Daniel Costello, horn, at MicroFest Prague 2020 – Worldwide Open Call for Works #3 Results
The festival has been cancelled and postponed due to the state of emergency declared by the Czech government (full message here)
The results of the Call for Works for Horn
We are happy to have received 26 applications with compositions for horn, of considerable artistic level. For performance by horn player Daniel Costello in the recital concert on April 25th, 2020 in MicroFest Prague 2020, we have selected the following three compositions:
Michael MIKULKA: Cyclops (2018)
Pavel ŠABACKÝ: Lone interlocutions on floaty peaks (2019)
Louis AGUIRRE: CÁNTICOS A LO DIVINO (2017)
all three works are for horn solo without electronics.
Congratulations to the composers of selected works! The jury for the horn works consisted of the performer Daniel Costello (GER/USA), festival organisers Iva Oplištilová (CZ) and J-T Vesikkala Wittmacher (CZ/FIN), and external specialist on microtonality, composer Matthias S. Krüger (GER).
The distribution of the scores is visualised below. The three selections were also the three works that the jury had rated highest, based on artistic, programming, and technical criteria. Daniel as the performer will be happy to contact the selected composers soon and also give technical comments to the works that could not be selected at this time.
The original text of the Call: We announce that microtonal compositions for horn are sought for a concert in Prague on Saturday 25th of April, 2020. The music will be performed by hornist Daniel Costello (GER/USA) in a recital concert of the MicroFest Prague 2020 / Institut mikrointervalové hudby 2020.
Works should be for one performer and include microtonality. Stereo “tape” electronics is available.
Pieces can include (but are not limited to) advanced techniques such as:
• Half-valve and other microtonal techniques on the horn
• Singing through the instrument (with or without playing)
• Instrument deconstruction or other preparations
• Theatrical elements.
The horn is a standard double horn (F/Bb) design. Several types of mutes are available.
The concert space will be HAMU Galeria at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. In the concert, Daniel Costello and two other soloists on wind instruments will also showcase works from recent standard repertoire that include microtonality.
Works containing improvised, meaning not strictly and thoroughly notated, durations and dynamics will also be considered. Microtonal elements can be notated with high precision if desired.
Submission Rules and Guidelines
Please send a finished microtonal composition for horn (with or without stereo “tape”, no live electronics available). Works between 4 and 8 minutes are given slight preference. There are no limitations as to who may apply. The work may be old or new, previously performed or unperformed.
Your message has to contain the performance material and duration estimate for your finished work, year of composition, and your composer name, telephone number and email address. Other contact or biographical information is not necessary.
Live electronics, video, lighting or additional stage objects are not allowed.
Information about hornist Daniel Costello at www.danielcostello.info and about the festival at https://microintervalinstitute.wordpress.com.
1st Round
You may apply with several works, however, we cannot select more than one work from you for this concert.
All materials for the work must be sent by Sunday 15th of December to microintervalinstitute@gmail.com as email text and attachments. In the case of sound files, accessible links that allow the download of files for at least three days from the deadline will be accepted.
Only independently performable and finished works will be considered. 2 to 3 works to be played will be selected by a 4-member jury made of performer Daniel Costello (Germany/USA), festival organisers Iva Oplištilová (CZ) and J-T Vesikkala Wittmacher (CZ/FIN), and an internationally established microtonal composer as external member.
Submission Checklist
– finished microtonal score(s) in electronic format, using the allowed instrumentation only
– pdf of a legible score, electronically notated or scanned hand-written
– duration estimate and year of composition
– composer’s contact information: name, email, telephone
– send all materials to microintervalinstitute@gmail.com by Sunday 15th of December, 2019, 23:59 Czech time (UTC+2)
– no substantial changes to the work will be allowed before the performance
– participation is free, there is no entry fee for either round.
2nd Round
The composers of the selected works are announced by the jury and contacted for confirmation. After this your work will be rehearsed and performed by the hornist in the festival recital concert on Saturday 25th of April, 2020. Please indicate at this stage if the work has been previously performed and provide a short description text of the work and, if you like, press material for the website and program booklet.
The MicroFest Prague 2020 Concert in downtown Prague
Attendance in Prague on the MicroFest Prague / Institut mikrointervalové hudby 2020 to present yourself, and hear your work performed is preferred though not absolutely required.
We will provide you at least 90 minutes of rehearsals with the hornist in Prague. Online video meetings with the musician are possible beforehand, and the musician is based in Dessau, Germany.
You will be given free tickets and access to all official events (two days of lectures, three concerts) of the festival as well as some unofficial events.
The website containing this same information:
https://microintervalinstitute.wordpress.com/call-for-works-for-horn
Sincerely,
Daniel Costello, horn
Iva Oplištilová and J-T Vesikkala Wittmacher, festival directors
Information
The performer gladly answers any questions about composing for the horn: www.danielcostello.info
https://microintervalinstitute.wordpress.com
Czech Institute for Microtonal Music / Institut mikrointervalové hudby 