The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) Area XII Composition Contest strives to expand the handbell repertoire with interesting and accessible compositions, while providing a tool for learning and enjoyment at the Area’s biennial conference.
Qualifications
Composition content applicants must be a member of AGEHR or associated with an organizational member of AGEHR in good standing. Applicants are not required to reside in Area XII (California, Guam, Hawaii, and Nevada), but all Area XII members will be allotted additional points in the adjudication process.
Composition Guidelines
Applicants may submit compositions of any level of difficulty. The adjudication process has allowed for pieces with the broadest appeal and largest audience to be scored higher. Keep in mind the following concepts for divisional mass ringing:
- Division A: For 2 octaves with significant optional notes for 3 octaves, or for 3 octaves; difficulty level range 2 or 3.
- Division B: For 3 octaves with significant optional notes for 4 and/or 5 octaves, or for 4 octaves or for 5 octaves; difficulty level range 3 or 4.
- Division C: For 4 octaves with significant optional notes for 5 octaves, or for 5 octaves; difficulty level range 4 or 5.
- Combined Mass including all divisions: For 2 octaves with significant optional notes for 3, 4, 5 or more octaves or for 3 octaves with significant optional notes for 4, 5 or more octaves or for 3-5 octaves; difficulty level range 2 or 3.
Composition thematic types may include:
- Original compositions with or without additional secondary instruments.
- Arrangements with or without additional secondary instruments.
- Must be accompanied by documentation certifying that permission to make an arrangement and to publish has been granted by the copyright holder, or
- Must cite the publication date of the original score from which the arrangement was made if the original work is now in the public domain, or
- Must cite an authority which has declared the tune from which the arrangement was made an anonymous or folk melody that is in the public domain and therefore freely available.
The winning composition contest entry shall be considered for publication, and AGEHR Publishing shall be given the first opportunity to publish all Area XII Composition Contest winners.
Adjudication Criteria
An anonymous panel will adjudicate all compositions based on the following criteria:
Musicality (60 points)
· Interest – is the composition novel or interesting, and does it enhance the general handbell repertoire?
· Artistry – does the composition possess an inherent beauty of musical sound?
· Construction – is the composition musically well constructed?
Technical Merit (30 points)
· Appropriateness –is it a good composition for the instruction in a mass setting?
· Accessibility – will choirs be able to identify with the composition and want to play it outside of the conference?
· Playability – can the composition be played with relative ease, while still providing adequate challenge and interest?
Discretionary (5 points)
· Points may be given according to a judge’s fondness for a particular composition.
Five points will also be awarded to composers who reside within Area XII.
Awards
One $1,000 prize shall be awarded to the winning composition. Should the adjudication panel deem no piece acceptable, no prize shall be awarded. The panel, at their discretion, may cite Honorable Mentions (without a cash award).
Performance
The winning composition will be performed at the 2012 AGEHR Area XII conference to be held June 28-July 1, 2012, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. Area XII reserves the rights to the premiere performance of the winning composition.
Submission
All entries must be postmarked by February 26, 2011. Composition contest submissions:
- Should be unpublished and not under consideration for publication.
- Should be suitable for massed ringing at approximately 3-7 minutes in length.
- Must follow the guidelines in the AGEHR Notation Guide so as to be graded using the National Difficulty Level System and standardized notation.
- Shall include no identifying marks on copies of the composition itself (such as the applicant’s name). Applicants are encouraged to submit their compositions electronically.
- Shall include an audio copy of the piece. While not a requirement, handbells are the preferred instrument for the recording. It should be understood that a different timbre (such as a piano or synthesizer) could affect the judge’s perception of the piece.
- Shall be sent to the Composition Contest Chair at the address noted below.
- Must be submitted by the deadline for entries.
- Submission material (manuscripts, files and recordings) will not be returned and will be destroyed following the conclusion of the contest.
Mail entries to:
P.L. Grove
AGEHR Area XII Composition Contest
5665 Leona Street
Oakland, California, 94605
Electronic submissions should be e-mailed to pastchair@areaxii.org.
Summary of Rules
- Composition Contest applicants must be a member or associated with an organizational member of AGEHR in good standing.
- Only one composition will be chosen.
- Composition may be for Division A, B, C or Combined Mass.
- All compositions may or may not add additional secondary instruments.
- The winning Composition Contest entry shall be considered for publication.
- If the adjudication panel deems no piece acceptable, no prize shall be awarded.
- All compositions must be postmarked on or before February 26, 2011.
