Symphonic Competition

BLAAAAH!

Who's where in their symphonic movements?!?!

I have finished the introduction, about 30 seconds so far. It's a maestoso, brooding, tutti passage, introducing the main theme and chord. Actually, everything motivic will be derived from this opening passage, and I plan it to return at the climax of this movement. Or not. Whatever. But it's going great so far.

Anyone else have any updates?

I am SO going modern on this one!! I am so excited!!! I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!

The entire second theme of it is based off of bouncing tritones weaving through different keys! It is so awesome. My introduction is a string intro... meaning only the strings are playing. They are playing a nice little melody. Then, the main theme comes up (the introduction is the second movements main theme). It is a jazzy melody, with lots of big intervals. It mainly shows off the orchestra's capabilities.

It is a really modern symphony. It will be AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's great people are discussing the progress of their pieces on here. However, I think that this should be an anonymous competition. In other words, scores should be submitted without any names or other ways the judges can recognize the participants. If too much of your music is described now, it will not be possible to make this an anonymous competition and therefore it won't be as objective for the judges. I think mum should be the word for now, until all pieces are officially submitted.

Why do you feel this is an anonymous competition? is it? I didn't know...

I think anonymity is a good idea. We did the last one like that. Actually, we tried to do the last one like that, except some people left their names on their work by accident. :thumbsup:

I think it's great people are discussing the progress of their pieces on here. However, I think that this should be an anonymous competition. In other words, scores should be submitted without any names or other ways the judges can recognize the participants. If too much of your music is described now, it will not be possible to make this an anonymous competition and therefore it won't be as objective for the judges. I think mum should be the word for now, until all pieces are officially submitted.

I disagree, and I think I have stated before that this will not be an anonymous competition. While what you're saying does make sense, I don't think it's necessary, and also I don't believe we could ever pull one off that's entirely anonymous, so why try? It's also harder to organize it that way. I've tried to do it in the past, and people send me audio files and .mus files with their name all over it... It can be a hassle.

I also believe that the styles of music people write in here are so different that it will be hard for the judges not to try to figure out who's piece is who's. I have found that there can be an urge to figure out who goes with what piece, and that in itself, rather than a clear answer of who's piece is what (without anonymity), can lead to difference in judging rather than what you might think. People aren't really so prejudice against one another as you might think.

Nick, I'd be willing to act as a "go between" for any Finale files if you wish... I could take them, number and catalogue them, then send you the "anonymous" numbered .MUS files, while keeping the identities of the submissions here on my computer.

It's a thought.

unfortunately, I can't do anything with Sibelius files.. although I COULD ask Alan Belkin to do it for me (as long as it's just removing names and keeping track of them).

Well, this for one will be unfair to Nico. He is entering a part of a symphony he has already finished movements for. Not only will people hear themes from the other movements, they already know the general style he is writing in, so they will probably be able to figure out rather quickly that it is him. And myself as well; I'm worried that my music would stick out so that people would know it's me. It's just that if the other contestants don't encounter this problem, then they get full anonymity and (sort of) no bias, but as for Nico and myself, for examples, we get treated differently. It just doesn't seem the logical way to run a competition. Also, most people use Finale but a couple of us use Sibelius and I'm fairly certain most people know who those few are, so that's another thing that could ruin the intent of anonymity.

Hmm, I think I agree. It may well be for the best if we give anonymity a miss in future competitions (or just this one at least).

I think it's good, just not for something like a symphony, where I feel it is harder to hide one's 'own voice', as the music needs to be lengthy and developed and such, if that makes sense.

Thanks for a good competition attitude, Nico! Although I'm not too thrilled about being in competition with you.... oh well. I'm pretty excited about what I have in store.

I don't mean to stir up trouble, but I still believe that an anonymous competition is more exciting and meaningful than one in which each participant is known. I think it is possible to try to have an in-between person, as has been suggested, to filter the scores and other files. I also don't think that as many people as is thought know everyone's pieces on here. If the pieces are truly going to be so different in style and construction I think this will be an almost impossible competition to decide. maybe the guidelines need to be even stricter. How much weight is going to be assigned to the "plan" for the other movements? How much are features such as orchestration, score presentation, etc going to be considered. I think there are a lot of issues that need to be worked out. I also think it is necessary to have guidelines for the judging and also for a way for the judges to correspond. Each participant should get a review of his/her composition as well. I think it would also be nice if we had experienced conductors as well as an "expert" judge in each section, woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, to give their feedback as to how playable this music will be. Anyway, these are just a few ideas that I've been thinking about. I think we should try to make this a fair and exciting competition. It is such an ambitious project that it deserves such treatment.

I agree with neuhausen.

as one of the judges i think anonymity wouldn't work aswell, too many of the competitors, Nico, Evan and Nick to name but a few, have recognisable styles of there own.

