Composition Competition
CGSV's annual Composition Competition aims to encourage new original works for for classical guitar.
2015 Homage to Gaspar Sanz - now closed!
The 2015 composition theme is "Homage to Gaspar Sanz". Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710) was an Aragonese (Spanish) composer and musician who wrote three volumes of pedagogical works for the baroque guitar that form an important part of today's classical guitar repertory and have informed modern scholars in the techniques of baroque guitar playing. Following recently established tradition, the winner of the 2014 Composition Competition, Mauro Godoy-Villalobos, nominated Gaspar Sanz as the subject of this year's competition, which aligns with CGSV's overall theme for 2015 of "Early Music". Objective
The aim is to compose one or more pieces for standard solo classical guitar of total duration 4 to 6 minutes which "celebrates" Gaspar Sanz's musical contribution to the modern classical guitar (even though he clearly didn't play one!). The target performance standard is from grade 4 to 6 of a classical guitar tutorial program or syllabus, such as AMEB, ANZCA or Trinity. The listener and player should recognize the composition as related to Sanz's works, eg by re-using his techniques, melodies, harmonization, structures, or any other musical construct that evokes his compositions, as they have been transcribed.
Adjudicator
John Griffiths
Evaluation Criteria
- Achievement of objective (above)
- Originality
- Musicality
- Pedagogical value
Submission
Entries must be lodged by e-mailing a PDF of the score to info@cgsv.org.au before midnight on 31st December 2015, Victorian time, using the entry form 2015 Composition Competition Entry.
Entry Fee
CGSV members: free. All others: $40. To pay by bank transfer, email info@cgsv.org.au with "2015 Composition Competition payment" in the subject line.
General Rules
- An entry form - 2015 Composition Competition - must be fully completed and submitted and all fees paid by 31/12/15.
- Entry is open to people of all ages and backgrounds. There are no levels or categories of submission. Professional musicians and amateurs, and all others, will be judged on the same basis.
- CGSV can decline an entry and refund fees for any reason.
- The judge(s) decisions in all competition matters is final and not negotiable.
- A relationship with the adjudicator, eg teacher-student, will not preclude entry, but must be declared in the covering email for transparency.
- Contestants grant permission for CGSV to use submitted materials(s) for performance at CGSV events, such as the premiere performance, including audio and visual recording of these performances.
- CGSV reserves rights to change rules, conditions, prizes or to cancel the competition due to insufficient contestants, or any other serious reason, without any responsibility or previous announcement.
- Works must be submitted as a PDF of human readable "sheet music" using classical guitar notations and nomenclature.
- The composer's name must not appear on the submitted sheet music, as judging will be on an anonymous basis.
- Works must be original, written by the contestant and previously unpublished in any form.
- Musical quotations are acceptable, eg using themes from works by Sanz or contemporaries, or writing "in the style of" are acceptable, but simply creating a collage or an arrangement of existing works is not. In cases where originality could be questioned, the contestant is encouraged to submit notes or name the original work(s) to transparently acknowledge the quotation, theme or stylistic appreciation. Prize
$500 cash.
Premiere performance at a celebratory concert in March or April 2016.
2014 Homage to Heitor Villa-Lobos
Winner : Mauro Godoy-Villalobos, HomageRunner-up : Shaun Purkiss, Tres Brinquedos
Commendations : Courtney Hilton, KaleidoscopicThe 2014 composition theme is "Homage to Heitor Villa-Lobos". Heitor Villa-Lobos (HVL), 1887 - 1959, was a Brazilian composer whose iconic Etudes and Preludes are a staple of the classical guitar repertoire. In a tradition which commenced in 2014, the winner of the 2013 Composition Competition, Michelle Nelson, nominated HVL as the subject of this year's competition at the premiere performance of her winning entry, "The Guitarist's Bach".
Objective
The aim is to compose one or more pieces for standard solo classical guitar of total duration 4 to 6 minutes which "celebrates" HVL's musical contribution to the modern classical guitar. The target performance standard is from grade 4 to 6 of a classical guitar tutorial program or syllabus, such as AMEB, ANZCA or Trinity. The listener and player should recognize the composition as related to HVL works, eg by re-using his techniques, melodies, harmonization, structures, or any other musical construct that evokes his guitar compositions (not restricted to Preludes and Etudes).
Adjudicator
Richard Charlton
Evaluation Criteria
- Achievement of objective (above)
- Originality
- Musicality
- Pedagogical value
Submission
Entries must be lodged by e-mailing a PDF of the score to info@cgsv.org.au before midnight on 31st December 2014, Victorian time, using the entry form 2014 Composition Competition. Entry Fee
CGSV members: free. All others: $40. To pay by bank transfer, email info@cgsv.org.au with "2014 Composition Competition payment" in the subject line. General Rules
- An entry form - 2014 Composition Competition - must be fully completed and submitted and all fees paid by 31/12/14.
