August Competition

A new competition for the month of August folks!

Your task is to compose a piece using the famous hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God", composed by Martin Luther, in an interesting and creative way. The melody, known by its German title "Ein' Feste Burg", is quite famous and easily recognizable. Many settings of it have been done in the past. It is your job to make another interesting one.

The Theme:

The melody alone:

ein_feste_burg melody only.mid

The melody with the "accepted" harmonization:

ein_feste_burg.mid

You are not bound to any particular harmonization; the above is just for reference.

The melody must be used in some obvious capacity within the piece but can otherwise be altered at will. For example, if one did a theme and variations piece, this would be the theme to vary. If one did a sonata form piece, this would be one of the exposition themes, etc. It's up to you.

Instrumentation:

No restrictions to instrumentation.

Length:

Pieces must be at least 3 mins. Movements are allowed if so desired.

Rubric:

Pieces will be judged out of 100 points.

40 - creativity in the use of the theme

30 - originality as a whole

20 - orchestration and idiomatic writing for instruments

10 - cleanliness of score (automatic 0 if no score)

Judges may not compete.

Deadline:

All entries are due by September 1, 2010, at 12:00am EST. All entries must have a score and audio realization, and, if possible, be uploaded through the network.

Entries will not be considered final until this deadline so revisions are allowed and welcome until then.

Judges:

1. Tokkemon

2. MichaelAlex

3. JohnPaxMulligan

Entrants:

1. jawoodruff

2. Ian

3. tuohey

4. JaredTC

5. MariusChamberlin

6. last life

7. abd_zibdeh

8. johnbucket

9. maestro

10. TheWannabeChopin

(More! More! More!)

Good luck and happy composing!

I will compete!

I'll judge.

I'm in.

I'll help judge.

edited.

I'll give this a go. Quick question: Is midi acceptable as the audio submission?

Quick question: Is midi acceptable as the audio submission?

Sure. :)

Count me in! This sounds like fun.

You already know I'm in.

...still don't like organs though, so don't expect any... :P

Now is one of those times I really wish I had GarageBand and Logic...

Going to do this. No idea how though.

ill try my best ! i see some of the best composers on YC competing! anyway good luck for all

Do your best on composing it. If you don't finish we'll see about adding a 4th judge.

Isn't this piece also called Psalm 46? I played a piece with the name Psalm 46 with my band last year and it sounds a lot like this. Anyway, I'll give this a shot, ideas are already coming.

Isn't this piece also called Psalm 46? I played a piece with the name Psalm 46 with my band last year and it sounds a lot like this.

"Ein feste berg" was written by Martin Luther, and it is one of his most well-known hymns. It is based on Psalm 46 from the Bible. It makes sense that a piece based on Luther's hymn would be titled after the original inspiration for the hymn.

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.

Selah.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.

9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Selah.

-Peter

Withdraws*

Don't let him withdraw, his piece is good.

I'll stay and compete... I spent a lot of time on my piece... no reason to give up just because of bad reviews.

11 Days left folks! Keep writing!

Here is my entry: http://www.youngcomposers.com/pg/Music/jawoodruff/composition?entry=49924

Let me join! :D

8 Days left folks! Start finishing up those scores!!

The finishing touches are the hardest part.

5 days! Get your submissions in soon!