Call for Music

The International Computer Music Conference (ICMC) 2011 invites submissions of musical works for presentation at the Conference.

Composers can submit up to two works, and has to assign each to one of the following eleven categories:

Qualifications and Deadlines (all categories)

This call is open to all composers regardless of nationality, age, or career stage.
Submission work(s) must be submitted online at: http://icmc2011.org.uk/submit/ (Accessible from 6 December 2010)
Submissions open 6 December 2010
Deadline for submission of works is 25 January 2011
Notification of selected works will be announced on 4 April 2011
Artists will be notified of the results by email. Results will also be posted on http://icmc2011.org.uk/attend/program/

ICMC 2011 submission deadline extended. In response to requests from the community we have extended the deadline for submissions of music and papers for ICMC 2011 by one week to midnight (GMT) Tuesday 25th January 2011.

All submissions will be subject to blind review by an international panel of experts specialist in the given category of submission, with access to all submitted materials online. Final deadlines for media and any other performance material as applicable (including scores and parts) must be met if a piece is to be programmed, in order to facilitate rehearsals and technical organization for the concerts.

Three different venues throughout the conference will have different technical capabilities (more information can be found at …), and the concerts will be curated under each submission category (post-jury) to ensure the most appropriate venue for each work. Fixed media works not selected for concert presentation may be programmed in one of the listening rooms. Please indicate on the submission form if you do not wish to be considered for this option.

Selected artists who wish to have their pieces presented at the conference must register for the conference by 11th May. Attendance by the composer is highly encouraged but not absolutely required for the performance to happen. However, the performance may be cancelled if any of the following occur:

the music and necessary performance materials (parts, software, ...) are not submitted by 11th May;
associated software does not function properly; or
the performance materials are not sufficiently complete to allow the piece to be properly rehearsed and performed. Final dress rehearsals / sound checks will be scheduled on the day of the concert.

Pieces will automatically be entered into the two music-related competitions: the ICMA Regional Composition Award and the ICMA Best Student Composition Award. They will also be considered for publishing on the Music Selection of the conference DVD. Please opt out of this option on the submission form if you would prefer your piece not to compete.

More information about the conference can be found on the website Any questions regarding the call for musical works can be addressed directly to the music chair: p.a.tremblay@hud.ac.uk

Submission Materials (all categories)

Artists submitting works should create and submit stereo MP3-formatted audio files or MP4-formatted video files of their pieces; in order to facilitate blind jury review, we ask that artists not include title slides or ID3 tags on their media. Technical specifications for performance and performer scores should be submitted as well, in PDF format, and must be anonymous. A list of available equipment can be found at http://www.thehiss.org/. If any additional equipment is required, proposals should specify what can be provided by the artist/composer and what the conference is expected to provide. Installation proposals must include a spatial/physical diagram.

Submissions must include:

Biography (100 words maximum)
Program Notes/ Project Description (200 words maximum)
Contact information
Stereo MP3-formatted audio files or MP4-formatted video files
Performers required (please state if you intend to bring your own)
Performance scores, in PDF (if applicable, even if the performer is provided). Ensemble parts due by 11th May 2011
Technical specifications, in PDF
Spatial diagram for installation and multichannel music submission

Detailed Description of Categories

solo instrument + electronics

The music falling under this category is for soloist and live electronics. The instrumental part must be for acoustic instruments of any tradition (or electric guitar, electric violin etc.). In the unlikely eventuality that the organisers cannot provide a professional performer on a given instrument, arrangements may be made with the composer to provide one. Composers may also propose to provide their own performer, though funding cannot be guaranteed and this must be negotiated with the chair on selection. The electronic part can range from fixed media background part, to real-time rendering of processing. It can also be performed in real-time by the composer.

ensemble + electronics

This category includes music written for ensembles from 2 to 10 musicians, with adjunction of an electronic part: from fixed media to real-time rendering, and/or a combination of both. The organisers have access to an extensive list of first class performers on most Western orchestral and popular instruments, and the music will be judged solely on its artistic merit. Composers may also propose to provide their own performers, though funding cannot be guaranteed and this must be negotiated with the chair on selection. Every effort will be made to stage selected pieces but for practical reasons a performance cannot be guaranteed on initial notification.

Music can also be submitted for the Huddersfield Experimental Laptop Orchestra (HELO) whose approach is extensively described in this paper: http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/7397 and on their homepage: http://www.helo.ablelemon.co.uk/doku.php/start

laptop improv and live coding

This category is for laptop performance, where the laptop is at the centre of the stage: live coding, just-in-time-composition, email-watching, ASCII keyboard beating, these pieces should have a laptopist defending this technology as a musical instrument. The use of projection (for the code) and of conventional external controllers (faders, keyboards, pedals) are allowed. For more daring new interfaces, please see the following category. Including a screencast of the performance with the submission is highly recommended.

the virtuoso new interface

The works in this category must showcase new interfaces in action! In the tradition of Paganini on the violin, or Steve Vai on the electric guitar, the stage action should be something to see! New interfaces addressing the concerns of concert presence, virtuosity and interface transparency/expressivity should be showcased to the highest level. New ways of using old interfaces (i.e. highly augmented instruments) are also welcome. Including a video of the performance with the submission is highly recommended.

video-music

This category is for works with video and music. The video part must be single-screen, and can be high-definition (full HD projector available) or standard definition. The audio part can be up to 16 channels plus subs, though only 8 channels will be matched.

acousmatic music

This category is for music where there is nothing on stage but loudspeakers! Music can be stereo and projected on an orchestra of loudspeakers, or can be from multi-channel sources: a system of at least 24 discrete loudspeakers (including subs) will be provided, with the loudspeaker layout available in advance.

multimedia performance

This category is for works that include electronics and other elements: for instance, a piece with new interface, laptop, performer and interactive live video. At least two medias must be present for the 'multi' aspect of the call to be respected, which may include: robots and automatons, video, live performance, fixed media, video projections, still projections, automated lights, etc.

club electro (jazz/pop/dj/idm influenced electronic music)

This category allows for submission of music that explores hybrid forms, not necessarily in terms of appropriate venue, but from an aesthetic stance. DJ set, jam band, songwriters, jazz soloist with a machine counterpart, etc: as long as the electronic part is significant and relevant, works in this category are welcome.

piece+paper (including computer-aided acoustic composition)

This category allows a concert performance of any musical work accompanied by a paper presentation that details a key aspect of the work. Particularly welcome are purely acoustic pieces in which the computer plays a significant compositional role. Musical examples can be demonstrated in real-time during the presentation by the performer(s), and then the piece will be performed entirely. Works for 10 or less performers, and of 10 minutes or less, are strongly encouraged.

installations

There are three spaces available for installations this year:

the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, an amazing indoor and outdoor museum outside of Huddersfield where the banquet will be held;
the university campus, especially the path between the Creative Arts Building, where the concerts are held, and the Business School, where the papers and demos will be presented;
in a closed room of the Creative Arts Building. The length for which the installation will be up is at the discretion of the music chair but will be proposed when the results are published.

miscellaneous

If a work does not fit in any of the previous categories, please submit it here. The music chair can re-assign a piece in one of the previous categories at his discretion.