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

In one scene from the film Emerald, Texas, protagonist Dee pauses for reflection while her more carefree friends play in a parking lot. Like much of the score, this cue mixes acoustic guitar with strings to reflect both contemporary Americana and the Wizard of Oz parallels of the story.

Guitar solo by Kyle Johnson.

A teary-eyed moment late in the film Emerald, Texas. Here I chose to give the cue’s main melody to the viola rather than the usual suspects, the violin or cello. The viola has a more raw and less polished sound than its more celebrated siblings, and I felt that a touch of raw longing was just what the scene needed.

(Click on the play button to stream, or the cue title to download.)

	Goodbye

A self-styled miracle man resides across a shady forest. The ragtag companions of Emerald, Texas set out through the woods to what they hope will be their quest’s end. The score grows from a mysterious agitation in the strings to a bold statement of the film’s main theme… and back to mystery at the end as the friends approach their destination.

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	Leaving Ozana

Here’s the next selection from the score for Emerald, Texas. Two friends kick the can down a dusty Kansas lane. The music blends American folk influence with the chamber string sound that will recur throughout the score.

For those of you with an ear for detail, I’ll mention that the string harmonies come from playing several notes of the film’s main melody simultaneously. Composers employ sneaky tricks like this to create a sense of subtle familiarity throughout a score.

(Click on the play button to stream, or the cue title to download.)

	Kick the Can

This blog apologizes, in its most sincere blog voice, for the hiatus in content. Its composer has had a very busy month.

This week’s selection is the opening theme for the film Emerald, Texas (premiering at the Riverside International Film Festival in April). Two girls walk along a dusty Kansas road to that most hated place, high school.

Nylon-string guitar courtesy of Kyle Johnson.

(Click on the play button to stream, or the cue title to download.)

	Dee and T

Another melancholy cue this week (no reflection of my personal mood), again in an orchestral vein but from a different film. For the opening passage I channeled my inner Kenny G and wrote a soprano sax solo.

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	Alone in the City