Original composition competition or contest at PS?

[dcstudio]

I love the original compositions we get here at PS...it is by far my favorite thing about this forum...hearing music being performed by the composer--there is just nothing like it. 

 So I was thinking that maybe we should have an original composition.. competition or showcase of some kind... so many of us here play our own music.

or--and I like this idea better... we write something and then have another member play it--see how we interpret another's original compositions.  that would be kinda cool  ( I am calling "dibs" on ajlongs--prelude in A minor right now...)

or---pick one original composition and we all play it and post our interpretations.

or-- we could compose a theme and variations using a member's original work...

or--arrange another member's original composition in a different style

I really think something like that would bring these beautiful works to many more members here...  it might inspire some of them to try and play some of these pieces---maybe it would even encourage a few of them to try composing...   

plus is would be lots of fun 

What do you think?   

[josh93248]

I lean more to showcase of some kind than contest, but if people want that I wouldn't be against it.

I am writing a sort of beginner Sonatina at the moment so maybe that could become part of this, I wouldn't mind hearing someone else play it so long as I can put my version out there too. I have also talked with ajlongspiano about doing my own version of his prelude in G minor sometime in future...

I probably don't have the chops to do your more advanced ideas and maybe we should keep things simple. But I like that you want to help build a culture of composition and idea exchange...

One suggestion I might have is that we also set a sort of "challenge" composition or even commissions like "write a short waltz in the romantic style" Or "Write a 3 voiced polyphonic work" etc.

[themeandvariation]

I like the idea of writing using the same theme..At the end, we'd have a kaleidoscopic picture..

(This might be a bit off topic, hopefully not too far) I was also thinking it might be fun to play a 'pass it forward' game where some writes just one measure, and someone takes the torch and writes the next, etc.. It could just proceed as participants procure the next measure.. (not sure what to do if 2 epode post for the same next measure at the same time…) It would be done by posting a pic of the measure in question (instead of offering a recording).. At the end we would have something at least curious (from a group thought experiment standpoint) and maybe even something unique.. At the end someone could play the whole thing and post it.. Does that sound too crazy or involved or ?

[chopinlover01]

^ That sounds fun.
Or doing our own Hexameron, even. One theme, preferably original, then all the composers here write a variation on it.

[dcstudio]

I like the idea of writing using the same theme..At the end, we'd have a kaleidoscopic picture..

(This might be a bit off topic, hopefully not too far) I was also thinking it might be fun to play a 'pass it forward' game where some writes just one measure, and someone takes the torch and writes the next, etc.. It could just proceed as participants procure the next measure.. (not sure what to do if 2 epode post for the same next measure at the same time…) It would be done by posting a pic of the measure in question (instead of offering a recording).. At the end we would have something at least curious (from a group thought experiment standpoint) and maybe even something unique.. At the end someone could play the whole thing and post it.. Does that sound too crazy or involved or ?

I had this same idea!!!  I thought it might be too crazy so I deleted it... but hey--maybe we could do it.  We could all play it--or we could all play a part and have like a symphony type deal--if we have someone with decent engineering skills that is..lol  a conglomeration of PS talent....
something we all did together would be great... and refreshingly positive 

I like the swapping of the scores too--we could do it like secret santa...and not know who the composer is --and then compare versions,

I was also thinking we maybe could try to write something like a challenge thing too... and a format, too..  except no 12 tone matrix...lol..

we just need to raise awareness of all these great compositions here...  let people know there is some very fine new music be written at PS.

we could feature a PS composer each week and post our version of his piece...  maybe we could create a place just for original compositions here

and Josh of course you would post your version!  the whole idea is to compare them and maybe get some new ideas--or try some new things...  and also to just basically have a place to check out new and original music.

keep the ideas coming! 

[ajlongspiano]

I like the idea of everything except a competition. I feel like they can do more harm than good and could possibly discourage a composer(s) here that didn't do well. I love the idea of everyone writing a variation to an original theme though. That's pretty solid. What theme shall it be?!

[themeandvariation]

Yes, i vote for the common theme too… I think it should be an original one - so we can start without (or with less) a preconceived notion of how it goes (in terms of tempo and harmonic content ) .. I would also not indicate a key signature in the given theme, so that there is not an immediate harmonic bias.. So one could just write with no sharps or flats in the key signature, and just provide accidentals as needed.. Things could turn out quite interestingly different for each variation.  What do you guys think?  Writing a theme that is not So obviously harmonically biased?

