call-for-scores 2023

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Rosetta Call for Scores 2023/2024 “Notation : Mutation | 変異するノーテーション”

 

Result – selected works

Thank you for the 57 high-quality submissions.
After careful screening, we have decided to chose following 7 works.

  • Max Wanderman / Erosion Study
  • Francesc Llompart / No Time Too Loose
  • Milan Guštar / Attraction for Four
  • Daria Baiocchi / Open
  • Kaoru Yano / Unclear Voice for 4 voices
  • John Franek / Sorry!Sorry!Sorry!Sorry!
  • M.A. Tiesenga / shape(dream)

We will give premiers to selected works on 5/12/2024 at Kyoto City University of Arts Muti-Purpose Gallery.
Concert details will be announced soon.


Rosetta, dedicated to exploring new perspectives on music performance and the evolution of music presentations, is calling for works to be showcased in a performance scheduled for May 12 2024 at Kyoto City University of Arts (KCUA).
For this event, we are honored to have Mieko Shiomi, the renowned Fluxus artist and composer, along with Daisuke Terauchi as guest artists, and the performative art collective Yaeichi as guest performers..

We set our call’s theme as “Notation : Mutation | 変異するノーテーション”

In Western music, traditional staff notation has long been the primary means of notation. However, in recent and contemporary times, diverse methods have emerged, including conceptual graphical scores, video notations verbal notations, and developed staff notations or tablatures. This indecates that the idea of the notation used to record musical compositions not only serve as techniques for documenting and transmitting created music but also function as media for expanding creativity.

Originating in the 1960s, the work of Fluxus stands out as one of the most significant examples. Its members frequently employed text-based instructional scores for their work, which, in the context of Western classical music, might have been likened to a sudden ‘mutation’ of traditional staff notation. Presently, these works are increasingly receiving recognition within the context of contemporary art, despite their inherent musical richness. With the aspiration to reignite an impact on the music field similar to the cascading spread of Fluxus, we have centered our theme around the perspective of ‘notation.’

Selection Criteria for Submissions:

  1. Creativity of the work and clarity of notation.

  2. Feasibility for exhibition or performance within the given rules.

Any notated work is welcome, whether it’s musical or not.
The performance venue is planned to be a flat space without a stage. However, we welcome submissions of work with unconventional ideas that do not conform to the typical framework of a concert.


General Rules

  • Duration: Up to approx. Fifteen minutes. Very short pieces are welcome too.
  • Instrumentation: Combination of at least 2 different instruments/voice/performers listed below.
    • Mandolin (one mandola tenore*/mandocello/mandoloncello available), Up to 2 performers
    • Classical guitar (Electric/steel guitar is available too ):  1 performer
    • Saxophone (Soprano, Alto, Tenor): 1 performer
    • Clarinet (B♭, A, Bass): 1 performer
    • Left-hand Piano: 1 performer, or 2 performers only for 2 or 3 hands duets (at least one must be a left-hand pianist)
    • Singers (Bass-Baritone, Mezzo-Soprano): 1 performer each
    • Percussions (see below for details): 1 performer
    • Other Performers: Up to approximately 5 performers*
      *Performers are capable of simple instrument playing, singing, narration, and various other non-specialist performances. Please note that performers have a certain level of musical competence but do not specialize in physical movements such as dance or acting.
      If you have any questions or concerns regarding ‘Other performers’, please inquire through the contact form.

Cautions for instrumentation

    • Mandolin:
      – Tremolo / Picking technique must be clearly notated for mandolin.
      – Mandola Tenore is GDAE tuning, an octave lower than mandolin.
      – We do not accept duo pieces that consist solely of mandolin family instruments. Please include another instrument, voice, or other form of performance.
    • Piano:
      -Internal technique for piano can be used, but should be suitable for left hand playing. Please mind that direct play and the prepared materials on piano strings can be denied by the concert hall and even your piece is selected, we might need to ask an alternative version without those thecniques for the premier.
      -We only accept works that include another instrument in combination with left-hand, left-hand duo, or left-hand and both-hand duo. Please note that we do not accept piano duets.
    • Percussion:
      Common Western percussion instruments are allowed; however, there may be limitations when it comes to using multiple large instruments or special instruments that are difficult to prepare. Please contact us to inquire about availability if you are considering using percussions.
    • Singers:
      Texts used for singing must comply with one of the following conditions.
      (1) Text written in Japanese or its translation (English, German, Italian or French. Other languages can be used if phonetic symbols are provided). In both cases, only Public Domain Texts under Japanese Copyright law of Japan are eligible.
      (2) Original texts by the applicants. Text should be in Japanese, English, German, Italian or French. Other languages can be submitted if phonetic symbols are provided. Non-linguistic methods of expression are also acceptable.
      (3) Original text written by an author other than the applicant may be used only under permission from the author. The text should be in Japanese, English, German, Italian or French. Other languages can be submitted if phonetic symbols are provided.
    • For non-singing verbal performances, the above-mentioned copyright conditions also apply. Regarding the language, all performers are native Japanese speakers, with some having a certain level of proficiency in English, German, and French.
    • Electronics/Tape/Amplification:
      -Live electronics is not accepted.
      -Pre-recorded (non-live) materials with stereo/mono output can be handled by performers.
      -Use of common music/ media players (ex: smartphones, small boombox) is also available.
      -Amplification of instruments is not accepted, except for electric guitar.
  • Deadline 31 JAN 2024
  • No entry fee / No age limit / Open to anybody
  • The submitted work must not be previously performed or published online nor on-site.
  • We welcome any styles of notation. Traditional notation as well as Graphic, Video, Sound or any other media or combination of those is accepted.
  • The linguistic instruction should be written in either in English or Japanese.
  • We accept one work from one composer/artist.
  • The selection will be made by 1 March 2024. The result will be announced on the website.
  • 5 to 10 works will be chosen to be performed at the concert, by the selection committee.
    The selection committee members:
    Mieko SHIOMI (Artist/Composer), Daisuke Terauchi (Composer/Improviser) and members of Rosetta and Yaeichi.

How to submit your work
You will find the submission form on the bottom of this page.
You will need a PDF file of the Score
(max. 10MB)

Please name your file as follows

“YourWorkTitle_YourLastName.pdf”
e.g.) “Chaconne_Bach.pdf”

if you wish to include non-pdf materials, please upload them to below platforms and list the links on your PDF file.

-If you use video score, please upload it to
YouTube or Vimeo

– If you use graphic and sound scores, please upload it to Google Drive

If you encounter any difficulties sharing your data with us, or have further questions,
please contact us from our contact form.

Information for selected works and the creators

  • All rights of the selected work will remain with the creator of the work, except for the performing right ONLY for the concert held in spring 2024, when the piece will be given the premier.
  • There will be no cash prize.
  • Rehearsal for selected work creators reside outside of Japan will be done through recording correspondence or on web streaming.
  • Selected work creators are encouraged to visit the concert, however, they must pay travel expenses themselves. Recording will be supplied to all selected work creators.

    Submission Form

    The deadline was 31st Jan, the form is now closed.