The Lehigh Valley community was invited to contribute musical ideas for a new orchestral piece, "Frankenstein," composed by the ASO Composer-in-Residence - Clarice Assad. The Allentown Symphony Orchestra will premiere this piece on April 26 and 27, 2025. Composer Clarice Assad has led community-wide participatory composition projects in the past with her pieces "Mosaic Variations" (2022) and "Tapestry" (2023).

Musical contributions (*) included:
- a short melody,
- a chord progression,
- a particular orchestral instrumental timbre,
- a rhythmic gesture or ostinato pattern.

Story points that inspired ideas:
- Dr. Victor Frankenstein creates a creature from old body parts and strange chemicals, animated by a mysterious spark.
- The creature, rejected by its creator and society, seeks revenge against Dr. Frankenstein.
- Dr. Frankenstein grapples with guilt and responsibility for his creation's actions.
- The novel explores themes of ambition, the pursuit of knowledge, and the consequences of playing god.

Links to films:

Frankenstein (1931) Colin Clive, Boris Karloff, Mae Clarke

Frankenstein (1994) Kenneth Branaugh, Roberto DeNiro, Helena Bonham Carter

Mary Shelley (2017) Elle Fanning, Douglas Boothe. Streaming on Amazon Prime.

(*) all submissions irrevocably assign to Clarice Assad all of rights, titles, and interests in and to any music and/or musical elements provided to Clarice Assad (the “Works”) and all copyrights therein. Contributors waive all rights to attribution and/or compensation related to the Works or Clarice Assad’s exercise of its rights as owner and copyright holder.