April (Regular) Competition 2012 - Official Rules

I am volunteering to be a judge this time. ;) Is it Ok with you, guys and girls? ;)

Yes, it's fine. JUDGING FOR THIS COMPETITION WILL BE UP LATER TODAY (close to the end... I'm at work right now. :P)

ANIOLEL'S SCORES

I. Meditation for Flute:

In the begining the of the composition, we have the interaction of harp and flute. The harp starts off with a simple harmony in which the flute interacts with appergiated version of that chord. This is repeated again on a slight variation for two measures. Hence we have, a with two primes. There is plenty of time to rest between each sequence of the varation. These rest give is part of the meditive feel. It is also weakness in opinion. The composition does, however, excute its ideas very well (19). Because of the use of the harp and flute, two percular instimunents with registars who don't sheerk, the combination of these two create a peacful eninvorment to live by. However, there where too many rest that create odd white space in the beginging that may seem tooo relaxing for me. There were only two insituements. and it was not too long. It reminded of the ocean. (18) As for creative bit i can say two things: it didn't sounds outside the tonality but it did create new sounds inside the tonal center. (10) The audio recording was very crisp and clear and easy to hear. No luster(10). The composition was not complex but rather simple. However, complex ideas can still be this.

Total:98

II. Quiet Thoughts

Ah ha, A trio is formed for this composition. When judging a trio, one has to examine each part careful and see if each line meets the rubic. In this trio we have a flute, a Bb Clarinet and a piano. Since I am starting with the use of the trio and the combiotion there of. Lets see how these each of them interact with each other. The Piano provides the accompianment while the other two provide thematic material. But how? I believe in several means. One way is through is fragmentation of the theme. This is can be very meditive. In the background, the accompiant does have some flaws. Like those pesky bass 16th patterns. If we remove them and arrive at more simple idea, if i belive the piece can be more relaxing per say. I.e. return to a simple and more basic pattern. Nonetheless the interaction remained strong. Timewise, It was short piece that could and will offer relaxition to those who listen to it. (19) Back to the start, the ideas that were used to create a meditive effect were minimal and fragemented, per say, in this composition. They were well composed and well balanced. The composer had counterpointucal errors here and there. (base on the reviews which were read in the forum) and orcherstatonal errors to (same as the last one) However, these errors will not be a misforunate to the score. As for as I can tell, the rest were properly used to give the musicians time to breathe and there was no akward white space. (20+30=50) The compser created interested fragmented themes and a very intested piano part. Outside the meditive area, I would award him for this. However, for those mistakes i am docking two points here. (8)

10 points for a clear recording. and 8 points for being simple for there were times that the parts were not simple. Total score: (97)

III.Air in D

This irish influence air has a lot of problems; but, I will allow the reviwers to attack those later. It was easier for me to simply use the rubic for this one and not provide a review: so here it goes. In the first category, I adward this composition a 20 out of 20 because it was simple that: meditive, and had simple ideas that carry through. In the second one, 30, since it met the first one. I award this 8 out of 10....the compser wrote something he has heard before. Audio: 5/10: luster problems. and 10/10 for keeping it simple. total: 73

IV.Insaniy

A very interesting tonal compositional, indeed! The effects here, overall, created a meditive amibience which in turn transformed the expected enivorment into chaos but it was later controlled in the music, and was well played. (20+30=50) This is a very creative piece. It has reminces of Post tonality in it. The Composer achieved great stride in composing something that we have not heard yet, or close to it. (10) The ensemble and the leght was perfect. no errors were dectected. (20) The recording was very clear. (10) and it was simple and not complex. (10). Total:100

V.Fantasia

This composition meets the first criteria because of the imative and fragemented themes that are used in the upper parts while the paino part is very simple(20). Also, they help to create a aura that is relaxing while retraining them through out the entire composition(30). The composer used only four insituments in the ensemble and the interaction between was kept simple and miminal. The time of the composition was also less then 5 minutes. (20). Creativity was a bit lacking. He or she could have explored chromatic areas or wrote themes that were more interesting to me while still be simple and meditive (8). The rending was clear and no luster. (10). Yeah, it was simple. Just to simple (8) Total: 96

VI. Celesital

While the ideas are minimal and simple, they don't create a meditive feel, nor do they execute well enough. I adward this composition 10 points for the first part and 15 for the second part. carrying on! I adward the composer 20 points for simply following the rules with the use of insituments here and time of the composition. 5 points for creativity or the lack there of. 10 points for the audio because it was clear and i could flow it. Agian it was simple but too simple. (8). total:68

TREE (91/100):

20/20 - Is it "meditative"? Are there minimal ideas that carry an almost minimalistic idea?

Dude! Nice work with the simplicity. You kept a good balance between silence and music the whole time.

30/30 - Does your score reflect the serene environment that is meditation? Don't use a lot of clutter and have a lot of white space. Trust me, it makes a difference in the performer.

