Manchester Composers’ Project
Posted on May 12, 2009
Throughout the 09/10 season, Manchester Camerata – both onstage and offstage – will be exploring cultural exchanges, diverse musical influences, and the boundaries that frequently exist between different cultures. Many of the works performed will be strongly influenced by a particular locality, region or culture, with echoes of tango, klezmer, Chinese, Hungarian folk etc.
Manchester Camerata calls for new works by composers based on the idea of cultural exchange, to reflect the multi-cultural nature of the country in which we live.
PROJECT GUIDELINES
1. The project is open to any composers studying at the RNCM, Manchester University and Chetham’s School of Music. The instrumentation for the new composition must be the following nine players:
Flute (doubling piccolo); oboe; clarinet (doubling bass clarinet); bassoon; 2 violins; viola; cello; double bass
2. Compositions are to be no more than 5 minutes in length
3. Composers are completely free to decide on the method, structure, style and content of their own work, as long as it follows the above instrumentation.
4. 10 new compositions will be chosen for a workshop day at the RNCM on Monday 1 February 2010. This workshop will be conducted by one of the RNCM’s junior conducting fellows, Eduardo Portal
5. Three works will be chosen to be performed within various concerts throughout Manchester Camerata’s 2009/10 season:
Sat 13 March 2010 – Bridgewater Hall
Sat 24 April 2010 – RNCM
Saturday 22 May 2010 – Bridgewater Hall
TIMELINE
September 2009 – launch of project to students in the various colleges
Friday 15 January 2010: Submission date for compositions to respective Heads of Composition (Adam Gorb for RNCM, Kevin Malone for MU and Jeremy Pike for Chets), who will choose a maximum of 10 for the workshop day
– RNCM (4), Manchester University (4), Chets (2).
Those composers whose pieces are selected will be expected to be able to produce orchestral parts by this date.
Monday 1 February 2010: Workshop day with all 10 student compositions in the RNCM main concert hall. This workshop will be conducted by one of the RNCM’s junior conducting fellows, Eduardo Portal. All compositions will be recorded. The workshop will also be open to the general public:
2pm-5pm – 5 compositions, 30 minutes each, 30 minute break/panel discussion
6pm-9pm – 5 compositions, 30 minutes each, 30 minute break/panel discussion