Competition Summer 2013

[Kevin]

What about a piece for string orchestra with solo violin and cello with timpani (as suggested by Andy's publishers)?

The theme to be the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1.

Duration up to 7 minutes

Consisting of 1-3 movements

Let me know about your thoughts about this and if it would interest you. If this is what you want I will come up with the details later. If not I will re-think this again.

[Deleted]

Sounds great! I would definitely put a lot of effort into this one.

[Deleted]

I could be interested in attempting something for string orchestra with soloists & timps - not quite so sure how anything I might write would connect in any meaningful way with WWI though. Not that anything I've ever written actually "means" anything anyway . . .

Yes, I think I'd be up for it.

[davidmonks]

I am strictly choral, and at present up to my tonsils with end of choral year rituals (Concert, party, planning/composing for next season - oh, and a holiday) and a possible trip to Italy where a composition is being premiered in Sirmione, so I would have to offer regrets.


David.

[larapoe]

Sounds interesting for sure! Although right now I'm planning for some other works- a violin piece, finishing up a song set and possibly starting something choral.

[Kevin]

Thank you so far for registering your interest. I will hold this open for a few more weeks then I shall send an e-mail with the decision. Hopefully there may be a few more members that may be interested.

Of course if you know of any other composers that may be interested in such a challenge that post in the many other forums around the globe, please feel free to invite them to join in!

[Deleted]

I would be up for this.

[Kevin]

Welcome back Tony!

[adrianallan]

yes, I will try to give it a go

[adrianallan]

Up to 7mins is still a very short time for such a weighty subject as ww 1. Any chance of extending the time limit by 3 minutes or so?

[Kevin]

Thanks for that Adrian, request noted.

[David Stowell]

I would be interested in this.
I have been stuck in hospitals for the last three weeks (without access to Sibelius - Grrrrr), so need a compositional task to allow the creative juices something to get their teeth into (if indeed juices have teeth ;-)

I agree with Adrian - (up to) 10 minutes would be better.

[ceg]

Sounds good Kevin - how big a string orchestra?

Charles

[adrianallan]

I will happily organise the "alternative" competition if people want me to. But I need some people to tell me if they want categories or would just prefer "my best piece". I think that total freedom to choose is in the spirit of the original suggestion. If we are doing categories, there may only be one entrant per category!

I also need to know if people think it would be a conflict of interest if I organised it and submitted my own. In a more serious competition where the stake are higher, that would be a no-no, but this is just a friendly forum I suppose and I wouldn't have anything to gain from cheating.

Not even sure if I could cheat anyway, as survey monkey would collect all the results and I would just log in at the end of the voting period and share the results with you.

I suggest we all choose our favourite piece and post a link to it on a the same thread. The link would take us to soundcloud or Score Exchange, or both. We all then go on survey monkey to post our results and comments.

If you want me to go ahead, I will have a think about how we record the votes - eg do we give a mark for categories like "use of instrumentation" "musical interest" "scoring accuracy" or do we just click on our favourite piece, and see who gets the most votes?

What do people think?

[Deleted]

Sounds great so far Adrian! I have some every short flute pieces, there is about 3 of them in total so far and together they last about 3 minutes. Would it be possible to submit the three of them as a collection of small pieces or would I have to submit just the one?

[Kevin]

Well here we go then.

Subject: 100th anniversary of the start of WW1.

Closing Date: 30th September 2013

Instrumentation: Full String Orchestra, solo violin, solo cello and timpani (up to 4 drums).

Duration: 10-12 minutes.

Please do not post your entries anywhere prior to the closing date.

Send them to me and I will remove any name and also save it as a sib 7 file and use only Sib 7 sounds.



I hope this will be okay. Any thing else you would like me to consider please just ask.


Adrian could you please start another thread for your competition so as not to get confused with this one!!

[ceg]

Hi Kevin,

Can you clarify what you mean by "full string orchestra"? Excluding the two soloists, how many violins, violas, 'cellos and basses (minimum)?

I know that you previously suggested a standard of about ABRSM Grade 6 for the orchestra - has that requirement now disappeared?

[Deleted]

Are those Pedal Timps Kevin?

And is Sib6 files okay?

[allanh]

Count me in Kevin. I have already clicked the poll button when you first started the thread.

Allan

[Deleted]

I'm in, too, but I honestly can't remember whether I said yes to the poll or not.

[Kevin]

Jun 7, 2013 15:21:39 GMT ceg said:

Hi Kevin,

Can you clarify what you mean by "full string orchestra"? Excluding the two soloists, how many violins, violas, 'cellos and basses (minimum)?

I know that you previously suggested a standard of about ABRSM Grade 6 for the orchestra - has that requirement now disappeared?

Not sure as to the full compliment of strings. What if we say

12. First violins
12. Seconds
8 Violas
8 Cello's
4 Basses

Grade 6 sticks as well.

[Kevin]

Jun 7, 2013 15:35:27 GMT @jamiesutherland said:

Are those Pedal Timps Kevin?

And is Sib6 files okay?

Pedal timps are ok and any version of Sibelius is good as I will be saving them all as Sibelius 7.

[adrianallan]

How about the violin and cello soloists?
Have they now gone?
If they still remain, can we guess they are about grade 8 standard?

[Kevin]

Sorry, they are still there as well. As for grading still 6 though.

[ttw]

I will try. I will be out of town for much of the time, but that is normal.

[Deleted]

When is this competition starting. and when are the scores due in?

[Deleted]

. . . and when you say send entries to you, Kevin, do you mean you want them attached to an email or something (as opposed to attaching them to a post here, which I think is what we did last time)?

[Kevin]

Jun 9, 2013 17:37:39 GMT @britcomposer said:

When is this competition starting. and when are the scores due in?

It has started and the scores are due in by 30th September.

[Kevin]

Jun 9, 2013 20:01:56 GMT @tonyj said:

. . . and when you say send entries to you, Kevin, do you mean you want them attached to an email or something (as opposed to attaching them to a post here, which I think is what we did last time)?

Yes please send them to me by email. No posting here or anywhere else till the judges have made a decision. Once the score is received you will not be able to alter it, so make sure about things first!

One entry per member.

[Kevin]

A small addition to the competition.

Up to 4 movements are allowed.