Pencils Down!

"It's like bearing a royal heir; everybody's watching and everybody's attendant at the birth. The piece ideally ought to be perfect on its first outing, and that's just too much to ask of a new piece of music, unless the composer just simply took the easy route and played to his or her strengths."

"I never want to do that. I want to make my music an opportunity to extend myself, and my language." -- John Adams, on the premiere of a new commission.

When I was promoting Iron Composer on WCLV, Mark Satola prefaced one question with a remark that we usually think of classical compositions like symphonies as taking years to complete. On my way over to the studio, I had been thinking about that very facet of the competition and wondering which composers would benefit the most from writing more in the Iron Composer vein.

At risk of igniting another firestorm of indignation, Leonard Bernstein was the name that came to mind. Speed isn't the issue, so much as intent.

Striving for greatness was Bernstein's artistic cul-de-sac. If he could have let go of more of his music without overthinking it, my hunch is that his final tally would have included a few more highly regarded compositions.

While Adams disdains taking the easy route on a commission, I'd argue that most composers would be better off by 'playing to their strengths' on a commission. We'd end up with better new music on average, and the chances of the commission ever getting played again would increase.

Mozart was fast, legendarily so. He often had to write quickly to give himself something to perform. If he set about each new piece with the goal of 'extending himself and his musical language', no doubt we'd have gotten less great music out of him.

Not everyone is Mozart, in fact no one is. But the reverse is also true. Unless you're another Mahler (which you aren't), if you are spending a year or more writing a symphony, chances are that the extra time is not yielding the results you think it is. Who knows, maybe it's taking that long because your day job is in the way, but if you are equating a long gestation period with greatness, think again.

Every new piece doesn't have to break new ground.

Congrats to our NEW Iron Composer Sunny Knable!!

If you didn't listen to the live webcast last night, you certainly missed something special. History was made in the Third Annual Iron Composer Composition Competition, held at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

Iron Composer Deadline: July 15

There's only a week left to enter ANALOG's Iron Composer. We've been fielding entries from all over the country for this year's competition, which takes place in suburban Cleveland.

If you are a composer between the age of 18 and 26, just send a pdf to entry@ironcomposer.org,. Include your name, address, phone number, and email address. There is no entry fee.

The Winning Entry @ Iron Composer

Composer: Hermes Camacho
Title: Impressions of Wallpaper
Performer: Monument Piano Trio

Only 7 Shopping Days Left Until Iron Composer Deadline

If you are between the ages of 18 and 26 and live in the US, you've only got 7 more days to enter the Iron Composer competition. All you've got to do is email a representative score to Ken Bales. It couldn't be simpler.

You might be picked, along with 4 other finalists, to come to Omaha on September 4 to compete in the coolest quickdraw composition contest in the country. All the rules are here.

And if you're not a composer, we're still fielding suggestions for what the Secret Musical Ingredient should be. Just fill out this form or email us your ideas.

Meet Luke Furman

That's him holding the mic, and the surprised-looking fellow is beloved conductor Hal France. Luke was the winner of our Iron Composer Omaha competition last year. (Hal was the emcee)

Everyone had a ball with the competition, but it was only open to Nebraska residents. This year, we're going national.

We're looking for the next Luke Furman...er...Iron Composer.

If you're between the ages of 18-26 and a US resident, give it a shot. We hope to see you in Omaha!