The New York Youth Symphony’s Composition Program, formally named “Making Score”, is the first series of workshops in the country for young musicians to explore the world of composition and orchestration and provides emerging young composers with invaluable practical experience.
The Composition course includes workshops, held from October through May. The sessions explore the musical thought of a wide variety of composers, with a focus on instrumentation and orchestration. Examples are drawn from the vast classical repertoire and a range of musical traditions from throughout the world. Using tools such as study scores and orchestration books, the course aims to cultivate the students’ own voices through class discussion, written exercises, and free composition.
Understanding how musicians relate to their instruments is fundamental to composing. Program participants approach orchestration and instrumentation from three unique perspectives: experience working with performers, exposure to distinguished musical lecturers, and structured sessions which delve deeply into masterworks from the past and present. Through this diversity of approach, orchestration is brought to life in a myriad of ways.
In addition to workshops, students have opportunities to work directly with musicians to have their compositions performed in reading sessions and concerts:
Reading Sessions
(Clarinet+, Percussion+, Quartets+)
Reading sessions are opportunities for students to have their compositions read by established musicians and for the composers to work with the musicians to make changes to the piece based on their feedback.
Orchestration Reading
Orchestration Reading is a unique reading workshop where five student composers are selected to re-arrange established works for a reading with 12 professional musicians from the Carnegie Academy alongside the principal musicians of the New York Youth Symphony’s Orchestra.
Materials Purchase
At the first session, students will receive a book of study scores to purchase or obtain for the sessions. Before the first session, students will need to pay a non-refundable fee of $100 for the packet and other materials for the program.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Sessions begin promptly at the time indicated on the schedule. Participants must be in place no later than five minutes before the start of the session. Missing more than one full session during the year will result in dismissal.
Late Arrival / Early Departure
Arriving late or leaving early to a Session will result in a partial absence as described in the general attendance policy. The Associate Director determines timing and lateness.
Rehearsals
Composers are required to attend two scheduled rehearsals for their final performance piece. Student composers are expected to be prepared with the appropriate materials for each rehearsal. See schedule for rehearsal dates. In addition, composers should be available to work with the ensembles performing their compositions prior to the rehearsals if necessary.
Final Concerts
Attendance at the May 9, 2013 Composition+ dress rehearsal and concert is mandatory for all students. Students should plan on arriving by 4:00pm for the dress rehearsal.
Tutorial Sessions Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. Missed sessions will not be rescheduled.
Notification of Absence
In case of absence, students must notify the Associate Director in writing at composition@nyys.org at least 24 hours in advance (one week if possible). If the student is unable to provide advance notice, he or she must contact the Associate Director within 24 hours after the session to confirm continuation in the Program.
2012/2013 Session Schedule
Session 1 - Odd Combinations
Guest: Bridget Kibbey, harp
J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6
Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp
Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire
Walton: Façade
Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat
Session 2 - Music by Women Composers
Guest: Shulamit Ran, Distinguished Professor of Composition, U. of Chicago
F. Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in D Major
Sofia Gubaidulina: Stimmen… Verstummen (Symphony in 12 movements)
Augusta Read Thomas: Vigil for solo cello and orchestra
Cindy McTee: Circuits
Session 3 - The Symphony
Guest: Claire Bryant, cello
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5
Session 4 - Wind Ensemble
Guest: Steven Stucky, Professor of Composition, Cornell University
Mozart: Gran Partita
Holst: First Suite in E-flat
Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy
Joseph Schwantner: … and the mountains rising nowhere
Michael Colgrass: Winds of Nagual
Session 5 - The Music of Christopher Rouse
Guest: Christopher Rouse, Composition Faculty, The Juilliard School, Composer-in-Residence, New York Philharmonic
Christopher Rouse: Symphony No. 3
Session 6 - Music for Film
Guest: Giancarlo Vulcano, Film and Television Composer
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky
Copland: Of Mice and Men
John Corigliano: Altered States
Session 7 - Electronic Music
Guest: Tod Machover, Professor of Music and Media, MIT
Varèse: Déserts
John Cage: Williams Mix
Mario Davidovsky: Synchronisms No. 6
Terry Riley: A Rainbow in Curved Air
Milton Babbitt: Philomel
Session 8 - Miniatures
Guest: Maria Schneider, Jazz Composer, Arranger and Big-Band Leader
Webern: Five Pieces for Orchestra
Stravinsky: Four Etudes for Orchestra
Bartok: Selections from Mikrokosmos
John Adams: John’s Book of Alleged Dances
The New York Youth Symphony would like to thank ASCAP and BMI for the use of classroom space.