Fantastic Competition for Recorder

Hello there!

I propose a composition competition where you will have to write something for my recorder!

Write a piece for a solo recorder in any style you like. (ANY recorder)

I want you! On your best! Original! Original may manifest in the form of "fantasia" or "impromtu". It may manifest in various styles. Don't be restricted to baroque! Ever hear a classical recorder? A romantic or modern recorder? Yes! To be new and original. To use original techniques (like a tongue trill or labium trill).

Points are given for:

- A good melody.

- Multiple voices.

- The right use of slurs (tonguing)

- Suitable dynamics

- A piece that is fun to play.

- An able piece (as within the reach of the descant recorder)

Restrictions:

- May bot be longer than 4 minutes.

- Should be for a SOLO recorder.

1st Prize: A recording of your composition posted at the end of this thread (to be posted at least two weeks after the competition has ended).

- Competition ends 15 August (or something like that!) -

This might be fun! Please do not reply to this thread (unless it is really important). Email me your submission and send me a private message if you don't not understand the rules as stated above (or want more illumination).

Pieter Smal :D

Hello there!

Write a piece for a solo recorder in any style you like. We will use the descant recorder.

Points are given for:

- Multiple voices.

??? Is that possible?

And shouldn't this not be in monthly competitions?

Monthly competitions? I beg thine pardon!

Multiple voices IS possible. Telemann uses multiple voices in his Recorder fantasies a lot. Mostly 2 voices. If you can successfully write for 3 voices, you are a genius!

??? Is that possible?

I suppose he's thinking of "false counterpoint", primarily: You have just one note at a time, but the line the instrument is playing sounds like it's actually two (or even more) lines, between which the instrument alternates. This is usually achieved by jumping between high notes which are all close together and low notes which are also close together. Like this, the listener will connect the high notes as one melody and the low notes as another.

Example:

The first line shows such the actual part of the instrument, the other two lines show the two melodies one can hear out of it. Of course that's just a quick example, but if you do something more refined you can truly interweave the two voices contrapunctually.

Monthly competitions? I beg thine pardon!

Multiple voices IS possible. Telemann uses multiple voices in his Recorder fantasies a lot. Mostly 2 voices. If you can successfully write for 3 voices, you are a genius!

I mean't with one recorder. If you're talking about a compound line (as Gardener explained) you should clarify that, because saying a work has multiple voices implies another thing.

EDIT: oh yeah, what tuning? I'm assuming C until otherwise noted.

Tuning in C and in any key you like. (Descand tuned in C). Can I get some names of people who are going to enter please?

heck, why not.

count me in. lol

never written for recorder before but i'll see what i can do. lol

I'll see if I can put together a solo in ten days. No guarantees. ;)

Oh, and would a mod please move this to the parent forum? It doesn't belong under Monthly. Any chance we'll see more recorder competitions, though?

Yay, double posting.

Please do not reply to this thread (unless it is really important). Email me your submission and send me a private message if you don't not understand the rules as stated above (or want more illumination.)

I think that isn't really necessary. We all could benefit from the questions any one person asks, and there really is nothing wrong with posting in here as far as I can tell.

Write a piece for a solo recorder in any style you like. (ANY recorder)

...

- An able piece (as within the reach of the descant recorder)

So... ANY recorder... or just descant recorder? I'm writing for alto. I guess I could transpose later... but what do you have?

Another question... can you handle a low E on alto? This would also be a low B for soprano/descant... half-step below the lowest possible note on the recorder, but can be played with a special key or with the use of the knee covering the bell of the instrument somewhat. I can't produce it satisfactorily enough myself, but can you?

Sorry no, I can't reach the low E or B. Descand or Treble Recorder - and since I have been on a International Chamber Music Festival, I am moving the date to 15 August. Great stuff!!!

I am interested in writing a piece for this. 25 days is doable :D

just wondering how much in the way of extended techniques you would allow.

Oboeducky, as much originality as you like. I want to see not a new technique, but a new way of rendering and interpretation an original piece for a recorder. You get recorder music, but you get little original, beautiful recorder music. Far too little.

May we all be graced!

You should edit your first post, the deadline for people not to think this is over or old.

K, yall... this is July's Monthly competition. In August I PROMISE I will make a competition happen. It hasn't been my job, but I haven't seen Juji around.

Date moved to 15 August. Hope to see your entries soon!

My piece is posted here on YC, let me know if there are any problems.

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/concert-tude-unaccompanied-recorder-15613.html

The Winner is:

James Householder - for his brilliant shining work in Concert Etude for Unaccompanied Recorder!

Commentary:

A bright and beautiful piece. Great movement and a challenging etude for a flautist - NOT a recorder player. Most recorder players can hardly reach the E''' on the descant, nevermind the G''' and A''''. It might be possible (with some transposing) to play it charmingly on the Alto or Sopranino, but not at that speed. Due to the high notes, this piece will play good on a flute and not a recorder. Which brings me to a sad conclusion - the winner won't receive a recording since I am unable to play this piece.

Bravissimo!

Pieter Smal

Thank you! Hehehe, I figured I wouldn't win because it was difficult. It is not impossible as it is... I don't credit myslef as an expert recorder player, but I can play every phrase in this piece decently, including the highest note phrases. It's difficult to get all the way up to tempo, but I woudn't call it impossible, just a challenge. The synthesized recording is maybe a bit fast, but it gives the idea.

Maybe a fair comprimise would be to record the runner-up's entry since this seems too difficult to prepare. I think somebody should get a recording after putting the effort into the competition with that goal in mind.

P.S. ... where's the other person's entry? I saw another entry before... did he not post it here? It was posted in the Upload Forums like mine.

Since I have received NO other entries, I give you first, second and third place.

(Ahem: It was a difficult decision. Rivalries were fierce and the competition was getting ugly. In the end - the best won!)

Seriously, I received no other entries. Late entries will only be admired - not judged.

Thank you for your time. This competition was priceless!

Pieter Smal :)

I don't know if I'd count this as a late entry or not... was posted before deadline. XD

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/extemporaneous-sailor-15518.html