Assail (2017 – 2023) by Anne La Berge
for storyteller and ensemble and optional video
Assail is a story told six different times from six different emotional perspectives with musical interludes as part of the storytelling. Whereas the order of the different music and text sections are determined randomly by a Max patch, the piece has a set beginning and end.
The story is the rape of a 21 year old woman told from the perspective of Confusion, Disgust, Fear, Rage, Shame and Sorrow.
Assail was created for the 6 member ensemble MAZE using the iPads as controllers for each member of the ensemble and as video and text projection.
The abstract storytelling during the film clips followed by musical playing occurs six times in random order. Since the music is improvised, the soloist or flexible makeup of ensemble musicians can choose what material to play and whether to play or not.
Due to changes in the Apple iOS and the original Interactive Slides App, the projection of the media has been changed numerous times with versions currently available for smarphones, iPads and laptops with the option of using video or not.