Composition Competition

Hi, I am thinking of joining a classical composition competition (not a very major one though) in my country.

The competition has no limits on the instrumentation and the style. The duration has to be less than 20 minutes though.

What "style" do you all think I should write in?

I heard that from past competitions, the winners mostly wrote the more 'avant-garde' and 'modern' music. One was called Vulcanicity and simulated a volcano eruption (not a very pleasing experience for me). As this is the first time I am taking part in a composition competition, I would like to ask if it is true that judges generally prefer avant-garde, dissonant, and highly original music, that not necessarily is pleasing to the ears?

If that were so, I would tweak my strategy a little, to suit the style..

Thank you for your comments.

My experience is different. 20 minutes is a very long time. Can the judges endure so many so-called "experimental" music which is mostly arbitrarily arranged dissonances ?

Hi, I am thinking of joining a classical composition competition (not a very major one though) in my country.

The competition has no limits on the instrumentation and the style. The duration has to be less than 20 minutes though.

What "style" do you all think I should write in?

I heard that from past competitions, the winners mostly wrote the more 'avant-garde' and 'modern' music. One was called Vulcanicity and simulated a volcano eruption (not a very pleasing experience for me). As this is the first time I am taking part in a composition competition, I would like to ask if it is true that judges generally prefer avant-garde, dissonant, and highly original music, that not necessarily is pleasing to the ears?

If that were so, I would tweak my strategy a little, to suit the style..

Thank you for your comments.

Why would you change your own style to suite others? Write in the style that you like, don't change just cause some people don't like it. Do it for the Love!

^ What he said - don't be a conformist, you're an artist, not a politician.

I think it's generally a given that you have the best opportunity to win a competition when writing in a style that the judges will like.

If you enter formal musical education, you may also be coaxed into writing in a particular style to broaden your horizons and improve your abilities. Regardless of any notions of "artistic sell-out" (of which the points are probably valid), it's pretty much a part of life.

Please tell me what competition you're in.. I would love to join.

Did you say it was a classical competition--so shouldn't you be writing for the Classical period? Or do you mean the general "classical" style of music that isn't modern.

GOD... I so agree with Marius... get some sens and write what you want to write and if the judges dont select you it's because there is other participants that suits their view of music aesthetic better.

Of course if you participate to a composition competition that are searching for art and research music... then obviously an imitation of the past will just be discarded on the first row. But, then... if you have nothing to say with a language that is personnal and original... then just don't lose your time and money by sending stuff to a competition.

Just make sure you are aware of the kind of music that won the contest the previous years. It will give you an idea of the competition. If you want to do more traditional stuff try the film music competition maybe it would be more suitable... those probably exist even though I never saw any (but since I'm not looking for that... eheh).

BUT... if you wish to explore something different... then just to it if you have a project in mind but you should check your project with a composition teacher at least once or twice before sending it... he will be able (normally) to tell you if the score you've written has some possibilities to win in a contest. I can tell you personnaly that the level in those competitions is usually very high.

Even if you do not win prizes, take this as an opportunity to write a very good piece that will stay with you for the rest of your life, and may even become a classic. And of course - post it here since we are not bad judges, are we ? In any case, you gain!