This week’s selection is military/heroic cut-scene music from the game Empire Earth 2. Each faction in the game had its own musical motif; the American theme is tucked away at the very end of the cue, played by the cellos.

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	The Troops Arrive

This week’s selection is a mystery/suspense orchestral cue from the time-travel film Against Time. This cue is on the quiet and subtle side, but the details have been brought out and given a new coat of polish, thanks to the magic of digital remastering.

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	The Test

That’s not a solo cello you hear, but a contrabass played lyrically with a bow, courtesy of bassist Maggie Hasspacher. This is the theme for Leo, a gentle soul who just wants to wear a blonde wig and avoid fights. Since he’s Emerald, Texas‘s analogue to the cowardly lion, I gave him the growly timbre of a bass, but put it in its uppermost register to reflect the character’s softer side.

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	The Story of Leo

The music for Emerald, Texas‘s last scene has a happy-go-lucky vibe, with guitars segueing into a finale for piano and strings. (The film’s denouement is less straightforward than this cue suggests!)

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	Postcard Therapy

Just your basic ambient percussive quasi-ethnic forest hippie music.

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	Welcome to Ozana

This week’s selection, from the score of Emerald, Texas, uses a southwestern guitar feel to accompany a drive in the desert at night. (It took some self-restraint for me not to add a rattlesnake sound.)

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	Driving at Night

And now, my personal favorite of the tracks from the Emerald, Texas score. The scene is a moment of relaxation in a windy field of golden flowers.

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	Golden Coreopsis

In this selection from the score of Emerald, Texas, we’re introduced to bail bond bounty hunter Elva West, a modern reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s wicked antagonist. She’s musically characterized with a motive for low-register electric guitar, accompanying mandolin, vibes, and “witchy” counterlines for solo violin.

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	Elva Arrives