FRANKENSTEIN

FRANKENSTEIN | Commissioned by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra

I. Overture II. Foreboding III. It’s Alive!

Duration: 13 minutes

Instrumentation: 3222 4221 timp perc* strings

FRANKENSTEIN is the third installation of The Mosaic Project, an orchestral work that reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic tale through a giant collaborative effort. Commissioned by the Allentown Symphony, this piece combines over 50 composers from diverse backgrounds, ages, and traditions to create a haunting musical tapestry. Following the success of “Mosaic Variations” with Austin Classical Guitar and “Tapestry” at the Mainly Mozart Festival, I hope this new work pushes the boundaries of collaborative composition even further. The three-movement work – Overture, Foreboding, and It’s Alive! – weaves together musical fragments contributed by each composer into a cohesive orchestral narrative that explores themes of creation, ambition, and the consequences of pushing beyond natural boundaries. The piece differs from traditional compositional hierarchies by bringing professional composers, students, and community musicians together in an artistic democracy. In our contemporary world, where artificial intelligence raises similar questions about creation, consciousness, and ethical boundaries, Frankenstein’s themes resonate with striking relevance. Just as Dr. Frankenstein grappled with the implications of creating artificial life, today’s society faces parallel challenges with AI’s expanding capabilities and the responsibility that comes with such power. The piece is co-orchestrated by Clarice Assad, Sergio Assad, and Keith Donahue.

*Percussion I: Triangle, Crotales, Xylophone, Tam-Tam, Snare Drum, Thunder Tube, Large Ratchet, Lion’s roar, Claves

Percussion II: Suspended Cymbal, Vibraphone. Tubular Bells, Bass Drum, Small Ratchet, Egg Shaker

CONTRIBUTING COMPOSERS:

Geoff Harrington. Tim Mengel, Angela Mosley, Ma Carney, Joseph lorini, Larry Lipkis, Kevin Kiernan, Emmet Cook, Maria Clara Valle, Pierre Bohemond, Robin O’Brien, Mark Doncsecz, Natan Albuquerque, Melynda Morrone, Sean O’Boyle, Rafael Zambiazz, Ava Bloomfield, Griffin Woodard, Tim Brown, Letícia Malvarez, Kalu Coelho, Gaia Wilmer, Aline Gonçalves, Maiara Moraes, Daniel Maeda, Carlos Henrique Toni, El Sistema Students, Rafael Martini, Maia Jarrett, Joseph Justesen, Sage Kauffman, Gianna Stravopoulos, Xavier Alleyne, Mal Baker, Adien Suero, Alec Quier, Liam Sheer, Evie Braden, Tim Brown, Griffin Woodard, Tom Maher, Sergio Assad, Clarice Assad, Keith Donadghue.

Composer-in-Residence

Assad is the second composer appointed to this position at Allentown Symphony, taking over after Chris Rogerson. She curates and leads the Composer Collaborative, which fosters creativity and collaboration, regularly premiering new and reinterpreted works through the New Chamber Music Series. Her outreach includes workshops, teaching, and mentoring young composers, particularly focusing on blending genres and contemporary approaches to classical music.

As part of her role, she leads the Composer Collaborative, a group that nurtures composers across genres and ages, curates new chamber music series, and personally participates through her own compositions and performances—singing or playing piano at concerts. Her residency emphasizes creative collaboration, local outreach, and education, resulting in regular premieres of new music, workshops, and active involvement with young musicians in the Allentown area