Choral Competition [DEADLINE PASSED!] View Submissions Thread

[Guest Brandon Homayouni]

Although, one time I did sing a piece in Maryland All-State Chorus where the words in the piece were invented words from different students (shiverglowa, lunious, shimonella, etc) to describe moonlight. Then the different made-up words were arranged in a very modern composition. It was actually pretty neat. The piece was entitled "Epitaph for Moonlight" and written by R. Murray Schafer.

[leightwing]

Well, I really like Percy Grainger's "Irish Tune from County Derry". It's the tune to "Danny Boy", but Grainger's original wordless arrangement for mixed choir precedes the creation of the words. It's just gorgeous, and a beautiful example of good vocal writing, that's why it's translated well to other ensembles too..

Thank you -- there ya go - there is at least one - and I dare say there are probably a few more. I never said that it couldn't be or hasn't been done. I'm simply pointing out that this is not the norm. Maybe I need to think of it in opposite terms. Perhaps writing good choral music sans text is one of the hardest things to do well - seeing as there are so few masters that have been willing to even attempt it. But the end result of viewing it in this way may very well remain the same. That is, it should be harder for someone to win a choral composition with such an entry. They don't have the luxury of the great range of consonants and vowels, content, and meaning that text offers. Text painting is not an available technique to be taken advantage of. It's like a monochrome finger painting. As I have said before - not invalid - but not able to take advantage of a great range of colors, brushes, and range of textures that most painters have at thier avail. It would take a GREAT painter to create a masterpiece in this manner.

.. Now watch, someone's going to refer me to some Picasso fingerpainting masterpiece rendered with mascara on a tablecloth. :mellow:

[leightwing]

In reference to those who are now arguing about whether or not the use of a text would be valid, in my opinion, and if I were a judge, I would consider a "vocalise" or the use of "scat" syllables to be from a composer less skillful in vocal writing than one who was able to consider the rhythms, articulations and vowels within a given text in his composing artistically. To write a piece using the mentioned textural devices (instead of a text) could show skill with voices imitating an instrumental composition, but untimately appear less tailored to a chorus.

[/b]

This is certainly a part of what I

[Eselbeus]

I just finished a choral piece and I wouldn't mind writing another. Count me in!

[William K.]

This sounds interesting, but I have a question. You've only numbered the list from 1-8. Does that mean that only 8 people can compose something for the competition?

[Guest Nickthoven]

No, I'm continuing the numbers in order as we get more competitors.

You're all in!

Leightwing- there's no reason for me changing that rule. You said yourself, good can come out of not using text, and it has happened before. If people want to take a shot at it, then why not?

[William K.]

Ahhh!! Noo!! lol. I'm stil thinking about it. :closedeyes: I was just asking cause I wasnt sure about that one thing. So ya, I dont want to be in it yet.... I think I might enter later, but just not now. lol

[Mike]

Thanks again to Nick for organising another competition for us!

This time around, I'm going to participate as a judge, considering there's only one at the present time. I've also added Lee to the contestants list, as he asked to participate but is not listed for some reason.

[Peter Grimes]

Even though I'm not much of a composer, I'd love to give a shot at trying this competition. Count me in!

[J. Lee Graham]

Although, one time I did sing a piece in Maryland All-State Chorus where the words in the piece were invented words from different students (shiverglowa, lunious, shimonella, etc) to describe moonlight. Then the different made-up words were arranged in a very modern composition. It was actually pretty neat. The piece was entitled "Epitaph for Moonlight" and written by R. Murray Schafer.

What a great piece this is! I performed it with the John Alexander Singers a couple of years ago, and though I'm not a great fan of this kind of music (it's largely aleatoric), I enjoyed performing it. The audience wasn't too keen on it, though.

Has anyone ever heard any "gesprochene Musik" choral pieces, where the text is spoken in rhythm rather than sung? Some of it is very cool. Ernst Toch (1887-1964) was a master of this technique, as evidenced in his "Valse" and "Geographical Fugue."

[Guest Nickthoven]

I did the Geographical Fugue in high school. Freaking hated how slow we took it.

[fegane]

Count me in.

[Christopher Dunn-Rankin]

I would like to judge the pieces. If this is not possible, please sign me up as a contestant.

[Guest Nickthoven]

Chris, you can either be a judge or a contestant. We could use another judge, but if you'd eventually like to write something, then we can switch you to a composer down the line.

[beefybeef]

sounds interesting, sign me up.

we're not obligated to finish once we're signed up, are we?

[Christopher Dunn-Rankin]

Well then, sign me up as a judge!

[J. Lee Graham]

I did the Geographical Fugue in high school. Freaking hated how slow we took it.

Aww! You can't do that piece slowly. I feel for you.

At a choral festival during high school, I heard a choir do it (we did "Valse" during my senior year). That choir started out with all the voices singing very straight and seriously; the final entrance in the exposition was the tenors, and they broke out with this outrageously faggy "Trinidad!"...complete with effeminate gestures and facial animation, while the rest of the choir continued to play it straight. It was hysterical. Every time the tenors came in, they performed their part the same way. It made a clever piece really entertaining. The whole audience was in stitches.

[EclecticPhilosopher]

I'd like to be a competitor... and yes, please don't make the deadline soon! (Deadline is such a gloomy and pessimistic word...)

[Piano Guy]

I'd like to be a contestant in this. I love choral music, and I love writing it. Sign me up.

[pianoman216]

Well I'm not sure how my song will turn out, but what ever. Sign me up.

[Guest Nickthoven]

You're all in it. Good luck everyone!

[Tumababa]

Count me in. I'd like to submit something.

What do we get if we win? A performance? Do you know a choir that would be willing?

[pianoman216]

haha, that would be soooo cool. I've only had one song performed, and it was really wierd. It sounds so much differant on the computer and the piano.

Also, just a little update: I'm on page 2 so far (4 parts, words and music) of the piece I started today (when I last posted). This is kind of cool, I actually have something to motivate me this time:)

[Lord Sorasen]

OK, let me enter this one. I know I'm not too talented musically, but with such simple rules and context, I cant simply pass an opportunity like this up.

[Reese A. Revak]

i'm kind of torn as to whether to enter as a composer or a contestant, but i have one question:

i wrote a piece once for choir with trumpet and snare drum accompaniment... is that ok? (i've written lots of stuff for choir, but that's the only one i consider worthy of a competition setting)

if that piece would be alright, sign me up as a composer, if not, i'd love to be a judge!