The Leclerc Brothers recently asked whether I would score the music for a new commercial they are working on. Knowing the quality productions they produce I was delighted and honored to receive the request. Philip and Chris Leclerc and their team consistently turn out film projects with extremely high production values. So, being able to add the musical dimension to their creations is not only a privilege, but extreme fun.

Here is a commercial they created for the Wisconsin 4-H, which has just been released. It is targeted for web distribution, but would work equally well for TV broadcasting.

Below is the score only.

The challenge was to get close to a temp score they had chosen (without copying, of course). My personal goal was to surpass the quality of the temp score and create something unique that would be tailored to the scenes in the commercial. This in fact is what distinguishes the use of stock music from individually composed music.

For example, two points stuck out that we tried to hit. One is when the light bulb appears, which we start introducing a sort of magical feeling in the music that carries on and builds when the starry sky images show up.

Unless you find stock music that already contains these elements at the desired spots, an editor may have a tough time making everything seem smooth and seamless. Good editors can cut to just about any music. Add to that what originally composed music can bring to the table and your editor will love you.