Thread: TC Composers' Competition

I couldn't find a thread for this before, at least not a recent one. So I thought I'd sound out an idea, even though I'm pretty new here.

Given that there are a lot of such things, I wondered whether it might not be a nice idea to have a competition for composers here, perhaps even on a regular basis (every year/month/week/second whatever ).

Everyone would write a piece, perhaps subject to some conditions we could come up with. For example a 'quartet' competition, or a 'sonata', or perhaps subject to structural or other conditions than instrumental (or none at all!). At least it seems sensible to perhaps place a time limit on the entries.

There are a few possible ways of judging it. My favoured suggestion would be posting the competing pieces on the main forum, and allowing everyone to vote in a poll. If anyone's interested.

Given the wide varieties of styles going, it could be sensible to do a 'modernish' one and a 'classicalish' one, since even here on TC the dinosaurs might outnumber the anti-dinosaurs, and it could be biased. Or maybe not.

The worst thing I can think of is that it might increase bad feeling as a result of professional rivalry but of course that's unlikely because no-one really loses; they are just misunderstood

Anyway, whatever people think. I can understand that it takes time etc. - I know that well enough! I thought I'd put it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes, as the (terrible) saying goes.

Would we be required to provide a score, or would it just be judged as actual music?

Originally Posted by Crudblud

Would we be required to provide a score...?

Probably not: I wouldn't have thought it's necessary. Depends on the judging method and general consensus of course.

Okay. Did you have any idea as to what we might do for the first competition? I was thinking that maybe a solo piano piece would be a nice way to ease in to things, piano probably being the most universally loved instrument among members here.

This competition thing would be great!! Sign me in!

Originally Posted by Crudblud

Okay. Did you have any idea as to what we might do for the first competition? I was thinking that maybe a solo piano piece would be a nice way to ease in to things, piano probably being the most universally loved instrument among members here.

I guess I was more concerned to see how many people were interested in this, to see if the idea was going to go ahead or had already suffered brain damage from hitting a brick wall.

But yes, a solo piano piece does sound like a good starting point.

Originally Posted by contra7

This competition thing would be great!! Sign me in!

Excellent!

Originally Posted by Ramako

I guess I was more concerned to see how many people were interested in this, to see if the idea was going to go ahead or had already suffered brain damage from hitting a brick wall.

Well I think it's a great idea, and I'm sure the majority of composers here would love to participate in friendly competitions, especially if they see it as a learning opportunity. Say none of us have written a string quartet and are then tasked with writing one, not only are we challenged to try new things but by listening and comparing other people's work with our own we can learn many different approaches to particular problems.

I'm game for this too.

I'm not a composer and wouldn't participate, but I would be more likely to listen to members' music through a competition. My one suggestion would be to make the competition anonymous for the voting. Knowing the composer could influence people's reviews and choices.

I'd do this. I need some motivation to compose at the moment anyway.

Originally Posted by mmsbls

I'm not a composer and wouldn't participate, but I would be more likely to listen to members' music through a competition. My one suggestion would be to make the competition anonymous for the voting. Knowing the composer could influence people's reviews and choices.

That's a good call, especially with the all the recent bickering. Although I don't know how we would be able to avoid it.

i'd love to do this. i used to enter contests on songfight, and it was always fun

Do we have to write in certain't form?
If we chose a solo piano piece as the first composition can we Write a Rondo?Prelude? Polonaise? Sonata/sonatina if we want?
Or do we chose a form?

Originally Posted by mmsbls

My one suggestion would be to make the competition anonymous for the voting. Knowing the composer could influence people's reviews and choices.

Agreed - thanks for the excellent idea

Originally Posted by Crudblud

Although I don't know how we would be able to avoid it.

Probably all the entries would have to be uploaded onto a single account of soundcloud/youtube. Either just everyone sends them to one person and he/she upload them, or we create a sort of communal account. The former sounds to me easier as someone not too great with techy stuff.

Originally Posted by jani

Do we have to write in certain't form?

Don't know

Originally Posted by jani

If we chose a solo piano piece as the first composition can we Write a Rondo?Prelude? Polonaise? Sonata/sonatina if we want?
Or do we chose a form?

Ok. Well, assuming the solo piano first piece goes ahead, I would suggest being able to choose a form. It allows much greater freedom.