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Call for Scores: 2024 Birmingham New Music Festival

Call for Scores: 2024 Birmingham New Music Festival
Concert dates: TBD dates between May 5-17, 2024
Submission deadline: Variable, see details for each category
Venues: TBD
Instrumentation: Variable

2024 will mark the 10th anniversary of the Birmingham New Music Festival, with events planned during the second and third week of May. Current members of the Birmingham Art Music Alliance are invited to send separate submissions for any of the following three categories. Take note of different requirements and deadlines for each.

BYO:

Submit works for any instrumentation and be responsible for securing performers and organizing rehearsals. This option can also include performances by the composer, works with electronics, improvisation, and/or presentation of music by living non-local composers. Compensation per member for performances in the BYO category is limited to $440 (up to four performers). Works for larger ensembles are feasible if the submitter will compensate additional performers.

By January 10, 2024, email  with the subject “BNMF2024 BYO” and the following info:

* composer, working title, duration, instrumentation and/or number of performers, technical requirements, and optional recording.

List up to 3 submissions, ordered by preference, in the body of the same email message.

The BAMA Players/Stravinsky Septet:

This program, including up to six BAMA works, will close with a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s Septet for clarinet, bassoon, horn, piano, violin, viola, and cello — which reflects the change in his music from neoclassical to serial. Current members are invited to submit compositions of 6 minutes or less that are somehow influenced by the Septet, for any combination of instruments from the septet.


By December 15, 2023, email  with the subject “BNMF2024 Septet” and the following info:

* composer, working title, duration, and instrumentation.

Scores and parts are due by April 20, 2024.

Solo Cello Works:

Craig Hultgren invites current BAMA members to submit forward-looking solo pieces no more than 12 minutes in duration. The 
pieces may be for acoustic cello or the ecello. They may have electronics.

By December 15, 2023, email  with the subject “BNMF2024 Cello” and the following info:


* composer, working title, duration, technical requirements, and either a brief description of the planned work or (if complete) the score as a PDF attachment.

Scores and performance materials must be received by March 15, 2024.

For insight into the submission, please contact Craig at 

Call for Scores: Iron Giant Collaboration

Concert Date(s): TBD Fall 2024

Submission Deadlines:

  • Notification of participation: November 1, 2023
  • Submission of score: May 15, 2024

How to Submit: email with subject “Iron Giant Collaboration”

Concert Locations: TBD community venues

Instrumentation: Undefined (Read the “What” section below)

Duration: No specific duration.

Who: Iron Giant (Sam Herman, Brett Huffman, Seth Noble, and Justin Wallace)

What: A concert series of scalable compositions to be performed in several different community spaces in Birmingham — such as parks, galleries, and libraries. Scores should be adaptable to completely different settings and instrumentation. Iron Giant primarily function as a quartet but may expand the ensemble for some programs. Some approaches to composition include:

  • indeterminate instrumentation, duration, number of performers, and/or octave displacement
  • graphic or recipe notation (see Feldman and Oliveros)
  • an existing piece that is conducive to adaptation by Iron Giant

Examples of compositions follow. Most of the links are performances with a score displayed. There are multiple performances of many of these works on YouTube.

Iron Giant are willing to present a workshop and/or participate in a Zoom call for informal Q&A. They will be available for composers to contact as questions arise.

Before November 1, notify if planning to compose for this project. Please also indicate if you would like to participate in a workshop or call with Iron Giant, both, or neither. 

When: 

  • Concerts to be in Fall of 2024
  • BAMA request for participation to end November 1, 2023
  • BAMA call for scores to end May 15, 2024
  • Workshop/Zoom call TBD, if enough interest

2023 Summer Concert

Concert: 2023 Summer Concert
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2023
Performance Date: May 23, 24, or 25 (Exact date TBD)
Venue: TBD

Instrumentation: String Trio (Viola, Violin, Cello) + Piano – May submit for any combination except solo piano.

How to submit: Send the information below to  by April 30, 2023

Composer Name:
Title:
Approximate Length (no longer than 10 minutes):
PDF Copies of Score

Call for Scores: Iron Giant Collaboration

Concert Date: August (Exact Date TBD)

Submission Deadlines:

· Notification of general interest: March 25, 2022

· Submission of score: May 31, 2022

Submission:  with title “Iron Giant Collaboration”

Concert Location: Railroad Park and 2 more parks TBD

Instrumentation: Undefined (Read the “What” section below)

Duration: No specific duration, though the program will be for a total of 60 minutes of music.

Who:

BAMA collaboration with Iron Giant Percussion.  Iron Giant Percussion is a contemporary music ensemble based in Birmingham, Alabama.

