Truel
Arlene Sierra
About this work: Truel is based on a mathematical probability puzzle described in the book "Fermat's Last Theorem" by Simon Singh.
A 'truel' is a duel involving three people. The rules are that each has a turn at shooting at one opponent and the truel continues until only one participant is left alive.
In one particular truel there are three people: Mr Black, Mr Gray and Mr White. Mr Black hits his target one time in three, Mr Gray hits the target two times in every three shots and Mr White never misses. To make it fairer Mr Black shoots first, then Mr Gray, followed by Mr White, and so on, until only one man remains alive.
The question is what should Mr Black do?
Black's best option is a non-violent one: to shoot into the air.
If he shoots at Gray and kills him then he is a dead man. If he shoots at White and kills him then he only has a 1/3 chance of survival. By shooting into the air he ensures that Gray and White shoot it out and then he has the first shot against the survivor. In other words, by initially killing one of his opponents he would only make his chances worse because then the remaining opponent would shoot at him instead of at the third man.
Thus, the worst shot has the best chances because he is the least dangerous.
Truel 1 was commissioned by the Headwaters Festival with funding from Meet the Composer in 2002, and Truel complete was commissioned by Danspace and the Cheswatyr Foundation for Anita Cheng Dance in 2004. The work exists in versions for Piano Trio and Clarinet Trio.
Version: Piano Trio or Clarinet Trio
Year composed: 2004
Duration: 00:21:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Piano Trio
Instrumentation: