Literary Elements – BNMI’s Thirteenth Season
Deadline: March 26, 2021
The Boston New Music Initiative is announcing a call for scores to be programmed as part of BNMI’s thirteenth season. Incorporated in 2010, BNMI aims to advance the careers of its members in the field of new music by serving as a resource for networking, professional development, commissioning, collaboration, and programming. The call is open for acoustic, electro-acoustic, and multimedia works. The competition is open to all composers with no restrictions.
The theme of one of BNMI’s concerts of season thirteen, which runs from 2021-2022 will be “Literary Elements.” The concert will feature works related in some way to literature. It could be inspired by a work of literature, set a work of literature to music, or include literature in narration. For this call, literature means any written work in any language. We aim to program one (1) to three (3) works per category. Works chosen from this call will be presented at a performance to take place in 2022.
Categories
Category 1: Solo or Duets
Works for any one or two instruments from BNMI’s core ensemble (see Instrumentation below).
Category 2: Ensemble
Works for 3-8 players, from BNMI’s core ensemble and one or two additional instruments
(see Instrumentation below).
We strongly encourage all composers to download and review the BNMI Submission Guide ahead of submitting to this competition.
Details
Instrumentation.
BNMI’s core ensemble consists of Flute (doubling Piccolo, Alto Flute, or Bass Flute), Clarinet in B-flat (doubling Clarinet in A or Bass Clarinet in B-flat), Violin, Violoncello, Piano, and Percussion. Percussion instruments for this call should be limited to smaller, portable instruments (no marimba, timpani, tubular bells or full size bass drum). Stereo electronic, electroacoustic, or multimedia works are accepted, but at least one live performer must be used (no fixed-media). Recommended additional instruments: Violin 2, Viola, Double Bass, and Soprano (voice). Works including other additional instruments as well as string quartets will be accepted but are less likely to be programmed.
Duration.
Works can be of any duration, although preference will be given to works which are 10 minutes or less.
Multimedia.
For all multimedia submissions, composers must either indicate that they have the rights to the specific multimedia element to be used (e.g. the film, tape, electronics, choreography, artwork, etc.). If their work is selected, the composer must grant BNMI permission to utilize it during performance, or else grant BNMI permission, at its discretion, to create a multimedia element. In the second case, BNMI reserves the right to incorporate or not to incorporate multimedia elements at its sole discretion.
Electronics.
Scores of works involving electronic elements must include information on the specific technical requirements for performance. Likewise, multimedia works must indicate any extramusical forces needed. Works utilizing excessive electronic equipment may not be able to be programmed.
Number of Entries.
There is no limit on the number of works a composer may submit; however, each work should be submitted as a separate entry. Multi-movement works should be submitted as single entries, even if movements are in separate files. (The submission process allows for multiple files per entry.)
Anonymity.
All submissions must be anonymous. Scores or other materials with names or other identifying marks will not be considered. Please remove all identifying marks from all materials (except the composer information page, see submission process below) before submitting. Please make sure no metadata including names or identifying marks remain in submitted files. No pseudonyms or code numbers are necessary.
Membership.
Composers wishing to submit scores must become members of BNMI; Associate Membership is free and Full Membership is $20 a year.
File Formats.
Each file may be up to 20MB in size. The only acceptable file formats are:
For the score: .pdf
For (optional) audio recordings: .mp3 or .m4a
For video: .mov or .m4v
All other materials: .doc, .docx, .txt, .rtf, .odt, or .pdf
Delivery of Music.
Selected composers are required to provide electronic copies of the full score and parts within four (4) weeks of their notification of selection. If electronics or multimedia are involved, all files required for performance and rehearsal must be submitted within the same time frame.
Permission for Use.
By submitting to this call, the composer gives permission to record audio and video of any and all concerts and events hosted by or associated with BNMI in which the submitted piece is included. BNMI shall possess ownership of recorded audio and video and maintains the right to publicly distribute audio and video for promotional purposes. BNMI shall not publicly distribute the recording of any performance for financial gain.
Questions?
Please address any questions to info@bostonnewmusic.org. Note: Please do NOT send submission materials to this email address as the materials cannot be submitted using this method. When submitting inquiries, please be as generic as possible, and do not include the title of your piece in the query in order to preserve anonymity.
Submission Process
Composers are asked to use our submission portal to upload the following materials (each as separate documents). Before submitting, please review our submission guide prior to starting the submission process.
An anonymous PDF file of the score. If submitting a score that requires percussion, please include a complete percussion instrument list at the beginning of the score.
A recording of the work (not required but encouraged)
For works using electronics, a detailed description of technical requirements and processes needed (i.e. a “tech rider”).
An entry fee for each submission. The entry fee for this competition is $5 for each submission for Full Members and $15 for Associate Members. Membership information can be found here.
An information sheet containing the following:
Composer’s contact information (name, phone number, physical mailing address, email address, and website URL, if any)
Title, instrumentation, and duration of the work
Work’s date of completion and complete performance history
Performing rights organization (ASCAP, BMI, etc.) associated with the work and/or composer, if any
Composer’s year of birth (for program information only)
Composer biography and program notes for the work (maximum 300 words each), to be used if the work is selected. BNMI reserves the right to truncate the program notes or composer biography if either exceeds the word limit.
To Apply:
www.bostonnewmusic.org/submit
We strongly encourage all composers to download and review the BNMI Submission Guide ahead of submitting to this competition.
FAQs and Helpful Hints:
Please note that new memberships may take up to 24 hours to be approved (although usually much less). Composers signing up as new members who wish to submit to this competition should be sure to allot enough time for the approval process to complete in order to meet the March 26 deadline.
The submission portal is not available without login credentials. Composers who are not existing BNMI members should not attempt to go to the submission portal without submitting a membership application first: www.bostonnewmusic.org in order to create login credentials.
Once your files have been added for each work, be sure to click “Finish and Pay” at the bottom of the screen. Full members must have dues paid in full in order to receive full membership benefits, including discounts on Calls for Scores and Commissioning Competitions. For those composers submitting more than one entry, payment should be made only after ALL entries have been completed.
More questions? Please see our submission guide
Deadline 26 March 2021
Website bostonnewmusic.org
