This choral/orchestral piece accompanies a cutscene in the game Empire Earth 2 wherein the historical Knights Templar are cast in an ominous light. The lyrics are a twisted take on the familiar Kyrie Eleison: while the chorus starts with the conventional words, the basses and tenors switch to Ohi Eleison, meaning “No Mercy”.

One fun thing film composers get to do is use instrumentation to give a signature sound to a colorful character. The 2006 feature film Siren was your classic let’s-make-a-band type movie. When I set out to write a theme for the laid back, smooth-talking bass player, I picked instrumentation that fit his personality: slide guitar, finger snaps, and two electric basses. Fun ensued.

(Slide guitar and bass performances courtesy of the inimitable Tom Strahle.)

Written for a short film starring Len Lesser (of Seinfeld fame), this comedic cue blends Benny Goodman-esque clarinet with an orchestral backdrop.

This week’s selection comes from one of my first game scoring projects, Jane’s Attack Squadron. Accompanying aerial combat during gameplay, the music evokes both heroic derring-do and the tumult of battle.

This is a dark journey through an alien place. Synthesized timbres are in the foreground, joined by processed piano, cellos, and drum loops in the more driving middle section. This cue was closer to performance than traditional composition; I rode the pitch bend wheel in realtime in order to create the eerie fluctuations of tone and similar effects.

This week’s selection is an orchestral cue which opens with what I like to call a bustling dreamy quality, then segues to a more tranquil and pastoral feeling.

And in other news, check out my interview with Goldstar! (Yes, the same Goldstar that sells live event tickets.)

This week’s cue, a bit of documentary music, blends proud strings and horns over a contemporary beat.