The Early Music Show

Radio 3/NCEM Instrumental Composers Award 2013

For the 2013 competition the National Centre for Early Music and BBC Radio 3's Early Music Show have joined forces with the acclaimed baroque period ensemble Florilegium, to invite young composers to submit a new three to four minute instrumental "dance" for the group to play. In the spirit of the baroque dance suite, composers have been permitted to create an original work based on any dance style that they wish - old or new - but the new work must be written for the four core players of the period ensemble Florilegium.

There are two age categories: 19-25 and 18 years and under, and so two prizes. For full details and terms and conditions follow the link to the NCEM website on this page.

The four musicians of Florilegium can each double instruments, offering composers a selection from eight instruments. These instruments are: flute/recorder; violin/viola d’amore; cello/piccolo cello; harpsichord/chamber organ.

For more information about some of the more unusual baroque instruments in the list, follow the link on this page for a pamphlet offering background about each one.

Also…

Take a look at the Early Music Show download on “Baroque Instruments” in which Catherine Bott focuses on the viola d’amore.

COMPETITION LATEST!

The Winners of the 2013 Award were announced at the National Centre for Early Music in York on Saturday 27th April. Our congratulations to Lilly Vadaneaux, (the youngest ever winner of the Award) for her piece “Sarabande”, and Joseph Howard for his piece “Move”. They will have their pieces performed by the Florilegium at the Bath International Festival on 1st June where they will be recorded and broadcast on the Early Music Show on 23rd June. The other finalists were:

In the 19 to 25 age category:

Seán Doherty - Springar
Marianna Filippi - The Charlatan's Masquerade

In the 18-and-under category:

Lillie Harris - The Dahomey Amazons Take a Tea Break
Kethaki Prathivadi - Vivimos El Tango
Yuanfan Yang - Crushed Suites