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ACF Showcase

 ACF Showcase
Summary:Call for Scores for Showcase Concert
Deadline: 01 February 2018
Date Posted: 18 January 2018
Details: In partnership with the acclaimed ensemble Jelloslave (Purple Orange), the American Composers Forum announces a Call for Scores for the fifth annual ACF Showcase concert which will take place at the Open Eye Figure Theatre (Minneapolis, MN).

Three scores from the total applicant pool will be chosen for the performance. The composers of the pieces will each receive hotel stay in Saint Paul, domestic travel to Minneapolis/Saint Paul, and $204.00 per-diem to cover meals during the four days of travel/rehearsals/ performance of their work May 31 – June 2, 2018 (Travel Days May 31 & June 3, 2018) in Minneapolis/ Saint Paul, MN. The performance will take place the evening of Saturday June 2, 2018 at Open Eye Figure Theatre in Minneapolis.

Funding

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Additional support is provided by the Dr. Fred Noah Gordon Charitable Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation.

Jelloslave (Purple Orange), a new music quartet comprised of 2 cellos, tablas and drums, is committed to creating original music, weaving cellos and drums in a multi-genre, cross-cultural and rhythmic fabric. The collective diversity of our individual influences fuels the Jelloslave sound, which draws from the European classical tradition reflected in the cellos, the Hindustani classical rhythms of the tablas, and a continuum of international drumming styles with the drum kit.

The submitted work can be for the complete instrumentation or any subset of the ensemble.

What sets Jelloslave (Purple Orange) apart from other ensembles fusing multi-cultural elements, is our unique instrumentation, our unexpected arrangements, and the organic fluency with which we merge our foundational training with modern extended techniques. And last but really foremost, is our passion for improvisation. Over the 12 years of the band’s trajectory, we have evolved to incorporate improvisation within almost all of our compositions, both free and over chord changes, either as a group or in small combos/solos within the quartet.

The American Composers Forum encourages applicants from the full range of musical styles and is committed to supporting a diverse pool of artists whose work demonstrates strong artistic merit. Accordingly, awards for our programs will represent, as far as possible, artists and projects that are diverse in genre, gender, race, and geography.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
The collaboration with Jelloslave (Purple Orange), provides a rare opportunity to combine their classical foundation with sonic experimentation and outstanding grooves, resulting in an extraordinary and compelling soundscape.

Specific notes on writing for tabla: Indian drumming is an improvisational system and a player never reads sheet music. Tabla notation is written with syllables that sound like the various drum tones, and written not in time signatures but in rhythm cycles. There are infinite themes and variations derived from those rhythm cycles all of which are memorized by the player. Unless the composer is trained in this notation, probably the best way to incorporate tablas into a composition is with verbal instructions, and allow Gary our tabla player to work with this information, and translate it in the context of the band’s interpretation of the music. The tablas can also be thought about in terms of color and tone, not just as rhythm.

Jelloslave (Purple Orange)’s two drummers often meld into a fiercely connected duo. This is probably best achieved through improvisation with direction from the composer about groove and time signature. Also note that the two cellos meld as a tight duo in melodic and harmonic compliment, contrast and counterpoint, functioning also as bass and rhythmic support.

• Applications must be submitted electronically via the following link:
https://americancomposersforum.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/40854
• Each applicant is limited to one submission.
• There is no fee to enter the competition.
• Pieces should be no longer than 25 minutes in length.
• The piece can be newly-composed (a premiere) or it can have received prior performances.
- It should have been written within the last 5 years.
- If the piece has been performed, it can have received any number of performances. Jelloslave (Purple Orange) instrumentation is two cellos, tablas (one performer), and drums (one performer). The submitted work can be for the complete instrumentation or any subset of the ensemble.

-In addition to the demographic information requested, each applicant will be asked to
submit:
o A pdf (up to 10 MB) of the full score of the piece.
o One pdf (up to 10 MB) that includes all individual parts for the piece.
o If available, an mp3 recording (up to 30 MB) of the same piece, or video footage
(up to 60 MB).


Web Site:composersforum.org/programs/acf-showcase/