You used a lot of white space, I saw. ;) Excellent.

15/20 - Are you using less than 5 instruments and a GOOD combination of instruments? Unusual instrumentation will be awarded providing it works well. Also, solo instruments may be used. The solo flute piece is a good example. Do you stay in the time limit of 5 minutes (unless you petition that your piece is minimalist and it requires time to develop, in which case a 10 minute time limit is allowed).

AY! Flute and harp are a brilliant combo for something like this. I took off five points because you wrote near impossible harp parts with the mixed rhythms and the quick fingering.

7/10 - Creativity. Don't write something you've heard before. Explore new sounds. A whole piece on violin harmonics would be a good place to start. Maybe a string quartet with all pizz and harmonics.

Pentatonic mostly, but good use of melody.

9/10 - audio presentation. Is your midi prepared to lull the listener. Can they feel the music? You may choose to render a live recording or a sampled recording, know that you will be judged HARDER if you do. If you do a live recording, make sure it accurately reflects the score.

YAY!

10/10 - Simplicity. Finally, do not attempt to make a really complicated piece. Meditation is not like that. Meditation is flowing and "truth" seeking.

Again, I thought you approached the philosophical aspect well. I have nothing more to say!

AUSTENITE (91/100):

16/20 - Is it "meditative"? Are there minimal ideas that carry an almost minimalistic idea?

Yes, it is meditative in a way, but not in a literal way. Like… I wouldn't want to listen to this with chai tea in the middle of a Japan sea view. ;) Of course, that was a joke. You did a wonderful job. Your command of melody is amazing. Who gives a **** about common practice music: the melodies you write are in your heart alone, not in your head.

30/30 - Does your score reflect the serene environment that is meditation? Don't use a lot of clutter and have a lot of white space. Trust me, it makes a difference in the performer.

YEAHYEAH!

20/20 - Are you using less than 5 instruments and a GOOD combination of instruments? Unusual instrumentation will be awarded providing it works well. Also, solo instruments may be used. The solo flute piece is a good example. Do you stay in the time limit of 5 minutes (unless you petition that your piece is minimalist and it requires time to develop, in which case a 10 minute time limit is allowed).

Brilliant combination, I thought. Good thinking using the lower range of the clarinet; I can really hear the warmth even in the garritan rendering.

9/10 - Creativity. Don't write something you've heard before. Explore new sounds. A whole piece on violin harmonics would be a good place to start. Maybe a string quartet with all pizz and harmonics.

YEAYEA! This was a fabulously original way to present meditation. I mean, you could argue a lot of classical music (romantic period even) is meditative. Repetition, small changes, predictable line. Good work.

8/10 - audio presentation. Is your midi prepared to lull the listener. Can they feel the music? You may choose to render a live recording or a sampled recording, know that you will be judged HARDER if you do. If you do a live recording, make sure it accurately reflects the score.

Good.

8/10 - Simplicity. Finally, do not attempt to make a really complicated piece. Meditation is not like that. Meditation is flowing and "truth" seeking.

I could have used more "space". It seemed like although it was a river with unending movement, there was no rest for the mind. No change in energy. Meditation can still be flexible in its serenity.

ORCH (85/100):

20/20 - Is it "meditative"? Are there minimal ideas that carry an almost minimalistic idea?

Almost Pastoralesque. :) I enjoyed that aspect of it.

20/30 - Does your score reflect the serene environment that is meditation? Don't use a lot of clutter and have a lot of white space. Trust me, it makes a difference in the performer.

Your really big hairpins were distracting. And, you never indicated if the strings were divisi or double stopping, even though I'm sure you meant divisi… cause there were a few impossible double stops.

20/20 - Are you using less than 5 instruments and a GOOD combination of instruments? Unusual instrumentation will be awarded providing it works well. Also, solo instruments may be used. The solo flute piece is a good example. Do you stay in the time limit of 5 minutes (unless you petition that your piece is minimalist and it requires time to develop, in which case a 10 minute time limit is allowed).

Now I realize you must have meant double stops… and, I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't think you're gonna get the sound you want. A full, lush sound like this needs will require more than one string playing each part. The midi is misleading.

8/10 - Creativity. Don't write something you've heard before. Explore new sounds. A whole piece on violin harmonics would be a good place to start. Maybe a string quartet with all pizz and harmonics.

Pretty original, but bland on the development. Your key region change got you some points.

7/10 - audio presentation. Is your midi prepared to lull the listener. Can they feel the music? You may choose to render a live recording or a sampled recording, know that you will be judged HARDER if you do. If you do a live recording, make sure it accurately reflects the score.

Ack! The regular midi is so scarily inaccurate. I don't have a problem with midi in this category except you let the default choose "String Ensemble" for the string parts. I said write for 5 instruments, so that technically defies the rule.