If the styles of participants are that recognizable to some of the judges, then I opt that we go outside the forum and find truly objective judges who are not familiar with the personalities here. I think this could be in the best interests of the entire competition. That said, as I mentioned before, I don't think everyone on this site could recognize the pieces or styles of all those who entered the competition. Even if they could, it would only bring positive discrimination on the part of those mentioned. Given that one of its main objectives is to help composers "go public with their music" I think having some experienced conductors on the panel (as well as orchestral musicians) would be a tremendous advantage as it may even bring about a real performance of the entries. As far as discrimination is concerned, I don't think that would be a problem. There are so many aspects that need to be considered in the decision: the professionalism of the score, the writing for the various instruments of the orchestra, the pacing of the piece itself, just to name a few areas that need to be considered. The bottom line is this: to make this a truly fair and worthwhile competition it needs to be better organized and organized by persons who are not entered in it as competitors. The pieces really ought to be anonymous entries. Obviously we could make this a simple competition and just have this be judged the way others have been, but since this is such an ambitious undertaking, to write a symphonic movement and plan a symphony, I feel that we should up the standards on this one. We have people willing to make it happen so why not do it that way.

Even if they could, it would only bring positive discrimination on the part of those mentioned.

Even if it did only bring positive discrimination, that kind of discrimination is still unfair, especially against other candidates.

I think our best bet is a non-anonymous competition.

Although if it comes down to being anonymous, I'd be willing to be the go-between man for Sib. files.

If the styles of participants are that recognizable to some of the judges, then I opt that we go outside the forum and find truly objective judges who are not familiar with the personalities here. I think this could be in the best interests of the entire competition. That said, as I mentioned before, I don't think everyone on this site could recognize the pieces or styles of all those who entered the competition. Even if they could, it would only bring positive discrimination on the part of those mentioned. Given that one of its main objectives is to help composers "go public with their music" I think having some experienced conductors on the panel (as well as orchestral musicians) would be a tremendous advantage as it may even bring about a real performance of the entries. As far as discrimination is concerned, I don't think that would be a problem. There are so many aspects that need to be considered in the decision: the professionalism of the score, the writing for the various instruments of the orchestra, the pacing of the piece itself, just to name a few areas that need to be considered. The bottom line is this: to make this a truly fair and worthwhile competition it needs to be better organized and organized by persons who are not entered in it as competitors. The pieces really ought to be anonymous entries. Obviously we could make this a simple competition and just have this be judged the way others have been, but since this is such an ambitious undertaking, to write a symphonic movement and plan a symphony, I feel that we should up the standards on this one. We have people willing to make it happen so why not do it that way.

Many of the people on here are conducters or play in orchestras; think about it, most people start composing after becoming proffecient at playing an instrument

Although it would certainly seem to create a more worthwhile experience, anonymity and judges with doctoral degrees and an orchestral concert of the winners afterwards and $2,000 commissions for the winners is not practical at this juncture. Thank you for your concern, Neuhausen.

I would also like to mention that I did not want to run this competition at first, because I wanted to compete in it. But I don't see, since I will not be handling the entries, how me doing both is bad...

But, I would like to say that I really like the idea of each competitor getting a full review of their piece, in addition to comments from the judges. The review should be done by a member of the reviewing staff, whether or not they are a judge. Maybe someone who is not a judge would be better to review the pieces. Someone we all yearn for reviews of our music from, perhaps. If such a person exists... :D

I agree with Neuhausen! To be really honest, I never heard about a competition which is not anonym. Simply because it is fair when it is anonym. This is the first time I hear about a non anonym composing competition. Here it is mostly so that you also have to pay a fee before you get in. It

Yeah, that idea is also not practical, especially since we are an online community. I in no case am willing to deal in any monetary way with anyone from the internet, aside from ebay or paypal, where everything is highly moderated, and not just this site.

I see what you mean.

But, I would like to say that I really like the idea of each competitor getting a full review of their piece, in addition to comments from the judges. The review should be done by a member of the reviewing staff, whether or not they are a judge. Maybe someone who is not a judge would be better to review the pieces. Someone we all yearn for reviews of our music from, perhaps. If such a person exists... :laugh:

Maybe QC or aerlinndan, if they were up for it, they seem to give some of most detailed reviews

I haven't even begun yet!!! Finale is being pretty horrible lately, always having an error and booting me out from too much CPU usage.. I don't think I can handle composing like this until I get a new computer.. :laugh: I guess I'm going to have to miss the competition I've been waiting for for months, haha.

Im in ..if this is ok

I haven't even begun yet!!! Finale is being pretty horrible lately, always having an error and booting me out from too much CPU usage.. I don't think I can handle composing like this until I get a new computer.. :) I guess I'm going to have to miss the competition I've been waiting for for months, haha.

turn off GPO, it take up massive amounts of CPU and if you have the internet on at the same time it won't work too well, just use finales default synth and turn on GPO when yuou want to make an mp3