Variation Challenge Renderings

[giwro_jon]

Well, the judging is nearing an end, and I'm slowly getting all of the entries rendered.... there are some EXCELLENT variations here!

Here are 4 more:
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/A.mp3
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/falcon1.mp3
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/falcon2.mp3
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/falcon3.mp3

the 2 posted previously:
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/wr1.mp3
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/wr3.mp3

My harmonization of the theme:
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/theme.mp3

I'll post more as I have time to render...

Thanks again for all who submitted - you all are a talented bunch of composers!:D

[etLux]

What a superb crop, Jonathan!

Excellent job of rendering on all of them, too.

Looking forward to the rest!

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
.

[giwro_jon]

What a superb crop, Jonathan!
Excellent job of rendering on all of them, too.
Looking forward to the rest!
.

Yes, they are great :)

Thanks for the kind words, my friend!:D

[giwro_jon]

here are 3 more:
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/JJ1R.mp3
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/JJ2R.mp3
http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/JJ3R.mp3

Enjoy!

[giwro_jon]

http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/wr1.mp3

Last one...

Tomorrow, the winner will be announced.

Here's my process - I narrowed it down to the 10 best entries (which are the ones you hear on these demos)
then I listened carefully and studied each one of these to come up with my top 3. I looked for creativity in treating the theme, good use of the prinicples of composition, and playability/suitabilty as an organ piece.

I'll put all of the "top 10" together as a finished piece.

Good luck to the 2 finalists, whoever you are :D

[giwro_jon]

Ok, here's the whole shootin' match.... variations put in the order that they sound good to me :D

http://evensongmusic.net/audio/variationchallenge/VariationsOnAnOriginalTheme.mp3

Enjoy!

[etLux]

I've listened to all of these individually several times, and am now listening to the full set.

Jonathan, I am quite struck by the quality of the materials -- this is quite a fine showing, with first-rate work throughout.

I do not envy you the task of winnowing the field! I believe I'd find it nearly impossible to do; and I most assuredly do not envy you the task of making such difficult choices.

Even were no "winner" declared, this will have been a most successful endeavor.

On behalf of others with an interest in furthering pipe organ music, I thank you for bringing this to pass, and for the effort and diligence on your part to develop and complete this competition with exemplary quality and professionalism!

My best,

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
.

[giwro_jon]

I've listened to all of these individually several times, and am now listening to the full set.

Jonathan, I am quite struck by the quality of the materials -- this is quite a fine showing, with first-rate work throughout.

I do not envy you the task of winnowing the field! I believe I'd find it nearly impossible to do; and I most assuredly do not envy you the task of making such difficult choices.

Even were no "winner" declared, this will have been a most successful endeavor.

On behalf of others with an interest in furthering pipe organ music, I thank you for bringing this to pass, and for the effort and diligence on your part to develop and complete this competition with exemplary quality and professionalism!
.

Thanks, David...

I, too, am impressed....

I hope that this encourages folks to have a go at writing for the organ - some entrants confessed to being less than comfortable with it, but they still managed to "pull it off" as it were, and write quite convincingly for the instrument. I admit I "helped" a bit by registering the pieces a bit more idiomatically in a couple of cases, but really, it is hard to go wrong with such good material. No less a composer than Poulenc asked for help on registration from Durufle for his Organ Concerto, and it remains one of the most-played in the repertoire.

I'm pretty sure of my choice - just need to "sleep on it" and have a few more listens tomorrow to confirm it.

Thanks to you and Mr G for "sweetening the prize" a bit images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Cheerio,