Alright. I think this counts as a Swallowing Our Pride moment.
eighth blackbird announced its new composition competition (creatively named “eighth blackbird composition competition”) in early February. The initial response was positive, with enthusiastic online notices and a few very early entries, but we did start to get hammered in some quarters for our comp comp’s rules and regulations. These negative reactions surprised us, but on reflection we feel that some of the criticism was deserved. In the strine-tinged words of Kevin Rudd, Australia’s illustrious current Prime Minister, “fair cop, mate.”
In response to the many constructive and informative comments we’ve received, we have decided to postpone the competition.
8bb remains committed to the original intent of the competition – to discover, recognize and perform/record an undiscovered compositional gem – and we will relaunch the whole shebang by June. In the meantime, we’ll be on the hunt for the best way to create an event that is awesome for all involved. Any works that are currently being written will remain eligible for the relaunched competition, and any application money already submitted will of course be refunded.
In the meantime, feel free to let us know your thoughts about your perfect, utopian, idealized nirvana of a comp comp, either by commenting on this post, or by dropping us a line, at brian@eighthblackbird.com. Oh, and creative name suggestions would be most welcome!
The application deadline is fast approaching for the Music10 festival happening in Blonay, Switzerland, June 21-July 2.
Performers who are accepted to this program will work intensively and perform new compositions by America’s most talented young composers. Each ensemble will consist of a member of eighth blackbird along with a carefully selected group of young instrumentalists. Concurrently, the instrumentalists will prepare and perform works by the three principal composers, Martin Bresnick, Stephen Hartke and Joel Hoffmann. This repertoire will be performed in a series of concerts throughout the festival in Blonay and surrounding locations.
Blonay is a beautiful village, located between Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) and the Swiss Alps. Nearby cities are Montreux and Lausanne. The Hindemith Foundation is a fully-equipped music residence center, whose purpose is to present short-term international festivals and workshops on the highest level.
When we say Blonay is beautiful, what we mean is BEUWWWWWWWWWWWWDIFUL, as in un-bloody-believably-spectacularly-idyllic.
Come and join us for 10 days in our little musical utopia in Swiss paradise! Click here to apply.
Come see my crazy show with the CSO’s own Jenn Gunn, Trembling Air, at Roosevelt’s Ganz Hall.
Here’s the info:
Tim Munro (flutist with Grammy-winning ensemble eighth blackbird) and Jennifer Gunn (piccoloist with the Chicago Symphony) present Trembling Air at Roosevelt University’s Ganz Hall, February 3, 2010. Flutes sing, speak, growl, wheeze and chirp in this surprising, kaleidoscopic musical patchwork.
Ben Broening’s Trembling Air possesses an ethereal, other-worldly beauty that collides dramatically with Grawemeyer-winner Brett Dean’s virtuosic, hellish Demons. Munro is joined by Chicago Symphony star piccolo player Jennifer Gunn for the hypnotic repetitions of Philip Glass’s Music in Fifths and rolling dark waves of Helena Tulve’s Soaring.
The program also includes the world premiere of Tai-Kuang Chao’s Isolated Dance on a Bench, winner of Roosevelt University’s first flute composition competition, and Grey Light, Early Morning, a haunting piece from the pen of Gerard McBurney (Chicago Symphony’s “Beyond the Score” maestro).
What: Trembling Air
Where: Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave., 7th Floor, Chicago (312-341-3780)
When: February 3rd at 7.30pm
Tickets: Free entry
Program: Ben Broening Trembling Air for solo flute (2009, World Premiere)
Ross Edwards Ecstatic Dances for two flutes (1990)
Tai-Kuang Chao Isolated Dance on a Bench for solo flute (2009, WP)
Gerard McBurney Grey Light, Early Morning for alto flute (1992)
Brett Dean Demons for solo flute (2004)
Helena Tulve Soaring for two flutes (2007)
Philip Glass Music in Fifths for two flutes (1969)
For more information: http://ccpa.roosevelt.edu/ccpa-calendar.php
