Composition

The Strange Exchange


I created the underscore for this musical, using inspirations from the works of composers like Howard Shore and Hans Zimmer. I wanted to create atmospheric scoring that built tension throughout and foreshadowed events.

Most noticeably, I foreshadowed Edward’s schemes and how he planned to trap Doris and Daphne in his club, by using a reoccurring motif. My musical director gave me a motif to use for the start of ‘Trapped In Plain Sight’, and I scattered it all throughout the opening of the musical. This gave every one of Edward’s interactions with Doris and Daphne feel ever more sinister, and foreshadowed him tricking Doris into signing the contract.

Below are examples of the motif from the song used in other musical cues.

‘Trapped In Plain Sight’ opening motif
Foreshadowing in the cue where Doris and Daphne first meet Edward, using the motif.
Here I used parts of the vocal line from ‘Trapped In Plain Sight’.
Right after Edward forces Doris and Daphne onstage, we hear the ‘Trapped In Plain Sight’ motif again.