The Longfellow Chorus Cantata Submission Page
View the finalists and alternate finalists in the cantata category of The 2009-10 Longfellow Chorus International Composers Competition
DEADLINES: August 1, 2009 (Stage I) and, for selected finalists, January 1 and February 1, 2010, (Stage II)
LISTEN to highlights from The Longfellow Chorus' innovative March 1, 2009, performance of Edward Elgar's Longfellow Cantata,
The Black Knight, conducted by Charles KaufmannCANTATA COMPETITION RULES
The Longfellow Chorus, of Portland, Maine, is a 50-member non-profit chorus, with the mission of inspiring new vocal and choral settings of the poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807-1882.
The Longfellow Chorus is a community chorus that maintains a high standard of performance. The SATB chorus may be divided into as many as eight parts, SSAATTBB.
Ranges: SI bb - b2; SII a - f#2; AI g - f2; AII f - e2; TI Bb - bb1; TII Bb - f#1; Bar Gb - f1; B Db - e1.
The Longfellow Chorus Orchestra is comprised of professional orchestra musicians from Maine and the neighboring area. Cantata settings must be orchestrated using the following instruments: one stand each Violin I, Violin II, Viola and Cello; one Double Bass; Flute I and Flute II (doubling Piccolo); Oboe I and II; Clarinet I, II and Bass Clarinet; Bassoon I and II; FULL PIPE ORGAN for occasional color only; Four Horns; Trumpet I and II; Trombone I and II; Bass Trombone; Tuba; Tympani and Two Additional Percussionists. This orchestration is identical to the orchestration of Edward Elgar's The Black Knight.
All settings must reflect an understanding of the life and work of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and help convey the meaning of the chosen text. Entries may represent varying compositional styles. Successful entries will show insight and imagination, be accessible to the average listener and geared toward the skill level of a community chorus comprised of adult amateur singers with excellent singing abilities. Additionally, but not exclusively, entries that incorporate culturally and ethnically diverse musical styles and traditions are encouraged. Winning settings will be premiered at the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 203rd Birthday Concert, February 27 and February 28, 2010, at The First Parish in Portland, UUA, Portland, Maine, Longfellow's boyhood church, and First Congregational Church of South Portland, Maine.
Cantata settings (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, prose or translation exclusively) will be at least 10 and no more than 20 minutes long by the end of Stage II, below. The work must tell a story and develop themes and motives. Chorus and orchestra only, no vocal soloists. Composers are required to submit anonymously the full score of any previously composed (non-Longfellow) orchestral work. Composers are also required to submit along with this score a 3-5 minute work sample of a proposed 10-20 minute cantata setting to be completed in Stage II. Demonstration of orchestration ability and nuanced understanding of choral voices is essential.
Stage I
Anonymous representative previous orchestral score and 3-5 minute work sample of a proposed 10-20 minute cantata setting the poetry, prose or translated text by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Deadline August 1, 2009.
Stage II (for selected finalists)
Anonymity lost. Completion of 10-20 minute Longfellow cantata.
The Longfellow Chorus reserves the right to deny performance to finalists not meeting Stage II deadlines, or not producing a cantata equaling the standards demonstrated and proposed during Stage I.
PRIZE
First Prize: $400, plus premiere performance February 27 and 28, 2010, and archival audio recording.
Finalist(s): No monetary award, but premiere performance February 27 and 28, 2010, and archival audio recording.
ENTRY FEE:
Stage I only -- $15
SUBMISSION FORMAT INFORMATION
There are two ways to submit scores: regular mail, or email.
Submitting by Email
Submitting by Regular Mail
The composer's name must not appear on the score.
Do not send sound files
Send two copies of the score.
Please include a cover letter with composer's name, address, contact information and title of the setting.
Submissions limited to one choral setting (less than 6 minutes), one solo song (tenor, less than six minutes) and one choral-orchestral cantata proposal (previously composed orchestral score and a 3-5 minute work sample of a 10-20 minute proposed Longfellow cantata) per composer.
MAIL TO:
The Longfellow Chorus, Inc.
C/O Charles Kaufmann
P. O. Box 5133
Portland, Maine
04101
Checks payable to "The Longfellow Chorus, Inc."
Questions? Contact Longfellow Chorus director Charles Kaufmann
Mission Statement of The Longfellow Chorus, Inc.:
"The Corporation shall organize and maintain a chorus to perform and record vocal and choral settings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poetry, written from 1840 to the present, shall inspire and commission new vocal and choral settings of Longfellow's poetry, and shall perform choral music of the Romantic and immediate post-Romantic eras, ca. 1825-1920."
All materials on this Web-site are protected by copyright of Charles Kaufmann, The Lygonia Press, The Longfellow Chorus, Inc., The Longfellow National Historic Site, Bowdoin College, Houghton Library, Harvard College, The First Parish in Portland, UUA, and/or the Maine Historical Society.
