The composition program will be offered for young and young professional composers and arrangers with an interest in improving their skills and knowledge in composition, arranging, orchestration, conducting, and contemporary music literature of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The central focus of the class will be the completion of an assignment of a 2 to 5 minute piece for any combinations of strings (or string orchestra) and/or piano. This composition assignment will be given in advance of the start of the program.
Completed compositions will be rehearsed and performed in class by faculty, recorded on video and several of the most successful compositions will be selected for public performance at the final concert. Outstanding compositions will be given consideration for performances in the United States.
Other aspects of the class include: -Contemporary trends in composition: study of current trends in modern composition (minimalism, serial/dodecaphonic, etc) -New Music Literature: study and listening to scores by the great composers of the 20th century: Shostakovich, Bartok, Stravinsky, Messiaen, Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, etc -Orchestration: study of orchestration with a focus on string instruments -Arranging: study of arranging techniques and styles
Built upon the success of the Lebanon and Iraq Young Composers Initiatives from 2012 to 2018, the 2019 program continues to be the only international summer training program available for young Middle Eastern composers and is funded by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.