- Entry is open to people of all ages and backgrounds. There are no levels or categories of submission. Professional musicians and amateurs, and all others, will be judged on the same basis.
- CGSV can decline an entry and refund fees for any reason.
- The judge(s) decisions in all competition matters is final and not negotiable.
- A relationship with the adjudicator, eg teacher-student, will not preclude entry. Please declare any relationship for transparency.
- Contestants grant permission for CGSV to use submitted materials(s) for performance at CGSV events, such as the premiere performance, including audio and visual recording of these performances.
- CGSV reserves rights to change rules, conditions, prizes or to cancel the competition due to insufficient contestants, or any other serious reason, without any responsibility and previous announcement.
- Works must be submitted as a PDF of human readable "sheet music" using classical guitar notations and nomenclature.
- The composer's name must not appear on the submitted sheet music, as judging will be on an anonymous basis.
- Works must be original, written by the contestant and previously unpublished in any form.
- Musical quotations are acceptable, eg using themes from works by HVL or contemporaries, or writing "in the style of" are acceptable, but simply creating a collage or an arrangement of existing works is not. In cases where originality could be questioned, the contestant is encouraged to submit notes or name the original work(s) to transparently acknowledge the quotation, theme or stylistic appreciation. Prize
$500 cash.
Premiere performance at a celebratory concert in March or April 2015.
2013 Homage to JS Bach
Winner: Michelle Nelson, The Guitarist's BachRunner-up: Tom Adeney, Suite for GuitarCommendations: Bradley Kunda, Homage to JS Bach; and Gunar Ulrich, Bach to the Future.
The 2013 composition theme is "Homage to JS Bach". A cash prize of $1000 is offered to the winning composition, with the intention that the work will be premiered at 'A Celebration of J S Bach for Classical Guitar' on Sunday 6th April 2014 at Toorak Uniting Church, Toorak. This concert is a collaborative effort between CGSV and the Australian Bach Society, www.bach.org.au.
Objective
The aim is to compose one or more pieces, perhaps forming a suite, for standard solo classical guitar of total duration 5 to 8 minutes which "celebrates" JS Bach's musical contribution to the modern classical guitar. The target performance standard is from grade 4 to 6 of a classical guitar tutorial program or syllabus, such as AMEB, ANZCA or Trinity. Although JS Bach did not write for the modern guitar, much of his music has been arranged for guitar, and is much loved by the guitar playing and listening community. The new work might use Bach's composition techniques on a new theme, present Bach theme's in a modern way, exploit guitaristic techniques that Bach might have used had he been exposed to the modern instrument, or simply leave the listener in a reverie of Bachian appreciation.
Adjudicator
Richard Charlton
Evaluation Criteria
- Achievement of objective (above)
- Originality
- Musicality
- Pedagogical value
Submission
Entries must be lodged by e-mailing a PDF of the score to info@cgsv.org.au before midnight on 31st December 2013, Victorian time, using the entry form 2013 Composition Competition. Entry Fee
CGSV members: free. All others: $40. To pay by bank transfer, email info@cgsv.org.au with "competition payment" in the subject line. General Rules
- An entry form - 2013 Composition Competition - must be fully completed and submitted and all fees paid by 31/12/13.
- Entry is open to people of all ages and backgrounds. There are no levels or categories of submission. Professional musicians and amateurs, and all others, will be judged on the same basis.
- CGSV can decline an entry and refund fees for any reason.
- The judge(s) decisions in all competition matters is final and not negotiable.
- A relationship with the adjudicator, eg teacher-student, will not preclude entry. Please declare any relationship for transparency.
- Contestants grant permission for CGSV to use submitted materials(s) for performance at CGSV events, such as the premiere performance, including audio and visual recording of these performances.
- CGSV reserves rights to change rules, conditions, prizes or to cancel the competition due to insufficient contestants, or any other serious reason, without any responsibility and previous announcement.
- Works must be submitted as a PDF of human readable "sheet music" using classical guitar notations and nomenclature.
- The composer's name should not appear on the sheet music, as judging will be on an anonymous basis.
- Works must be original, written by the contestant and previously unpublished in any form.
- Musical quotations are acceptable, eg using themes from works by JS Bach or contemporaries, or writing "in the style of" are acceptable, but simply creating a collage or an arrangement of existing works is not. In cases where originality could be questioned, the contestant is encouraged to submit notes or name the original work(s) to transparently acknowledge the quotation, theme or stylistic appreciation. Prize Contributions
CGSV and the Australian Bach Society are contributing $500 each to the total first prize of $1000.