The Crucible (2019)
Description:
Theatre Composition
I produced music and sound design elements for a theatrical production of The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The score was based around dark piano textures and synthesised elements hinting at the state of being possessed and hysteria in tight-knit social circles.
“The musical interventions by Leonard Maassen were threatening and admirably timed.” (Andrew Bell, Daily Info)
I worked closely with the director of the production, Cesca Echlin, to produce continuously looping soundscapes, and some music-driven interludes. It was very interesting to learn how to generate musical tension in a theatre space, and to interact with live actors.
The production ran for a week and was completely sold out.
Client:
Rose on a Rail Theatre Company
Project Duration:
3 Months
Date:
September-November 2019
Venue:
Michael Pilch Studio, Oxford
You Are Frogs (2019)
Description:
Theatre Composition
I produced a 40-minute continuous soundscape for an avant-garde theatre production tackling the topic of substance abuse. We decided to locate the space in the sound world of a frog ecosystem and to employ extreme effect processing to gesture toward the theme of intoxication.
“[The] oppressive atmosphere of these frogs’ life engulfs the audience; the effect is enhanced by Leonard Maassen’s soft but persistent background music, with the occasional laugh track and increasingly unhinged interludes as the madness advances” (The Poor Print, 2019)
The score included recordings of a jazz trio playing Bossa nova and a free improvisation, solo piano, synthesizers, field recordings and sound effects. I also integrated the three-channel surround system available in the theatre.
Client:
Practically Peter Productions
Project Duration:
2 Weeks
Date:
February 2019
Venue:
Burton Taylor Studio, Oxford
Frost/Nixon (2020)
Description:
Theatre Composition
I composed a theme song for a production of Peter Morgan’s Frost/Nixon and produced a range of sound design elements.
Client:
Deballify
Project Duration:
4 Weeks
Date:
February-March 2020
Venue:
Burton Taylor Studio, Oxford
A View from the Bridge (2019)
Description:
Theatre Composition
I composed score for a production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge.
We referenced early 20th-century New York with elements of early jazz, while also locating the sounds in a contemporary space with synthesized and processed vocal elements.
Client:
Practically Peter Productions
Project Duration:
4 Weeks
Date:
April-May 2019
Venue:
Michael Pilch Studio, Oxford
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