10/10 - Simplicity. Finally, do not attempt to make a really complicated piece. Meditation is not like that. Meditation is flowing and "truth" seeking.

Good. :)

JSANDS (89/100):

15/20 - Is it "meditative"? Are there minimal ideas that carry an almost minimalistic idea?

I really enjoyed the piece. Like you said, it wasn't "really" going for meditative. But, there were a lot of really great meditative moments that I could score you high on. ;)

30/30 - Does your score reflect the serene environment that is meditation? Don't use a lot of clutter and have a lot of white space. Trust me, it makes a difference in the performer.

Very nice score!

20/20 - Are you using less than 5 instruments and a GOOD combination of instruments? Unusual instrumentation will be awarded providing it works well. Also, solo instruments may be used. The solo flute piece is a good example. Do you stay in the time limit of 5 minutes (unless you petition that your piece is minimalist and it requires time to develop, in which case a 10 minute time limit is allowed).

The bells were the best! Although they aren't oriental, I felt a little Japanese effect from them.

10/10 - Creativity. Don't write something you've heard before. Explore new sounds. A whole piece on violin harmonics would be a good place to start. Maybe a string quartet with all pizz and harmonics.

Your story was fantastic. :) VERY original.

9/10 - audio presentation. Is your midi prepared to lull the listener. Can they feel the music? You may choose to render a live recording or a sampled recording, know that you will be judged HARDER if you do. If you do a live recording, make sure it accurately reflects the score.

Very nice midi rendering.

5/10 - Simplicity. Finally, do not attempt to make a really complicated piece. Meditation is not like that. Meditation is flowing and "truth" seeking.

I had to dock because of the story line. Not consistently simple.

INK (93/100):

20/20 - Is it "meditative"? Are there minimal ideas that carry an almost minimalistic idea?

SIMPLE! Plain, I like it.

29/30 - Does your score reflect the serene environment that is meditation? Don't use a lot of clutter and have a lot of white space. Trust me, it makes a difference in the performer.

Beautiful score. Watch your slurs that they connect over ties.

18/20 - Are you using less than 5 instruments and a GOOD combination of instruments? Unusual instrumentation will be awarded providing it works well. Also, solo instruments may be used. The solo flute piece is a good example. Do you stay in the time limit of 5 minutes (unless you petition that your piece is minimalist and it requires time to develop, in which case a 10 minute time limit is allowed).

Good.

7/10 - Creativity. Don't write something you've heard before. Explore new sounds. A whole piece on violin harmonics would be a good place to start. Maybe a string quartet with all pizz and harmonics.

I saw your conscious effort to keep to one idea and stick with it. Admirable! A good tip: just do different things to a melody rather than just repeat it. Make it longer, shorter, higher, lower, invert it, combine it, harmonize it differently. All these things are still minimal, and they do not distract, but they provide interest.

9/10 - audio presentation. Is your midi prepared to lull the listener. Can they feel the music? You may choose to render a live recording or a sampled recording, know that you will be judged HARDER if you do. If you do a live recording, make sure it accurately reflects the score.

Good, but the midi always bothers me.

10/10 - Simplicity. Finally, do not attempt to make a really complicated piece. Meditation is not like that. Meditation is flowing and "truth" seeking.

Excellent!

LUDER (98/100):

20/20 - Is it "meditative"? Are there minimal ideas that carry an almost minimalistic idea?

Clever way to use abstract ideas "celestial" to create a meditative aura, even for its short time. Excellent use of silence. I really liked this interpretation.

30/30 - Does your score reflect the serene environment that is meditation? Don't use a lot of clutter and have a lot of white space. Trust me, it makes a difference in the performer.

Excellent, simple score.

20/20 - Are you using less than 5 instruments and a GOOD combination of instruments? Unusual instrumentation will be awarded providing it works well. Also, solo instruments may be used. The solo flute piece is a good example. Do you stay in the time limit of 5 minutes (unless you petition that your piece is minimalist and it requires time to develop, in which case a 10 minute time limit is allowed).

According to your title, this is the near perfect instrument for it.

10/10 - Creativity. Don't write something you've heard before. Explore new sounds. A whole piece on violin harmonics would be a good place to start. Maybe a string quartet with all pizz and harmonics.

Good use of abstract ideas, like I said. I like the way you implied harmonic movement, but really stuck with pedal tones to keep it from shifting too much and making it too jarring. I wish I could hear this live to feel the sound bleed over into the silences.

8/10 - audio presentation. Is your midi prepared to lull the listener. Can they feel the music? You may choose to render a live recording or a sampled recording, know that you will be judged HARDER if you do. If you do a live recording, make sure it accurately reflects the score.

I docked off a couple because I wanted to at least pretend to hear a celeste. :P

10/10 - Simplicity. Finally, do not attempt to make a really complicated piece. Meditation is not like that. Meditation is flowing and "truth" seeking.

