SPRING 2017 COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Young Composer’s Spring 2017 Competition

Spring is in the air! This competition is going to be a little different than most others, and will be a based on the following scenario:

A regional chamber orchestra is commissioning composers to orchestrate three spring months, specifically March, April, and May, from Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s piano work, The Seasons Op. 37a. The orchestra has the following instrumentation available:

2 Flutes (both can double piccolo)

2 Oboes (2nd oboe can double English horn)

2 Clarinets (Bb, A, Eb, bass clarinet doublings allowed)

2 Bassoons (2nd Bassoon can double Contrabassoon)

3 French Horns

2 Trumpets

1 Trombone

3 Percussionists (including timpani)

1 Harpist

8 1st Violins

7 2nd Violins

5 Violas

4 Celli

2 Contrabass

TOTAL of 44 players

The orchestration of all the movements must feature at least 14 players from the orchestra. Entries that exceed the instrumentation listed above (44 players) will be disqualified. Please try to keep the instrumentation as consistent as possible for all three movements. 

To enter this competition you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a member of YC
• Signal your desire to enter by May 15th by commenting on this thread.
• At the time of submission, submit a score with proving that you meet the instrumentation requirements (NO EXCEPTIONS), and an audio mockup (MIDIs are acceptable). 
• We also want members of this site to volunteer their time to judge. If you do volunteer, I ask that you have some working knowledge of orchestration.

Entries will be scored on the following (these guidelines are somewhat general at the moment, but might be expanded upon later):

Orchestration - How well does the entrant write for his chosen ensemble? Does the entrant exploit different colors through different instrumental combinations? Does he add any originality to the work? 35 PTS

Instrumentation - How well does the entrant write for each specific instrument? 30 PTS

Quality of Score 25 PTS

Quality of Audio 10 PTS

TOTAL 100 PTS

Please observe the following deadlines:

• Signal to enter or volunteer to judge: May 15th, 2017
• Entries must be submitted by June 4th, 11:59 PM EST

I have attached a PDF of the three movements in question to this thread. Happy orchestrating, and good luck!

DO NOT SUBMIT ENTRIES ON THIS THREAD

Entrants:

1. Monarcheon

Judges:

Count me in for a tentative yes for now. 

My schedule it tight for the next month or so but I'd be interested in being a judge.

A couple questions; if we choose to make it a larger ensemble, do we just say how many players in that section we want?

Also, how much liberty are we allowed to take, if being "original" is something to be desired?

On 4/10/2017 at 10:49 AM, Monarcheon said:

A couple questions; if we choose to make it a larger ensemble, do we just say how many players in that section we want?

Also, how much liberty are we allowed to take, if being "original" is something to be desired?

 

To your first question: yep! I think that mostly would be for the string parts than anything else. But if you're gonna use the entire string section, I don't think you have to be THAT specific in terms of how many players in each section.

As to your 2nd question, that is a little bit more subjective. I think the best example would be to look at all the orchestrations of Pictures at and Exhibition, and see (and hear) how each composer approaches each section and adds something new. 

I was planning on volunteering to be a judge this time around since I haven't done that yet, but I don't think I'm qualified re: orchestration. 

I'm also on the fence about entering, especially after getting whalloped in the last competition (my ego is still in recovery mode).  

If the entrants list still looks sparse  by the beginning of May, I might give it a go just for the sake of competition.

It will be interesting to hear how people incorporate the idiomatic parts of the piano - the repeated notes and such - as integral to their orchestra, or to what extent they will be dismissed as unnecessary.

On 4/17/2017 at 2:08 PM, Noah Brode said:

I was planning on volunteering to be a judge this time around since I haven't done that yet, but I don't think I'm qualified re: orchestration. 

I'm also on the fence about entering, especially after getting whalloped in the last competition (my ego is still in recovery mode).  

If the entrants list still looks sparse  by the beginning of May, I might give it a go just for the sake of competition.

 

I think you'll be fine with either being a judge OR an entrant. Let me know what you decide.

12 hours ago, Ken320 said:

It will be interesting to hear how people incorporate the idiomatic parts of the piano - the repeated notes and such - as integral to their orchestra, or to what extent they will be dismissed as unnecessary.

 

Does that mean you'll enter...? Cause I hope you do :)

I wish I could, it's a worthy challenge. But I have to keep my focus and stay motivated on what I'm doing now, and I never seem to learn (I get so easily distracted). Maybe I could help judge.

@danishali903. Are we keeping with this contest or can I assume my work will be for naught if I continue?