Film & Television Thematic Underscore Cues

Underscore cues selected for this demonstration were composed, arranged, orchestrated and performed by composer Tom Bruner, using only a digital audio workstation and computer music software. No “live musician’s” performances were recorded for these brief examples.

A film cue is a piece of music where a decision has been made that by using music as underscore, it would enhance a specific scene, or timeline, in a film or television show. The word “cue” is derived from instructions given a musical accompanist in silent films – as to where he should “cue the music” to be performed, and therefore communicate specific mood, action, situation, characterization or plot development to the audience, who otherwise might not understand what was happening on screen, especially without any spoken dialogue or sound.

Composer/Producer Tom Bruner at his Digital Audio Workstation
Composer/Producer Tom Bruner at his Digital Audio Workstation