2014 Summer Competition

2014 SUMMER COMPETITION

June – July – August

(Cancelled)

Topic: Compose a single-movement tone poem for orchestra on a medieval theme. It can be about a fable, a myth, an urban legend, a folk tale, and so on (some very good suggestions can be found here). It can be in any style - baroque, classical, romantic, dodecaphonic, etc - but it must somehow evoke a medieval atmosphere. This atmosphere can be found in the instrumentation, old structures, harmonies, use of fauxbourdon, plainchant, parallel fifths… Be creative!

Scoresheet:

• Creativity: 30pts. Did you pick an interesting theme? Is it well developed musically? Is the ancient medieval atmosphere present in the work? This criterion will measure the effectiveness of thematic, harmonic, and rhythmic material and how they are utilized as they relate to the main theme and the general concepts of tone poem.
• Structure and coherence: 25pts. Although the tone poem does not require a solid form or structure, this criterion concerns the internal coherence of the musical work, the exposition of ideas, and their further development.
• Instrumentation: 25pts. Does the instrumentation reflect the main theme? Is the orchestra well used?
• Program Notes: 10pts. Differently from past competitions, program notes will not automatically grant 10pts: the judges must here understand enough about the theme upon which the tone poem was composed to judge it. Clarity and effectiveness will be considered. (Please submit the program notes on a separate PDF file or in the score file on an introductory page.)
• Score quality: 5pts. Are the pages cluttered and difficult to read? or is there too much white-space? unneeded clashes between notes and other markings? effective use of accidentals? effective use of dynamic and instructional markings? etc.
• Audio quality: 5pts. Is the volume too high or too low, with headphones and without? Are the various instruments clear and effective? Is the orchestra well balanced?

(Points above [in total out of 100pts per judge] are given at the judges' discretion: eg, for Creativity an entry may be given anywhere between 0-30pts. Points below are given in full, per judge, if conditions are satisfied; otherwise no points are given.)

• Theoretical Analysis (NOT as Program Notes above; and the Analysis must be on a separate PDF from the score, Program Notes, and description panel, or on an introductory page of the score file): 5pts.

General Rules:

• A score in an independent PDF file and an audio file (not an external link to YouTube, SoundCloud, or any other site but the present one) are required. Without both the entry will be disqualified.
• The entry must consist of only one movement or part. No others will be considered. Confusion about movements or parts may be resolved at the judges' discretion or by moderation.
• 3-10 minute time limit, 10 second leeway. Deceeding or exceeding this limit, the entry will be disqualified.

Deadline: 31st of August, midnight (PST). Pieces not posted by this time will be disqualified.

Signup: Sign up below whether you'd like to be a judge or an entrant; specify which. First come, first served.

Judges (four limit; two minimum required to proceed¹):

1. favi
2. wayne-scales (interim; may be replaced)
3. Morivou
4. U238

Entrants (ten limit; three minimum required to proceed²):

1. Thatguy v2.0
2. mk390
3. KJthesleepdeprived
4. Michael Armstrong
5. PSaun  
6. Muulka
7. dapontel

¹The number of judicable entrants may increase or decrease per competition by a unanimous vote of the judges. The number of judges may increase or decrease per competition by a unanimous vote of the judges. In either case, minimums are fixed and may not be changed. By unanimous vote, judges may also alter General Rules and give Deadline leeway per competition viability. No vote may be held until the minimum requirement (2) for competition initiation is met. Votes and the effect of vote outcomes may be subject to moderation and the arbitration of administrators; except when the moderator or administrator is also a judge, an entrant, or otherwise active in the competition.

²Despite the exceeding number of participants, only the first (10) entrants' uploads will be considered. Those listed above after the first (10) entrants may still enter pieces, though they will only be considered after primary entrants either withdraw or are disqualified. Those wishing to re-enter after withdrawing will be placed at the end of the list, and are subject to the preceding rules stated: those re-entering will be considered as new entrants. Entries will only be considered if they are posted by the above stated Deadline and follow under the above stated General Rules.

These procedures have been adopted due to significant withdrawals in previous competitions.

For Further Information: Go here, message the OP, a reviewer, a moderator, or an admin (list: here). - Because the Topic, Scoresheet, General Rules, and rules of participation may change as issues come up, it might be well to follow this thread to get updates as they do.

