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BCMG Commonwealth Music Relay

This resource is for international participants of Birmingham Contemporary Music Group's Commonwealth Music Relay composing workshop.

On Tuesday 30 July, young composers from around the Commonwealth will join young composers in the UK to create new music inspired by the specially commissioned song Symphony. The day will be led by composer Dr Kirsty Devaney of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Symphony was produced in online workshops by young composers, living in the five regions of the Commonwealth - Siri from India, Jahfari from Antigua and Barbuda, James from Australia, Jacob from Malta and Ajiri from Nigeria. The idea is that song gets passed around the Commonwealth like a relay baton, and is re-imagined by everyone who encounters it.

Important dates and times:

Please register for the workshop as soon as possible by email to learning@bcmg.org.uk. Places are limited and not guaranteed. BCMG will confirm your participation by email. Closing date 23 July.
Friday 26 July, 09:00 BST - submission of draft compositions
Tuesday 30 July - workshop day (International participants 11:00 - 18:15 BST, UK participants 10:00 - 18:15 BST)
Tuesday 30 July, 15:30 BST - submission of completed composition

Requirements for international participants:

Stable internet connection
Access to notation software - Sibelius, MuseScore or the ability to create PDF scores to send by email
Reasonable fluency in English or somebody to translate for you

All music should be sent to learning@bcmg.org.uk.

Commonwealth music relay 3

The Composing Brief

We want you to re-imagine the song Symphony (see below).

Length of composition: 1-2 minutes long
Ensemble: 3 BCMG musicians - Tony Robb (flute), Naomi Sullivan (saxophone), and Mana Shibata (oboe)

You can compose your music in whatever style or genre you like, or no style or genre at all. We would like you to use melodic or rhythmic idea(s) from the newly composed song Symphony. What you chose to do is entirely up to you, but we expect the final pieces to sound nothing like the original! On the following pages you can find:

A video to support composing your music
Videos about the different instruments you will be composing for

All music composed as part of the Commonwealth Music Relay will be uploaded a map. The map and more information about the wider project can be found HERE.

This project is a partnership with The Commonwealth Resounds.

You can find the sheet music and lyrics for Symphony here and listen to it on the Commonwealth Resounds website.

BCMG flautist Tony Robb talks about composing for flute

For more information and resources, please see the complete Composing for Flute resource HERE.

BCMG saxophonist Kyle Horch talks about composing for saxophone

In the workshop, your piece will be played by Naomi Sullivan, a different BCMG saxophonist. For more information and resources, please go to the complete Composing for Saxophone resource HERE.

BCMG oboist Melinda Maxwell talks about composing for oboe

In the workshop, your piece will be played by Mana Shibata, a different BCMG oboist. For more information and resources, please see the complete Composing for Oboe resource HERE.