FRANKENSTEIN | Commissioned by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra
I. Overture II. Foreboding III. It’s Alive!
13 minutes
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