Variating Competition

GUIDELINES:

Take this (attached) theme, and create from it 10 variations, that is, newly created original melodies that are loosely or wholly derived from the base theme. You must justify every part of every variation with why it relates to the main theme.

Looking at and carefully studying the theme, discern any patterns, motifs, and musical occurences and really pick apart these components to help you variate.

There are a number of musical components that appear in a theme that you must consider when studying it:

1. Tonal Center. Key, 'do', tonic. A key may modulate by itself, within a phrase or to contrast two phrases. It may be wholly or partly modal, scalar, atonal, chromatic, etc.

2. Pitch Relation. Intervals. What kind of intervals are more recurrent? Build your material upon the study regarding intervals, or go against the common to create an 'anti'-variation, but make sure you clarify what you are doing.

3. Rhythm. After all, music is not just intoned pitches. There very well may be rhythmic motives here and there, adding to the overall coherency of the work. Use rhythmic variation well to gain respect.

Make sure to never stray from the core material and to really focus on what's going on in the melody. Of course, the melody is not the perfect melody, but it has been constructed to be easy to understand and to be original and open to expansion.

Some extra guidelines and possible helpers:

1. There is a great use of intervallic repetition here. Use it wisely.

2. Do not just repeat certain things between your 10 different variations. Really variate them and think about each variation seperately, and why each one is different.

3. Watch out for modulations and chromatic notes, they appear occasionally here.

4. Really pay attention to patterns. It might be useful to take a serial approach on a couple melodies-- really define yourself to strict guidelines regarding intervals, rhythms, and such. It would be good to create rules for yourself, as to not stray from the core material.

5. Really trust in the core material, like in a 12-tone row. Sometimes, do not variate the pitches, but go crazy with the rhythm. Or do the opposite.

It is all up to the composer. BUT:

1. Keep this on ONE VOICE ONLY.

2. DO NOT harmonize.

Other guidelines will be posted as the progress increases. (like the thread closing)

Ah, that was quicker than I had expected, Nick. Good work. :shifty:

Wait, I don't get this: this isn't orchestrated? Just a single-voice melody writing?

I think it is going to start out as a single melody, but as the competition progresses competitors will be required to add other elements into their pieces.

See here:

STAGE: 1. Variations on a Theme

STAGES TO COME: (in no particular order) Instrumentational variating, accompanimental creation, harmonization, accompanimental and harmony variating, etc.[/b]

"Stage 1", then "stages to come".

You need judges? I'd love to judge.

Cavatina: I'll put you down as a judge.

And Mr. Canzano, what are you confused about?

GUIDELINES:

Take this (attached) theme, and create from it 10 variations, that is, newly created original melodies that are loosely or wholly derived from the base theme. You must justify every part of every variation with why it relates to the main theme.

There aren't many restrictions at all!

So we are to make melodies only, not actual pieces?

I'm thinking more a theme and variations work for the piano. Sure, you can mess with the melody all you want, but at the end of the day, it's just melody unless you have some background. Nick, seriously, are you wanting us to JUST write monophonic melodies?

ptk, if you don't like it, you can change it! That's the spirit of variation. Just make sure it shows it came from this original, that's all.

Nick, count me in for this. Just give me a week to get done with finals, ok? :)

I think we're going to start off with members writing a monophonic, single line melody of variations, but after that there will be instrumentational variating, accompanimental creation, harmonization, accompanimental and harmony variating, etc. as mentioned in the original post.

Thanks Nick - just let me know when judging deadlines are, etc. - I'll toss it in my calendar.

People, calm down. This is meant to be a study, a tool if you will, to help with variating. Who cares what you think of the main melody, as long as you can recognize that is it NOT random, and that there are many recurring ideas and motifs included in it. It is YOUR job to create out of that main melody 10 melodies, presumably ones that more fit your fancy. If you don't think you can do that, then by all means you shouldn't enter the competition.

And yes, this is the FIRST STAGE of this competition (just melody!). If people take it at least semi-seriously, we will have more stages and I think we all will be very happy with the end results.

This idea was spawned through my own compositional experience, and that of what I see in others' works: Lack of planning, lack of interesting variations, poor harmonic structure and uninteresting instrumentation. This competition will (hopefully) ultimately allow us to hone our skills in this art, and allow us more proficiency in composing in the future. But, we must start at the ground level, then build up. Not tackle it all at once, because we will not learn it all as well.

Huh? I think i'll sit this one out.

We seen how Bach worked that odd little theme in,

"The Musical Offering",

Bach's gift to the King.

I need a subject that would make more sense,

If not, I won't waste my time,

as I have making up this rhyme.

Anyways, I have said enough,

Next time I may enter, if it fits my skill,

This time the idea didn't awaken a thrill.

Jeremy

But in what way? In separate pieces, across the piece? I'm confused :wacko:

I picked a subject that had a lot to variate with... There are rhythmic patterns harmonic patterns, and intervallic patterns. It is the composer's job to make sense out of it! :(

I guess some people are still confused about this: This is akin to the planning stages of a piece of music you are about to write. You are writing a theme and variations, and the safest way and most inducive way to learning is by just mapping out your variations. Later on you will choose your instruments and harmonize the melodies, variate on that, etc. But for right now you will craft 10 variations of your own on this little melody. It may seem a little easy, but I'm giving you all plenty of time so you get them just the way you want.

P.S. If you still have questions and or doubts, please PM me.

Yes, 10 variations, but melody only, or orchestrated? Can we choose if it's piano or orchestra? Etc.

He said to PM hiiiim... ;)

I'm in.

Just melody. One line. 10 melodies that are all one voice. Nothing else. :P

No! You are not creating a piece, you are merely sketching out 10 variations in the simplest form: one voice. After this stage we will add harmony and counterpoint and instruments. For right now we are not writing for an instrument or a player.

Count me in on this.

I should be able to come up with 10 melodies from that.

Doesn't mean they'll be good, but I'll try.

Oy...

But counterpoint will later be added to the Single Voice Themes?

I am still not entering, just wondering.

I'm not too good at doing such abstractly - is it possible to join in at a later part of the competition, or is it all integrated?

N.S. Canzano, if you don't see the worth in entering this competition, then don't enter it. That's all I can really say.

As for Spc1st: As we go along, we will be adding to the 10 variations we each have crafted, so there is really no way to join in without doing the 10 variations. The purpose of this is that everyone will have their own technically-crafted theme and variations piece, of which they have studied and worked hard on, at the end. The basis for the piece, of course, are the 10 variations I'm asking you to create now.

Count me in.

Added.

Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Count me in!

PS: Do we start right now?