ABOUT CHORAL & ORGAN COMPOSITION COMPETITIONS Buckfast Abbey is to hold a nine day festival of Sacred Music to celebrate a thousand years since the foundation of the Abbey. As part of the festival, we are pleased to announce two young composers competitions, each with a winning prize of 1,000. 1. A choral composition, based upon the motto of the Abbey: Psalm 41 - Sicut Cervus, desiderat ad fontes aquarum. Like the deer that yearns for running streams. 2. An organ composition, based on the monastic chant Memorare, sung each evening by the monastic community. The performance of the finalist compositions will take place at 19:30 on Thursday 19th April 2018, at the Abbey. The recital will commence with the premier performance of a new commission of the text Sicut cervus by Matthew Martin (Director of Music of Keble College, Oxford). The two winning compositions will be performed during the 12:00 Pontifical Mass on Friday 24 th May 2018, (the Titular Solemnity of Our Lady of Buckfast), celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols (Archbishop of Westminster). There will be three finalists in each category of the competition. HOW TO APPLY Applications must be submitted by midnight on Friday 19th January 2018. Please read the conditions of entry before completing the application. There are two parts to the application process; the first is to register using the online form, the second to submit your composition. If for any reason you cannot make your application online, please contact the Competitions Secretary at competitions@buckfast.org.uk 1
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY TIMETABLE Date 1 st August 2017 Start date for Registration 1 st December 2017 Start date for competition submissions. 19 th January 2018 Closing date for competition submissions. 16 th February 2018 Six shortlisted composers to be notified. 19 th April 2018 am Organ composition finalists who may wish to play their own works will be given one hour practice time on the Abbey organ. 19 th April 2018 pm Three finalist choral compositions to be performed by the Choir of Buckfast Abbey Choir. Please notify us at the time of application if you wish to perform your own work. Each choral composition to be between 4 to 5 minutes in length. Three finalist organ compositions to be performed by either the composer or one of the resident Abbey organists. Prize-giving ceremony Each organ composition to be between 5 and 8 minutes in length. 2
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY 1. Organisers The composition competitions are organised as part of the Buckfast Abbey Festival of Sacred Music. The organisers reserve the right to amend the conditions of entry. 2. Eligibility The competitions are open to composers aged 25 or younger on the date of their submission. Candidates must ensure compositions are wholly original and not subject to any third party rights or encumbrances. Candidates agree they are able to indemnify the organisers in respect of all actions, proceedings, claims, damages and other liabilities which may be brought against or incurred by the organiser as a result of the breach of any of the conditions of entry. Candidates must not have entered into any commercial sponsorship or other agreement or arrangement with any person, firm or company in respect of this competition entry. Proof of identity must be provided, if requested by the organisers. 3. Website Information for Applicants musicfestival.buckfast.org.uk is the official website of the Buckfast Abbey Festival of Sacred Music, and is referred to in the following paragraphs. All information concerning the competitions will be found on the competitions section of this website. Applicants should refer to the website regularly to check for any news for competitors. By applying to enter, the candidate acknowledges the purpose of the competition is to promote gifted choral and organ composers, and the finalist works will be performed before a judging panel. The finalist choral works will be performed by the Choir of Buckfast Abbey, and directed by the Abbey Organist & Master of the Music. The finalist organ works may be performed by their composer, or by one of the Abbey resident organists. The candidate understands that by applying to enter the competition, he/she consents to the recording and use of their work by Buckfast Abbey. For any correspondence, use of email is preferred, and the Competitions Secretary may be contacted at competitions@buckfast.org.uk Please ensure that you configure any spam or junkmail filters on your computer to allow you to receive emails from competitions@buckfast.org.uk 4a. Choral Composition Brief The text of Psalm 41 Sicut cervus is to be set as an unaccompanied motet. Composers must use the text of verse 1 as set below, but may additionally set the text of verse 2 if they wish. The composition must be set for SATB Choir (with reasonable optional divisi). Scores not appropriately set for the selected ensemble will be rejected from the adjudication process. The work must be between 4 and 5 minutes in length. 3
! A translation is given for guidance purposes only: 1. Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. 2. Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fortem vivum: quando veniam et apparebo ante faciem Dei? 1. Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God. 2. My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life; when can I enter and see the face of God? 4b. Organ Composition Brief The chant of the Memorare prayer is to be used as the basis of the organ work, which will be a festal voluntary for the end of a Pontifical Mass. The Abbey boasts two organs, a large four division Quire organ, and a two division Grand-Orgue in the West Gallery, making antiphonal playing an option, (but not a requirement). The two en chamade stops the Pontifical and Abbatial trumpets - are located in the West Gallery. The Pontifical trumpet is a high pressured bright stop, which sings horizontally into the Nave, whilst the Abbatial trumpet is more characteristic of a tuba. The music of the Memorare chant is given (along with text and translation), and can be integrated into the composition as the composer sees fit, in any key. The work must be between 5 and 6 minutes in length. 4
Translation: Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly to you, O Virgin of Virgins, our Mother! To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen. 5. Applications & Closing Date Applications and submissions should be made online through the website. Your application must be received by midnight on 19 th January 2018 together with: your composition submission in PDF format* a profile describing you and your connection with sacred music *N.B. Your composition submission should be unnamed within the document pages however you should name the PDF file using your Last name, First name and Entrant number. The organisers will remove candidates names from submissions so judges have anonymous works. Only one composition per person will be accepted. An administration charge of 10 will made for each submission, payable online at the time of submission. Your application will be acknowledged by email. If you do not receive an acknowledgement via email within 48 hours, please contact the competition secretary. 6. Notification You will be advised by email if you have been shortlisted by 16 th February 2018. 7. Practice Time For shortlisted candidates who wish to perform their own organ composition, a practice session of one hour will be allocated for rehearsal on the Abbey organ on the morning of Thursday 19th April 2018. 8. Results The Judges decisions are final. The Jury reserves the right to withhold the award of any prizes. The Organisers reserve the right to disqualify any candidate from the competition at their absolute discretion if they supply untruthful, inaccurate or misleading personal details or information, or have failed to abide by the conditions of entry. 5
9. Prizegiving Performance Concert Prizegiving will take place on the evening of Thursday 19th April 2018. The winner of each competition will be awarded a total prize amount of 1,000. 10. Recording & Broadcasting The Competition Performance Concert, in whole or in part, may be recorded or broadcast on radio, television or the internet. In these circumstances, the performers will be unable to claim any fees and will have no further rights. Competitors agree that if any work is published in the future the score will acknowledge the first performance, choir and venue. 11. Commissioned Work The submission may have been previously performed, but must be unpublished and cannot have won a prize in any other competition. Any breach of this rule will disqualify the candidate from the competition. 6