New for Old commission 2008

In 2007 we introduced for the first time a project designed to broaden the repertoire for small, historic instruments. The ‘New for Old Commission’ focuses on specific types of organs and invite composers to write for them. The commission is open to composers of any age or nationality.

Selected pieces will be performed in special concerts and made available in the same way as exhibitions. The subject of the 2008 commission is the English one manual chamber organ.

Requirements

1. To write a piece (or collection of pieces), between 3 and 9 minutes duration for the 1859 Bryceson organ in St Dominic’s Priory (London).

2. Each piece (or collection of pieces) should be playable by a non-professional organist.

3. It is not a requirement that works submitted are brand new and unperformed. If a recently-composed work has already been performed, it is still acceptable to submit it.

4. Works suitable for concert performance, rather than for use in a religious service, will be given preference by the Festival Director.

5. The music must be written within the compass of the instrument being used. For 2008, the instrument selected is the 1859 Bryceson organ in St Dominic’s Priory (London):

Bourdon 16 (bottom octave only) Open Diapason 8’ Stopped Diapason 8’ Dulciana 8’ Principal 4’ Compass: CC-f Mechanical action throughout Pedal-board attachment (added in 1974) Folding cover Draw-stops above keyboard All speaking pipes enclosed in a balanced swell box

Applications - Notes for New for Old commision entries

1. Two copies of the score should be sent to the Festival Director with a completed application form. Up to 3 works may be submitted on a single application. A work may be for submitted for either the main AFNOM exhibition-concerts, or for the special "New for Old" commission concert in Lisbon. An entry fee of £40 (by cheque payable to “Annual Festival of New Organ Music”) must be sent with each application form, to arrive no later than 1st June 2008.

2. Selected "New for Old" pieces will be performed by students from the St Giles International Organ School.

3. The festival organisers will try to include as many works as possible in the concerts.

4. The concerts will be recorded for the website and sound-files made available.

5. AFNOM may invite composers to have their work included in a special printed collection of scores (initially made available via the AFNOM website).