[Voxnovus] UnTwelve 2011 Microtonal Composition Competition

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UnTwelve 2011 Microtonal Composition Competition

UnTwelve is pleased to offer our third annual competition for composers in
the budding field of new tunings, temperaments, and microtonality. The
competition welcomes new works of recorded music which reflect the potential
of using tunings systems and temperaments other than 12-tone equal
temperament.

First prize is $500.00 (USD); we will also recognize 2nd prize ($250) and
3rd prize ($150) finalists. A new category of Performance Awards has been
added this year in partnership with MicroFest. Works for solo retuned
digital piano will be eligible to receive a premiere performance and CD
recording by virtuoso pianist Aron Kallay as part of MicroFest 2012 in the
Los Angeles area. For more information, and to learn how to register, please
visit:

http://www.untwelve.org/2011_competition.html

Eligibility Rules

    The contest is international and open to persons of all ages, except
board members or direct affiliates to UnTwelve.
    There is no required fee for submission.
    Only one work per applicant will be considered.
    Works must be between 4 and 10 minutes in length.
    Works submitted must be composed specifically for this competition.
    Works must be in a tuning or temperament significantly different from
12-tone equal temperament. Such alternative systems include: extended just
intonation; any non-12 equal division of the octave; non-octave scales e.g.
Bohlen-Pierce; recurrent sequence scales; found or empirically-derived
tunings; or any tunings invented by the composer based on mathematical
principles or formulae, etc. See the Scala scale archive or the Xenharmonic
Wiki for more ideas. 

Submission and Judging

    Works will judged on the basis of their recorded form, to be submitted
in FLAC audio format. Scores will only be used in the judging of Performance
Awards and not considered in the general competition.
    Submissions must be uploaded via webform on the UnTwelve website.
    Submissions will open November 7th, 2011 and close at midnight (CST) on
February 15th, 2012. See the link to register at the bottom of the page.
    Judging will occur by a panel of judges chosen by UnTwelve (to be
announced).
    Submissions will be judged anonymously, on the basis of form,
sensitivity, and coherence . There is no limitation on style.
    Monetary prizes are: 1st place, $500; 2nd place, $250; 3rd place, $150.
A maximum of one monetary prize per person will be awarded. The top three
entrants will be interviewed and featured on the UnTwelve website.
    The judges reserve the right to grant no prize if no work is determined
to be of sufficient quality.
    Following the competition, every applicant with an eligible entry will
have the option for their composition to be hosted and linked to on the
UnTwelve website. 

Additional requirements and details for Performance Awards

    The Performance Award is open to un-premiered works for solo pianist
playing retuned, remapped digital piano, with no additional live or
pre-recorded electronics.
    In addition to the required FLAC recording of the work, you must submit
a performance score in PDF. This score must be notated in scordatura, such
that the written notes indicate the keys to be played, not the sounding
pitches.
    The tuning/mapping scheme must be specified in the score. Non-linear
mappings that would be impossible on an acoustic piano are encouraged! The
tuning may change up to four times mid-composition; the changes must occur
during a rest.
    Works which receive a Performance Award will be premiered by pianist
Aron Kallay on June 23, 2012 as part of MicroFest's 2012 Festival of
Microtonal Music (Los Angeles). They will be recorded by Kallay for
inclusion on a CD to be released by MicroFest. An additional performance
will be hosted by UnTwelve (Chicago) in Fall 2012.
    Up to six Performance Awards may be chosen. 


And please, spread the word to all of your composer friends! The due date
for works if Feb. 15th. We are eager to help composers learn the craft of
tuning and xen/micro/macro-tonality, and to give away prize money to worthy
talent! 

The UnTwelve crew

http://www.untwelve.org