Contact The Longfellow Chorus:
e-mail: The Longfellow Chorus
The Longfellow Chorus
c/o Charles Kaufmann
P. O. Box 5133
Portland, Maine 04101
Back to The Longfellow Chorus International Composers Competition
The Longfellow Chorus is a community chorus that maintains a high standard of performance. The SATB chorus may be divided into as many as eight parts, SSAATTBB.
Ranges: SI bb - b2; SII a - f#2; AI g - f2; AII f - e2; TI Bb - bb1; TII Bb - f#1; Bar Gb - f1; B Db - e1.
The Longfellow Chorus Orchestra is comprised of professional orchestra musicians from Maine and the neighboring area. Cantata settings must be orchestrated using the following instruments: one stand each Violin I, Violin II, Viola and Cello; one Double Bass; Flute I and Flute II (doubling Piccolo); Oboe I and II; Clarinet I, II and Bass Clarinet; Bassoon I and II; FULL PIPE ORGAN for occasional color only; Four Horns; Trumpet I and II; Trombone I and II; Bass Trombone; Tuba; Tympani and Two Additional Percussionists. This orchestration is identical to the orchestration of Edward Elgar's The Black Knight.
All settings must reflect an understanding of the life and work of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and help convey the meaning of the chosen text. Entries may represent varying compositional styles. Successful entries will show insight and imagination, be accessible to the average listener and geared toward the skill level of a community chorus comprised of adult amateur singers with excellent singing abilities. Additionally, but not exclusively, entries that incorporate culturally and ethnically diverse musical styles and traditions are encouraged. Winning settings will be premiered at the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 203rd Birthday Concert, February 27 and February 28, 2010, at The First Parish in Portland, UUA, Portland, Maine, Longfellow's boyhood church, and First Congregational Church of South Portland, Maine.
Cantata settings (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, prose or translation exclusively) will be at least 10 and no more than 20 minutes long by the end of Stage II, below. The work must tell a story and develop themes and motives. Chorus and orchestra only, no vocal soloists. Composers are required to submit anonymously the full score of any previously composed (non-Longfellow) orchestral work. Composers are also required to submit along with this score a 3-5 minute work sample of a proposed 10-20 minute cantata setting to be completed in Stage II. Demonstration of orchestration ability and nuanced understanding of choral voices is essential.
Stage I
Anonymous representative previous orchestral score and 3-5 minute work sample of a proposed 10-20 minute cantata setting the poetry, prose or translated text by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Deadline August 1, 2009.
Stage II (for selected finalists)
Anonymity lost. Completion of 10-20 minute Longfellow cantata.
- Piano-vocal score by Jan. 1, 2010
- Full score and parts by Feb. 1, 2010
The Longfellow Chorus reserves the right to deny performance to finalists not meeting Stage II deadlines, or not producing a cantata equaling the standards demonstrated and proposed during Stage I.
PRIZE
First Prize: $400, plus premiere performance February 27 and 28, 2010, and archival audio recording.
Finalist(s): No monetary award, but premiere performance February 27 and 28, 2010, and archival audio recording.
ENTRY FEE:
Stage I only -- $15
SUBMISSION FORMAT INFORMATION
There are two ways to submit scores: regular mail, or email.
Submitting by Email
Submitting by Regular Mail
The composer's name must not appear on the score.
Do not send sound files
Send two copies of the score.
Please include a cover letter with composer's name, address, contact information and title of the setting.
Submissions limited to one choral setting (less than 6 minutes), one solo song (tenor, less than six minutes) and one choral-orchestral cantata proposal (previously composed orchestral score and a 3-5 minute work sample of a 10-20 minute proposed Longfellow cantata) per composer.
MAIL TO:
The Longfellow Chorus, Inc.
C/O Charles Kaufmann
P. O. Box 5133
Portland, Maine
04101
Checks payable to "The Longfellow Chorus, Inc."
Questions? Contact Longfellow Chorus director Charles Kaufmann
Mission Statement of The Longfellow Chorus, Inc.:
"The Corporation shall organize and maintain a chorus to perform and record vocal and choral settings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poetry, written from 1840 to the present, shall inspire and commission new vocal and choral settings of Longfellow's poetry, and shall perform choral music of the Romantic and immediate post-Romantic eras, ca. 1825-1920."
All materials on this Web-site are protected by copyright of Charles Kaufmann, The Lygonia Press, The Longfellow Chorus, Inc., The Longfellow National Historic Site, Bowdoin College, Houghton Library, Harvard College, The First Parish in Portland, UUA, and/or the Maine Historical Society.
Contact The Longfellow Chorus:
e-mail: The Longfellow Chorus
The Longfellow Chorus
c/o Charles Kaufmann
P. O. Box 5133
Portland, Maine 04101
Back to The Longfellow Chorus International Composers Competition