Challenge: Composing, Deaf

Listening to your composition as you write is an important part of the compositional process, whether you use a piano, your voice, a sequencer, or some other method of playback. But what would happen if you stopped listening? What if you could only use your inner ear to "hear" your piece?

Here's the challenge:

• Compose a piece without relying on any sort of external playback. That means you can't sing it, play it on an instrument, or use any computer program to play it back.

Here are the rules:

• You must follow common-practice period style conventions.
• You may use any instrumentation you wish (try to keep it within common-practice norms, though; no steelpans, now!).
• The composition should be under 10 minutes.

[EDIT] Deadline: ongoing (although I will provide comments on any submissions received before May 1, 2013). All forum members are welcome to submit comments on any of the submissions.

OK?

Ready? Set? Go!

Pretty much what all 21st century composers are doing.

Well, that's why I've placed a style restriction... and don't hate on them too much, now. :D

I guess this is a good exercise, because it is good practice to be not-reliant on software audio playback capabilities.

But, if that is the thing you want to challenge those who need that challenge with; how do you control that? It is not in the criteria you provide by which the piece will be judged, because it can't be...

Basicly this challenge boils down to writing a CPE piece, which you will judge on its CPE-ness. That is fine of course, but the whole concept of writing a piece only by inner ear and imagination (for which 'deaf' is a real misnomer) gets lost...

Basicly this challenge boils down to writing a CPE piece, which you will judge on its CPE-ness. That is fine of course, but the whole concept of writing a piece only by inner ear and imagination (for which 'deaf' is a real misnomer) gets lost...

(me reading): "Basicly this challenge boils down to writing a Carl Philipp Emanuel piece...."

=/

It's impossible to believe that anybody would actually do that. Therefore I believe Luderart will win this one since he's the only composer here who really does not hear what he composes. :p

I guess this is a good exercise, because it is good practice to be not-reliant on software audio playback capabilities.

But, if that is the thing you want to challenge those who need that challenge with; how do you control that? It is not in the criteria you provide by which the piece will be judged, because it can't be...

 

Basicly this challenge boils down to writing a CPE piece, which you will judge on its CPE-ness. That is fine of course, but the whole concept of writing a piece only by inner ear and imagination (for which 'deaf' is a real misnomer) gets lost...

True, I suppose. I guess we could always just take away the style requirement and judging components. I mainly included the style component because (a) I thought it would be easier to write (and judge the writing) in the common-practice style since probably most of us have studied that style in some capacity (although I suppose I could be wrong there...), and (b) to prevent any troll posts of random atonal stuff. :P You're probably right in that we don't really need a deadline or judging, since the idea's more useful as an exercise in training your inner ear than as a competition. Just thought it night be interesting to see what people came up with.

And Sojar, I would totally do it. Our aural skills classes do eight-measure periods this way every two weeks or so... :D

Here's the challenge:

• Compose a piece without relying on any sort of external playback. That means you can't sing it

Does the ban on singing include humming & whistling melodies?

Yes, Fermata (no humming or whistling). For this challenge, you may only subvocalize your piece (use your vocal chords without making any sound). It's basically mind training. :)

Yes, Fermata (no humming or whistling). For this challenge, you may only subvocalize your piece (use your vocal chords without making any sound). It's basically mind training. :)

It sounds rather hard without the humming.

Can I participate with a textbook-fugue? for that's the only thing I might be able to cope with under the given conditions.

Yes, but that's the goal, to develop your inner ear. Textbook fugue sounds great; better to start out with something you're reasonably comfortable writing.

(Topic fixed)

Here's my entry to the challenge:

http://www.youngcomposers.com/music/listen/7379/three-sententiae-for-piano-op-244/

The challenge had been on my mind for a long time. I remembered it on a day when I deliberately hadn't turned on the computer and yet wished to compose. So I took pen and paper and set to work. However, I limited the challenge to the first 5 bars and developed the rest with notation software the next day. I encourage others to take this modified version of the challenge which makes it much simpler.
 

oops, didn't realize this post was in 2013.  Never mind....

Well Im really late then..... @bkho Can I post my peice in this forum and in the appropriate instrumentations forum @MaqamDjinn and Can I use a reference note                         Ex: Listen to a C once and then use my inner ear for the rest?@luderart

@Fermata

9 hours ago, Youngc said:

@bkho@MaqamDjinnCan I use a reference note Ex: Listen to a C once and then use my inner ear for the rest?@luderart

 

 

I think it would be OK to use a reference note if you find it necessary. However, in my case, I did not use one. If you read the challenge carefully, you are not even allowed to sing the notes aloud. However, as I have mentioned, beyond the first 5 bars, I went back to my normal process of composition, using a composition software and of course listening to the playback. Good luck with the challenge. And of course, post the piece in the forums. I had done so but it got deleted once the site was renovated 2 years ago. Maybe I'll post it once again.