1. Into the Moors
This is the first-ever instrumental I composed inspired by the Bran Hambric series. It was written after reading the prologue of The Farfield Curse, before it was released in stores on September 9, 2009. This piece introduces the listener to the main theme that came to my mind for the character of Bran, and it is echoed throughout many of the following tracks.
2. The Key
SPOILER ALERT: I came up with this song within 24 hours of reading Bran Hambric: The Specter Key. I was so taken by the pure strength of Bran’s composure while going through so much stress and sadness in the sequel. The lyrics are written from the perspective of Astara, Bran’s best friend, who has been taken to another world and turned into a Specter, as the novel’s description explains.
Help me,
I need someone to wake me up
And tell me I am strong enough to break these chains
Hold on,
Hold on for eternity
You're the only one who sees the life in death that remains
Love, love
You're the only one who sees, you're the only one who sees
Who sees that love is the key
Yesterday
I saw you through a salty lie
That wanted me to wave goodbye, goodbye to you
But today
I looked out from my window pane
It's a mirror to the eye, untrained and desperate for the truth
(Repeat Chorus)
Help me
I need someone to wake me up
3. The Gruner
SPOILER ALERT: In the very first chapter of The Specter Key, we meet a fearsome creature called a gruner. It is described as having glowing blue eyes, long tusks and sharp fur, which I imagined to be similar to that of an Australian razorback. After it feeds on a human man, we get the sense that this animal is Elspeth’s pet, and so you can pretty much guess the tone that this scene would have.
4. Emry's Lullaby (Nim's Music Box)
SPOILER ALERT: This instrumental was composed with the character of Gary in mind. He was the man in love with Emry before he left the Farfield Project and before she came to be with Thomas, Bran’s assumed biological father. Being a mage of the Netora missiv, Gary has a deep passion for music, and he even wrote a lullaby for Emry before they parted ways. This song was put into a music box, which Bran comes into contact with early on in The Specter Key.
5. Thomas' Theme
SPOILER ALERT: Bran’s first encounter with his father Thomas is in no way heart warming. Although this music was not written for that scene specifically, it was created using the general sense of Thomas’ harsh personality and conflicted character. He is a man who cares about his son but has let a raging desire for vengeance cloud his sensitivity and muddle his priorities.
6. Fridd's Day Eve
SPOILER ALERT: As “Branfans” already know, the Wilomas family is nothing short of strange and crazy, however they still manage to come across as bizarrely entertaining. When the Eve of Fridd’s Day arrives, they are all hustling about to make sure that everything is perfect for their rich, snobby party guests: customers and co-workers from the Third Bank of Dunce.
7. If Nobody Fights
SPOILER ALERT: This is calm music for the scene where Bran and Astara are sitting at the top of the water tower, looking out at the festival fireworks. The title is taken from Bran’s line, “This might go on forever, but we’ve still got to fight, because if nobody fights, then we all will lose.” If you’ve listened to track 2, you may notice that this is the piano version of "The Key". Since the majority of the plot in The Specter Key revolves around Bran’ and Astara’s friendship, I wanted to feature this theme throughout the scenes pertaining to these two characters.
8. Two Words
SPOILER ALERT: This song was inspired by the moment Astara is taken away by the ambulance, and it is supposed to last through the hospital and funeral scenes, with 0:53 being the part where Bran and Adi hear the doctor say, “She’s dead.”
9. Shadows of Her Memory
SPOILER ALERT: More sad music for the part when Bran returns to the Wilomas house, which has been absolutely destroyed by the green magic that burst from the odd-looking box. I used the minor-toned theme of "The Key", because it is in the doorway that Bran remembers seeing Astara’s body, just before she was taken to the hospital.
10. I'm Done with You
SPOILER ALERT: A song filled with angered determination for the scene when Bran throws the mysterious box into the water, thinking that he has gotten rid of the horrid thing for good.
11. Specters
SPOILER ALERT: This piece wasn’t written with any one scene in mind, but I tried to make sure that it captured the mystery and creepiness of the specters and the powerful key that keeps them imprisoned in their enchanted holding cell.
12. Room of Misery (Gary's Theme)
SPOILER ALERT: When Bran jumps through the fireplace in Gary’s office, he discovers a secret room behind it, filled with pictures of his mother, some in which Gary can be seen with her. According to the book, Bran hears Gary playing his flute to a familiar melody—the song from Nim’s music box. It is in this chapter that we learn of Gary’s loving relationship with Emry and that he in fact composed that very piece of music. I decided to start this instrumental off with the minor tone of “Emry’s Lullaby”, for the part where Bran is seeing the photographs of his mother. The flute comes in, and when the story is finally told, the mood lightens as Bran realizes just how much Gary loved Emry and just how much the man hasn’t been able to move on.
13. Road to the Ancients
SPOILER ALERT: After their encounter with Elspeth and the gruner, Bran and Thomas head out toward an ancient temple, a place where the Specters have been held prisoner for years behind a magical doorway that can only be opened with the Specter Key. Because of the gruff nature of Thomas and the distant and bitter relationship between him and his son Bran, I wanted this song to show both of their themes coming together while they trudge through the desert, working side-by-side for the same cause.
14. The Life in Death
SPOILER ALERT: In the chapter “The Pool of Life and Death”, Bran dives into the water to save Astara from crossing over with the rest of the Specters. This song was the very first instrumental that I wrote inspired by The Specter Key. Its tune was derived from the minor melody of the song, “The Key”, and its title came from a line in that song, as well.
15. Lucky Day (Specters Reprise)
SPOILER ALERT: The power of the Key was said to be destroyed by a train in the subway tunnel, however in the epilogue of The Specter Key. Mr. Rat discovers it while doing his community service of mopping the stairways. This leaves us with the foreboding feeling that the Key isn’t finished with whatever other dark purpose it can be used for. This song is the reprise of “Specters” (track 11).
16. Dying Breath
SPOILER ALERT: A bonus track inspired by the end of the prologue of Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse, during the part where Emry has to quickly decide how to save Bran, who is at the time six-years-old. I imagined that if she'd had any time at all to sing a lullaby to her sleeping son, knowing she wouldn't be returning to him, this is what she might sing.
Come to me my son, for I must leave you soon
Come to me, my baby, lu lay lu, lay lu
With my dying breath, I will keep you safe away
And we will meet, my baby, once again someday