Composition Marathon Idea (Help Develop And Refine It)

Two days ago I participated in a Photo Marathon in which we had 12 hours, 12 themes, and had to take 12 photos. It was a pretty exciting challenge. So the idea occurred to me that we might organize a "Composition Marathon" on YC. To do it, we would have to adapt the idea. So I am starting this thread whereby we can collectively brainstorm to refine the idea and eventually hold the marathon. Here are my own suggestions for the adaptation of the photo marathon idea to a "composition marathon". These ideas are suggested as a starting point. Feel free to suggest your improvements or modifications.

1) 12 hours: Since this will be an online event with a global audience of composers, I suggest that we change this to 24 hours in order to take into account the time differences  between countries (which could mean that if we made it only 12 hours, several countries' composer's might happen to be asleep during most of those hours).

We can agree on the starting time and announce it several days before, doing a countdown to the day and hour (with no details of "themes" announced yet) while asking everyone to register.
 

2) 12 themes: These could be adapted to mean restrictions on the pieces to be composed. These "restrictions" could mean any of the following (feel free to add your suggestions):

a) Limited number of bars to compose in. We could, for example, specify 10-bar miniatures as one of the "themes", as Christian Perrotta did in a successful challenge some time ago. We could go even shorter and ask for 5-bar miniatures, for another of the "themes".

b) Related to the above, we can specify the form of the pieces. Possible forms I would suggest would be: free form, Soliloquy, or sententia (Latin for sentence, a form I have originated and composed several sets of pieces in).

c) We can supply different musical themes to compose pieces on.

d) We can specify the key signatures of the pieces to be composed.

e) We can specify the time signatures of the pieces to be composed.

f) We can specify the instruments for which to compose pieces.
 

3) 12 photos/pieces: As regards the number (12) of themes or restrictions, we could once again adapt this to composition in one of the following ways:

a) 12 variations on one theme

b) 12 sententiae

c) 12 soliloquies

d) Any of the above restrictions (see No. 2, a-f) x 12 (i. e. 12 x 5-bar minatures, or 12 5-bar miniatures for different instruments, 12 pieces in 12 different provided themes, 12 sententiae/soliloquies/etc. for 12 different instruments, 12 5-bar miniatures in 12 different key signatures, 12 variations on a theme for 12 different instruments, etc).

Waiting to hear your input and ideas on how this composition marathon can best be organized and held. It could become a yearly event and would serve to generate increased interest in composition, excitement for young and beginning composers, and challenge and motivate all of us to improve as composers.
 

ugh

So who's willing to participate? And who's willing to be an organizer/judge?

So who's willing to participate? And who's willing to be an organizer/judge?

mmmmh.... nobody?

Other forums have done this, and had willing participants.  I don't see why everyone is so biased.  So, he posts 30 second pieces, after 7 years of being a member here, and his descriptions of the titles of his works take longer to read, than to listen to the music itself, and he tries to state profundities in his status updates...Am I missing something here?  Oh yeah, he does not listen to advice :P  Delusions of grandeur or not, so what?  It doesn't bother me, why does it bother everyone else?

Anyways, no, I'm not willing to participate either =)  but, geez, everyone is completely rude to him, and I've never seen him be rude, or hold any of you in contempt, after all your slander.

This forum is going through quite a dry spell...suffering a slow death, it seems.  Sucks to see what little activity there is, to be of this nature.  Especially, when he tries to propose something for the community to be involved in. 

Ahem..."can't we all just get along?" and be suppportive?  :dunno:  I can't wait to see who feels the need to bring on the hate, and shoot me down!  This is exciting!  :shiftyninja:

To participate you would also have to be 12.

Hey people, it was just an idea. It's OK if no one wants to participate in it! Just don't make fun of it. I'll be happy if it can generate some discussion, provoke some thought, and give rise to better ideas or variations on the same theme!

By the way, I realize it might be more feasible to organize it in the real world rather than online.

Other forums have done this, and had willing participants.  I don't see why everyone is so biased.  So, he posts 30 second pieces, after 7 years of being a member here, and his descriptions of the titles of his works take longer to read, than to listen to the music itself, and he tries to state profundities in his status updates...Am I missing something here?  Oh yeah, he does not listen to advice :P  Delusions of grandeur or not, so what?  It doesn't bother me, why does it bother everyone else?

 

Anyways, no, I'm not willing to participate either =)  but, geez, everyone is completely rude to him, and I've never seen him be rude, or hold any of you in contempt, after all your slander.

This forum is going through quite a dry spell...suffering a slow death, it seems.  Sucks to see what little activity there is, to be of this nature.  Especially, when he tries to propose something for the community to be involved in. 

 

Ahem..."can't we all just get along?" and be suppportive?  :dunno:  I can't wait to see who feels the need to bring on the hate, and shoot me down!  This is exciting!  :shiftyninja:

You'll find that historically this community has taken its livelihood from bashing others and having stupid arguments. In fact, there is a 78.2% chance (accurate number) that luderart is another member's attempts at reviving this place.