordon Shapiro - Highlights
  5. Investigations // Highlights
  6. Home Room // Highlights
  7. Sands of Arabia // Highlights
  8. Spider Cult // Highlights
  9. Poker Night // Highlights
  10. Together // Highlights