Let's make this the spark this site needs.

I'm in, and I challenge all of you.

I'll be a judge if one's needed.

Sure, I'm in.

Count me in as well (for now, lol)

I'll be an entrant!

I'm assuming that all you guys that said things like "I'm in" or "count me in" do mean that you want to enter as a competitor, not a judge (except for Stirling_Radliff, who clearly said he wants to be  judge).

Compose a single-movement tone poem for orchestra

• Live Performance (given atop points for audio quality): 10 pts.

 Wut

Also, I'll be a judge unless the places get full and someone else really wants to.

Well... I don't know about medieval music, but I guess I'll risk entering for the sake of showing participation. I will try earnestly to learn something of medieval music as quickly as I can so I can enter something worthwhile. BUT if the slots fill up and someone else wants to join, I won't mind giving up my slot for someone else. Especially if they can produce something more appropriate then I. Regardless of whether I get to enter or not, I WILL upload something pertinent to the competition guidelines. Let it not be said that I failed to show my support of this move to revive YC.

JUDGE JUDGE JUDGE! (please) :)

I think we can safely assume most people are not going to get a live recording of an orchestral nature for this competition....can we remove (or significantly lower) the bonus points associated with that?

I agree.

• Live Performance (given atop points for audio quality): 10 pts.

meh, I'll take a handicap

I wholeheartedly support bonus points for a live recording.

In fact, I would say if only one person secures a live recording they should win the competition by default.

I would be a judge, but you wouldn't allow it.

I doubt anybody will get a live performance unless (s)he owns the orchestra. I know if I compete I cannot get an orchestra to record it unless I pay. A lot.

I'm fairly confident that there is more to winning than being the only one to get a live recording. I'll go ahead and throw my lot in with those opposed.

I'm taking out the Live Recording criterion.

I'll join the competition! 

I'll join! I will be competitor! I have never really studied medieval tone poems and all, but I think I will just ready some old folk story and make some small orchestral music about it!

I'm in! It'll give something to do other than work this summer.
How medieval are we talking? I know of a lot of good troubadour music that would be good for study.

I will participate in this event.

I'll try my best to get something done after my exams finish- put me down please.

I have never really studied medieval tone poems and all, but I think I will just ready some old folk story and make some small orchestral music about it!

How medieval are we talking? I know of a lot of good troubadour music that would be good for study.

Please read the descriptions carefully. You are not supposed to write Medieval Music. You may write in ANY style, but it has to have some elements of medieval music. The general idea of the tone poem is a medieval one, but it's not the style itself.

I repeat: you may write in baroque style, in classical style, in romantic, impressionist, expressionist, dodecaphonic styles... it can be ANY one. But, within this styles, by using a medieval tale, legend or myth, you must incorporate some musical elements of medieval music.

(I'm not saying that you guys misunderstood everything, but I felt like I needed to post this in order not to have problems of misunderstanding)

Please read the descriptions carefully. You are not supposed to write Medieval Music. You may write in ANY style, but it has to have some elements of medieval music. The general idea of the tone poem is a medieval one, but it's not the style itself.

 

I repeat: you may write in baroque style, in classical style, in romantic, impressionist, expressionist, dodecaphonic styles... it can be ANY one. But, within this styles, by using a medieval tale, legend or myth, you must incorporate some musical elements of medieval music.

 

(I'm not saying that you guys misunderstood everything, but I felt like I needed to post this in order not to have problems of misunderstanding)

Thank you for the clarification. It should be an interesting undertaking melding elements of early music to more recent developments. I'm in.

Please read the descriptions carefully. You are not supposed to write Medieval Music. You may write in ANY style, but it has to have some elements of medieval music. The general idea of the tone poem is a medieval one, but it's not the style itself.

 

I repeat: you may write in baroque style, in classical style, in romantic, impressionist, expressionist, dodecaphonic styles... it can be ANY one. But, within this styles, by using a medieval tale, legend or myth, you must incorporate some musical elements of medieval music.

 

(I'm not saying that you guys misunderstood everything, but I felt like I needed to post this in order not to have problems of misunderstanding)