Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein

Erika Svanoe

Subtitle: A Modern Promethean Tango

General Info

Year: 2014 / 2019
Duration: c. 4:50
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Saxophone quartet
Publisher: Swan Maiden Press
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $125.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Bass Saxophone (optional)
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-VI, including:

Bass Drum
Castanets
Claves
Drum Set
Gong
Marimba
Shakers
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein: A Modern Promethean Tango imagines a scenario where the young author meets her own creation, the monster brought to life whom we colloquially refer to as “Frankenstein.” They meet, circling each other in a dance reflective of a tango. Mary is initially curious and sympathetic, while the creature pleads for compassion. In the moment when the two come together, Mary’s sympathy is overwhelmed by horror and she begins to panic, while the creature becomes furious with her rejection. With the final notes, we are left asking ourselves -- who is the real monster?

Commissioned by Andrew Boysen, Jr. and the University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony (Andrew Boysen Jr., Conductor)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

San Francisco (Calif.) Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (Pete Nowlen, conductor) - 30 September 2023
Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) Wind Ensemble (Kaitlin Bove, conductor) - 2 March 2023
University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Wind Ensemble (Foteini Angeli, conductor) - 30 November 2022
University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) Wind Ensemble (James Popejoy, conductor) - 11 October 2022
National Concert Band of America (Alexandria, Va.) (Adrian Holton, conductor) - 24 October 2021
Prior Lake High School (Savage, Minn.) Band (Justin Schramm, conductor) – 12 March 2020

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein (Flex instrumentation) (2014/2020)
Steampunk Scenes (Flex instrumentation) (2015/2021)

All Wind Works

Band of Heroes (2018)
Baskerville (2019)
Category 4 (2021)
Claremont Triumphant (2011)
Clocktower Fanfare (2016)
Echoes (2018)
El Salon Mexico (as arranger) (2009)
First Suite Fanfare (2020)
Florence & Alice (2021)
Four Grainger Songs (as arranger) (2003)
The Haunted Carousel (2015)
A Journey in Time (2020)
Like the Wind
Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein (2014/2019)
Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein (Flex instrumentation) (2014/2019/2020)
She Dares, She Leaps (2022)
Springtime Ride (2018)
Steampunk Scenes (Flex instrumentation) (2015/2021)
Steampunk Suite (2015/2017)
Symphony in Blue & Gold (2023)
The Town Band (2022)
Tutued Toucan Can-Can (2021)
Where no one has gone before (2023)

Resources

Erika Svanoe website Accessed 23 October 2021
Perusal score
Svanoe, Erika. " Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein: Composer Intro." YouTube. Erika Svanoe, 30 October 2020 Accessed 23 October 2021