[themeandvariation]

What do you all think of this theme?.. I would say,  what may be obvious, is writers should feel free to alter the theme in any way.. change the  register/ transpose to any place.. I feel that the general shape of the theme is only what is needed to give cohesion.. I wrote it in 3/4 ..but it can be adapted to any time signature of course.. I was also thinking it might be fun to have others compose the last 4 bars instead of using the last ones i provide…
What say yawl?

ps..There are a few dotted quarter notes where the dot is not so obvious..

[rubinsteinmad]

Can you make it lesss.... atonal?

[themeandvariation]

@rubinsteinmad,
Thank you for looking.. The more participants the better… (spread the word).

In reply:

It isn't atonal…just not obviously tonal.. the harmonic content can easily provide  a strong sense of tonality.. but i don't think i should suggest chords…
But please, feel free to change notes (please!) that don't work for you.. It will make our collective  effort more interesting.. Don't feel bound.. (but perhaps keep the general shape of the  line.. (inversion/retrograde etc. is fine as well.. ).. If a note offends/confuses then usually by changing just a half step could fix that.. or more for that matter… Just see how you might work it… It is a puzzle you know….one has to sit a bit…
I just thought i'd get the ball rolling… Perhaps others might want to submit a theme for perusal  …
ps…for other submissions, i think the theme should be 16 bars… if it is too short - there won't be much to do...

[dcstudio]

hey I like it.       that has a lot of possibilities  -- this is going to be so cool...

we can each submit something and have the group decide which theme we will use... or we can just go with this one this time...

This could be a weekly exercise here, you know...  we could take turns..   

it's nice to have a community of composers.
 

[themeandvariation]

ya! each week a new theme!  start your motors!  

regrettably, if my theme is rejected..  (totally plausible)  i will just have to bring it back home, and (sniff) it will be the blueprint for my (and Only my) next piece.  

in the meanwhile, i'll wait for others to respond..   

[ajlongspiano]

themeandvariations - I like your tune a lot. I think it could be condensed a little! But that's my personal opinion.

[themeandvariation]

Thanks aj 
i would say, condense it as needed… Each can have a different approach…As i have said, i think it will make for a more colorful sharing at the end when we each post our own version.
 

[rubinsteinmad]

Say......................... If we just changed the key signature of your tune, if could be VERY CHOPINESQUE.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!


YOUR A GENIUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dcstudio]

so for starters I guess we can each do a 16 bar variation or several if you want... in any style and any way we wish..and post a recording...   and a score of course.

make a playlist so they all play one after the other... and presto .  it's a theme and variations party mix... 

[themeandvariation]

K. i am almost done… but i suppose i'll wait to post  

i think we should all post at the same time so as not to influence each other..

are you guys working at this? …

and what of the others…  Josh nihil84 lateromatic, perfect pitch, francois, ted, ronde, LIIW, Liszt#? , a Big invite to you guys and any others i forgot (pardon!) to mention -   to have a hand in this! The more, the merrier!

[themeandvariation]

  And while we check in here, we can occupy ourselves  with another thought experiment
           (why not have a variation on our group thought experiment to express a poem to go with it )
 to write a poem.. each can contribute a line…each line will have a specific number of syllables based on the golden mean… (something Bartok used in his writings)   

Line 1 has   3 syllables.
line 2  has   5
line 3  has   8
4.             13
5.             21
6.             34
7.              21
8.             13
9.             8
10             5
11.            3
12.            2
13.            1

One can free associate the meaning …and the meaning can morph… like a dream…

i am only half kidding about this idea… (is it too much? i expect much from my fellow musicians

please disregard if this is confusing…

[themeandvariation]

@rubinsteinmad:
sshhhh… (we're not supposed to influence each other - but that is one way, for sure… I dare say that there are other ways as well… even baroque may seem like a far cry from this theme, but it really isn't)
no genius here… i am just always toiling with this stuff..  but thanks for appreciating my idea of a theme

[themeandvariation]

k.  It has been quiet here for a while…  I saw that there were 6 who were interested in doing this..  but no one has responded that they have taken up the torch..