What:

A concert series of pieces of indeterminate style/instrumentation to be performed at different parks in Birmingham. Each composer would write a piece of 2-4 parts for undetermined instruments. The parts can have descriptors on the type of sound such as “metallic”, “melodic”, etc. but it would not be for a specific instrument. Iron Giant would then choose the instrumentation to go along with the piece. The instruments won’t necessarily be your standard instruments (they’ve created xylophones from bottles for example).

Examples of compositions“In C” – Terry Riley.

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpYBhX0UH04

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX96z7AuICs

· A workshop will also be provided by Iron Giant on writing for percussion/in an indeterminate style as well to assist the composers. Iron Giant will be available for composers to contact as they write their pieces after the workshop.

When: 

· Concert to be in the August timeframe

· BAMA request for general interest to end March 25

· BAMA call for scores to end May 31

· Workshop in late March (exact date TBD)

Where:

· 3 parks in total. 1 at Railroad Park, the other 2 TBD.

Other Notes:

· Each concert may have the same pieces (depending on the number of submissions), but it could be an entirely new experience based on the instruments used.

· Iron Giant has mentioned they have pieces from BAMA composers but often can’t perform them because of the instrumentation. This style of writing would allow them to continue to perform the pieces regardless of instrumentation at hand which can lead to continual promotion for our composers.

Please contact Eric Mobley  with questions.

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS

BAMA is an organization that evolves according to the needs and aesthetics of its members. During the past 26 years, many ambitious and successful projects happened when one member opened an initiative to everyone, or just threw out a suggestion that caught fire. With that in mind, you are invited to suggest up to five ideas for concerts, events, guest artists, etc.  Each proposal should be something that, if realized, you would participate in and somehow help to facilitate. Otherwise, any ideas are welcome, from the practical to wildly aspirational.

Please send to  by August 17. Proposals will be 
compiled for a subsequent survey, the results of which will inform 
future programming.

Here are a few examples:

* String orchestra (4/3/2/2/1 or larger)
* A series of concerts featuring new works for pipe organ, programmed in 
several regional churches, ideally in collaboration with the American 
Guild of Organists.
* Trombonist specializing in new music, who, in addition to bringing 
repertoire, would consider new submissions (notated, improv, and/or 
electronic), and play solo or with BAMA performing members.
* Iron Giant Percussion Quartet + Piano, in collaboration with 
choreographers and dancers

Call for Scores: Chamber Music @ AEIVA, 2021

BAMA is partnering with the UAB concert series “Chamber Music @ AEIVA” to present a concert that connects music with the art exhibit “Marking Time,” which will be on display in the AEIVA galleries.

Concert date:  October 28, 2021, 5:30 or 6pm

Submission deadline: September 15, 2021

Concert location: Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts

Instrumentation: Any combination of guitar, piano, clarinet, violin, viola

Duration: No specific duration, though the program will total 30 – 45 minutes of music.

Requirements: Compositions must relate in some way to the art of exhibit “Marking Time”, an exhibit featuring 50+ works of amateur and professional visual artists impacted by the criminal justice system and mass incarceration. Themes include but are not limited to conveying the concept of time passing and highlighting every-day life that is missed.

Here is a summary of a similar exhibit: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5208

How to Submit:

   Include the following information with submission:

  • Composer
  • Title
  • Duration
  • Date of composition
  • Instrumentation
  • A brief description of how the piece relates to the exhibit’s work

Please send a PDF of your score and parts to . Recordings are welcome but not required.

Questions? Contact:

Call for Scores: What Can I See from Railroad Park

Concert dates: October 2021
Submission deadline: Proposal by 03/31/2021, performance materials by 8/15/2021
Venue: Railroad Park
Instrumentation: Saxophone Quartet, optional additional instruments and/or conductor

Submit a new work that is informed by something that is visible from Birmingham’s Railroad Park. The Cahaba Saxophone Quartet will form the core instrumentation. You may specify additional instruments, providing willingness to secure performers, arrange rehearsals, and supplement performer fees. ASO Assistant Conductor Kevin Fitzgerald is available as needed for, as example, works with spatial displacement or extra performers. Preferred are pieces with all four instruments (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone sax), but subsets may be considered. Preference may also be given to works under 10 minutes.

How to Submit:  Proposal: By March 31, send a description of the landmark and how it will be the basis of the composition, instrumentation, and projected duration to  using “RR Park proposal” as the subject. 
 Materials: If the proposal is accepted, by August 15, send score, parts, title, duration, brief bio and program notes to  using “RR Park concert” as the subject.