Just about as simple as you can get. Wonderful work!

TREE: 98 + 91 = 189.

Austenite: 97 + 91 = 188.

Orch: 73 + 85 = 158.

Jsands: 100 + 89 = 189

Ink: 96 + 93 = 189

Luder: 98 + 68 = 166

... This is really awkward... I really, honestly didn't look at my scores before I added them up with Aniolel's... and we have a three way tie for first place.... So, congrats you three!!! I'm sorry you cannot keep bragging rights to yourself... haha.

Bad luck Austenite...

Triple tie for first,

misses it by a single point.

CONGRATS to the winners!

Thanks for the reviews Morivou & Anionel, and congratulations to the winning threesome! I hope we can hear all the participants' pieces; if they are posted somewhere, links would be appreciated.

* Just a correction: It's "Luder" in the final presentation of the results!

Well thanks to both of the judges, especially Morivou for dealing with our impatience (like a boss, I might add). However, Austenite's piece blew mine out of the water, so you're both wrong :P

Cheers! Great competition (easy for me to say, but it was!) Will definitely be doing more in future!

I'm sorry Luderart! Fixed.

LINKS to all the pieces:

Treehugger1995 - http://www.youngcomp...tion-for-flute/

Austenite - http://www.youngcomp...thoughts-op-30/

Orchdork02 - http://www.youngcomp...air-in-d-major/

jsands - http://www.youngcomp...petition-entry/

Ink - http://www.youngcomp...a-on-a-sunrise/

Luderart - http://www.youngcomp...ial-meditation/

Austenite, you have a homefield advantage coming up. ;) TAKE IT.

ON TO JUNE. I will have the contest page up tomorrow, and sign ups will "officially" begin June 1-5. SO BE READY.

Austenite ... no one will want to pit themselves against him in a Romantic-style competition.

Well thanks to both of the judges ... However, Austenite's piece blew mine out of the water, so you're both wrong :P

Austenite's composition at least in my oppinion (no kissing up, trust me!) should have beaten everybody else.

Austenite, you have a homefield advantage coming up. ;) TAKE IT.

Nah, this Austenite guy is overrated, it's not that hard to beat him...

Nah, this Austenite guy is overrated, it's not that hard to beat him...

I understand you are being playful here Austenite. But thinking more seriously about this, I don't think it's right to conceive of composition as truly a contest where one composer is expected to "beat" another. Each composer I think speaks and expresses their own individuality, their own mind and soul, which are expressed in their own style of composition. And so each composer's composition is valid in its own way, notwithstanding the technical superiority of some over others! So I think these competitions are useful as a way to exercise compositional skill and get feedback, to bend one's compositional talent according to certain competition rules and restrictions (such as the given theme, the time restriction, the instruments, etc). As such, the ratings and judgment would reflect (and should reflect) the composer's success in doing that and not necessarily one composer's "superiority" over the others. So, I think there is - and there should be - no question of being "beaten" by or "beating" anybody!!

Excellent Luderart. :)

I just took time and listened to all six contesting pieces and observed the scores.

No offence, jury, but you did quite a lousy job. Austenite's composition at least in my oppinion (no kissing up, trust me!) should have beaten everybody else. Even if the competition is based on meditation, several of included pieces for competitions lack basic organic development, form and musical excitement and only Austenite's Quiet thoughts were able to fulfill this.

As I have said, I will volunteer to be a member of the jury for June's competition. I will not enter it as a contestant.

Organic development, form, and musical excitement were not the goals of this competition... meditation was. And, meditation is static, not dynamic. It is a stillness. While Austenite's piece demonstrated a kind of meditative state, it was a busy piece. Sojar, your opinions are welcome, but do not dishonor the host (me) by telling me I don't know what I'm talking about.

Jsands and Ink, prepare for a miserable summer, because I'm gonna bury you in my heat in the June competition

XD lol jk, congrats! and if you're doing the June competition, good luck!

meanwhile, don't worry about your 1 point loss Austenite, I'm betting a difference of like 12 between you and whoever wins 2nd place in June. In fact, this contest is probably gonna end up ignoring your score, and be fighting for 2nd place

and sorry for being so impatient Morivou.... :whistling:

No worries. It was your right. ahha.

Well, friends, this was heck of a competition... It ended up not having a clear winner, but it surely did have a clear loser :ninja: .

Now heading home - with a big burden of expectations on my back :huh: !

See all of you in June Competition!

You know, this is WHY WE HAVE MORE THAN TWO JUDGES. With more scores, it would be highly unlikely for ties.

I'm glad the results are finally up. Congrats to everyone who participated, and thanks to the judges for their insightful feedback! It's been a lot of fun. Great idea for a competition, Morivou. I'm looking forward to the June competition now. See you there!