Perhaps it is time for another to submit a theme - which i will happily take on..

 Is this not a fun (and novel) idea to add to PS? 

[themeandvariation]

Well… this one is for the crickets.

(Hey dc… thought i'd appropriate  that Picardy 3rd idea from the other thread

It is played more matter of factly  so that all the lines can be easily deciphered…

"Theme for the gang at PS" -   Variation 1

 https://soundcloud.com/upinsmoke-4/theme-for-ps-var1

ps. I'll be ready to play along if someone wants to post their theme...

[rubinsteinmad]

Sorry, for the excessive rubato & amaturity (I haven't practiced this at all, so...)
I added key signatures to your composition, and also changed the rhythm. The only difference besides that, is the last 2 measures. I changed it a little Also, measure 10 is a variation your measure 10. Besides that, everything is normal.


https://soundcloud.com/dong-harris/variations

[themeandvariation]

@rubinsteinmad
That is a wonderful  take on it! Great job!
Thank you for contributing!

[hozepshad]

I love this idea.
I finished a variation on the posted theme. I just have to record it, and put down the notes on a music notation software, to post the score.

By the way, I enjoyed the two variations posted here, and I hope more people join in.

[hozepshad]

Here it is, both the recording and the score, I hope you enjoy it.

[themeandvariation]

Thankyou  hozepshad!

You bring a bold and different angle to the theme..(sounds a bit darkly humorous - yes?)
A fitting  contrast to the previous 2 variations.

[hozepshad]

I agree with you about sounding a bit darkly humorous. I treated the variation as a mini scherzo, and had Czerny's scherzo from his piano sonata 4 in mind.

here is a link for the Czerny

[chopinlover01]

What about writing something and dedicating it to another user here?

[rubinsteinmad]

What about writing something and dedicating it to another user here?

I'll probably be the Clara Schumann of PS, then

[themeandvariation]

Since i had mentioned a baroque treatment earlier, i couldn't resist giving it a try.

Here is 'Theme for PS-  Variation 4'

https://soundcloud.com/upinsmoke-4/theme-for-ps-var4-take-1

[schumaniac]

I must be very late to the party... but this is very interesting and I"d like to join! School's starting though so I might end up not writing anything until later...

[pencilart3]

This sounds awesome! We've got to do something like this. The idea of one person writes one measure and the next person writes the next was interesting. Maybe we could get a group document going online and post the order of composition? Maybe we should find out who all is in?

[themeandvariation]

If there is interest to 'pass on to the next measure' -- by at least 2 others - perhaps another thread would be appropriate.  I think a helpful structure would be to have the first measure be preceded by an Upbeat - and then written until (but Not including) the last beat of the first measure.. where the next poster would follow - with a pickup.. etc.  That way it wouldn't sound so 'boxy' … (and thereby circumnavigating the dreaded tyranny of the bar line   -- to some extent, at least  )

[pencilart3]

That's a great idea, theme. I definitely want to do it, I'm guessing you're in also, theme. Anyone else in?

[themeandvariation]

Although i am disappointed that there was not more participation in this (unique) experiment, especially given the enthusiasm  at the outset,
 I want to sincerely thank Rubensteinmad and Hozepshad for contributing!
gregorio

[adodd81802]

Could we maybe post this competition in the "Auditions Section?" State what competition we are going to start whether it's compose your own, play another's or adding on to another PS users bar of music i'm up for this.

Somebody maybe even DC ;P kick off the competition in the Audition, get something recorded and others just post into that thread their responses. If we are doing the adding to other's bars composition, quote the previous composition in your thread and state the bar number you are doing to ensure nobody repeats.

[themeandvariation]

Hi adodd,
"Somebody maybe even DC ;P kick off the competition in the Audition,"..
As you can see This Was her thread (dc's) But not even She contributed…  
As I saw the idea evolve, it was not seen as a 'Contest' but more  - 'a sharing'  … Where upon choosing a common theme, the participants were to come up with their own variation to that theme…  At the end, there would be one piece written by many!  A celebration of the collective creativity of PS!

As far as the 'passing on to the next measure' compositional experiment… I don't think that will even get as much traction… Oh Well, 'the things that might have been"…