Call for Microtonal Songs

Please circulate widely!

Seventeen Equal Divisions of the Octave (as opposed to the usual 12)
is a microtonal/xenharmonic scale with no shortage of musical
potential, but a scale in which very little music has been written.
The Seventeen Tone Piano Project was initiated in Houston in 2006 when
two of Rice University's surplus pianos were tuned to the 17-EDO
scale. Since then, three concerts or 'phases' have been organized with
this name, which featured new 17-tone music by Rice composers as well
as microtonalists around the world. For recordings and more
information about the project, visit
<http://xenharmonic.wikispaces.com/SeventeenTonePianoProject>.

Phase Four of the project begins with a CALL FOR MICROTONAL SONGS and
culminates in (1) a sing-along/sharing on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at
the Bonnie Brae house, and (2) a concert on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at
Hirsch Orchestra Rehearsal Hall, Rice University, Houston, TX.

'MICROTONAL': intentionally deviating from the (Western-music) norm of
12 tones per octave, AND not restricted to 17 tones per octave either.

'SONGS': anything unashamed to call itself a 'song' is welcome. Some
suggestions: art songs; madrigals; ballads; rounds (naïve and/or
virtuosic); canons; "children's music"; singalongs; campfire songs;
musical games; pedagogical ditties and mnemonic devices; spirituals
from another planet. The line between 'professional' and 'amateur' is
blurred.

INSTRUMENTATION: Preference will be given to songs with at least one
vocal part. Up to 6 voices (SSATTB) are available, but there is a
maximum of 6 performers total, including the use of any combination of
these instruments:

* the Seventeen Tone Pianos (see below for details)
* grand piano (in 12-EDO)
* freely sliding instruments: fretless strings, trombone & slide
trumpet, udderbot
* standard woodwinds, brass, percussion, WITH the necessary
attention paid to the rendering of the needed microtones (i.e.
fingerings for woodwinds)
* a variety of software and hardware synthesizers, capable of any
tuning system imaginable, with various MIDI controller devices.
Inquire for details.

Some performers can sing and play multiple instruments as well—inquire
for details.

LENGTH: maximum five minutes for each submission.

REQUIREMENTS for submission: Send a score, recording, or even both.
Include a clear description of the required tuning (and notation, if
unconventional). Mockup recordings at learning tempo for rehearsal
purposes are much appreciated! Send submissions by APRIL 1, 2008. Let
us know your intentions before then, if possible.

Inquiries and submissions go to eptadecaphonic@..., or

Seventeen Tone Piano Project
c/o Dan Sedgwick
1618 Bonnie Brae
Houston, TX 77006

VISIT: Let us know if you plan to attend. You may bring your own
performers, or yourself as a performer, if you'd like. The sing-along
will be an informal opportunity to share, teach, and learn music. The
concert will be audio-recorded at the very least.

PIANOS: the Seventeen Tone Pianos are two pianos tuned to overlapping
12-out-of-17-EDO scales. Following the circle-of-fifths naming system
for 17, the white keys of both pianos are tuned identically, to the
(notated) C major scale (C D E F G A B). The piano called "flat" has
black keys tuned to (Db Eb Gb Ab Bb); the one called "sharp" has (C#
D# F# G# A#). Remember, C# is HIGHER than Db! In scores with separate
staves for each piano, it is not necessary to spell chords with these
distinctions; notating intervals in their most common appearance is
recommended for quick readability, e.g. Eb-C in the sharp piano part,
rather than D#-C.