Hot Potato 2014: Call for composers

[Deleted]

Hello

I am thinking of organizing another Hot Potato, as was seen in the days the Sibelius Chat Room.

The format I propose is. Piano Trio. Piano, Oboe/Cor Anglais Bassoon.

I'll start and provide around a minute of music. Each subsequent composer will add around a minute of music, developing the ideas and moving it in what ever direction he or she sees fit and appropriate to point where the next composer can take it on. After the last composer has been, I'll add the coda.

The idea is to create a piece of music that flows and sounds seamless.

Ideally we need around six to eight composers.

Each compose will have around a week to add their contribution before sending the score to the next composer.

The version of Sibelius is irrelevant, however if would be good to have a more modern version. I personally have Sib 7,(but mainly use Sib 6).

To keep the possibility of actually getting a live performance, the score should be playable by human beings, who are of a good amateur standard.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

All the best

Tony Matthews

[Deleted]

Hi Tony,

I'm really interested! I use sib 7 and this would be the first work I would've submitted to the site as I've been busy recording all my other pieces live.

When will it start? I have a week off work you see...

Tim

[Deleted]

Thankyou Tim...

Will need a a few more to make it worth while, give it a week or so.

Tony

[Ed Sharpe]

Something we tried to do with the hot potatoes at SibeliusMusic was have the people who where using older versions of Sibelius go first in the writing; this alleviate issues with converting the file as it was passed around. Some of the hot potatoes had upwards of 11 composer contributing to the piece.

The proposed instrumentation of: Piano Trio. Piano, Oboe/Cor Anglais Bassoon. Is fine; however I think we either need to decided if it is Oboe OR English Horn OR make it clear that the performer can change between the two, but that there needs to be enough time to make the change.

One thought: We have two double reeds here, why not make it one double reed and one single reed? That is, change out the Bassoon for Bass Clarinet. But this is just an idea.

We need to make clear how much materiel each composer should add to the piece. We had one case on SibeliusMusic where the fifth or sixth inline got the piece and it as at about the five minute mark, and when he finished it was almost 11 minutes long. Who was that??? Oh yea, that was me

I am on Sibelius 7 so put me down for the later part or end of the piece.

[Deleted]

Some of us dinosaurs (well, me, at any rate) have only got Sib 5 - suppose that means I'll need to be one of the first to go?

... Tony J ...

[ceg]

Hi Tony,

Yes I'm interested too, and have Sib 7. I've actually played in a trio for Oboe Bassoon and Piano (by Poulenc - gorgeous piece of music) so it sounds a fine combination to me :-)

[Joseph]

Apr 10, 2014 21:57:21 GMT ceg said:

. . . I've actually played in a trio for Oboe Bassoon and Piano (by Poulenc - gorgeous piece of music) . . .

nice reminder Charles.  I actually went back and listened to it again after seeing your post.  Poulenc is most certainly in my top 5 20th century composers (and probably of any time), maybe even #1 if I discount Faure's Requiem!! 

[Deleted]

Hello, Tony. You have not been around for a long time. Nice to see you back. I won't participate, but I did want to send you a greeting.

Richard

[Deleted]

I love the concept, but I'll pass, as I do not want my software issues to be the one plaguing what could be a great end result. Can't wait to see the final product

[Kevin]

There is no software problem that cannot be solved! I take it you are not using Sibelius? If that is the case as long as you can create an xml file then we should be able to do something. Please feel free to take part.

[Deleted]

In that case, Kevin, do you mind if I send you a test XML of one of my pieces? That way, if there are any bugs, it can be worked out in that setting rather than put the challenge on hold due to them.

[Kevin]

Post away!

[Deleted]

Alright, here you are, Kevin!

Close Bonds (F-Cl-Tr-Piano).xml (309.69 KB)

[Kevin]

Sorry about the delay in replying, been busy. Here is the music in a Sib 5 version.


Close Bonds (F-Cl-Tr-Piano).sib (109.48 KB)

[Deleted]

Thank you for doing this, Kevin Since I can't view the .sib file, how did it turn out in your view?

[Kevin]

It was okay

[larapoe]

This could be fun to participate in

[Deleted]

Hmmm...in that case, I'll put my hat in the ring

[Deleted]

Won't there need to be some ground rules for stylistic continuity etc?

[Ed Sharpe]

May 1, 2014 7:20:38 GMT @kedar said:

Won't there need to be some ground rules for stylistic continuity etc?

Short answer: No.


The only continuity is that one is not allowed to change the instrumentation. other than that is up to each composer's whim as to how much continuity to implement. One of the charms of the hot potato is seeing what directions people take the piece.

Note: It would be reasonable to expect that if I participate that I will bend it to a more modern flavor. That being said; one of the first hot potatoes that I worked on many years ago, I did not alter the harmonic and melodic style of the piece, but only pushed the piece in more rhythmically modern ways. I state this so understand that while I (and others) will push the piece one way or the other, for the most part we will not go completely off the rails or as John Cleese once said "now for something completely different".

[Deleted]

Hello All

Nearly ready to go.

I'll give this thread some attention after May 18th, after my debut concert is over. I'll be able to turn my thoughts to more pomme de terre thoughts.

Some thoughts

The trick is to make a piece that works as a whole, so therefore, the composers need to be aware of what has happened before and take the music forward. I know I have written music which is not my natural style when being in the middle of one of these things.

No pressure, but I have been in a couple of potatoes where basically one of the composers simple went his own way and wrote music that was too long and just didn't fit.

This is not to enforce a particular style on any composer, however, it does require a discerning ear and sympathy to overall effect we are trying to achieve.

Hope this helps

Tony Matthews
[e-mail]