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Composition Competition Guideline Samples

We hope your submissions for the NZDRS Chamber Music Composition Competition are going well!  Here are a couple of notes that might help you with your composition. 

You can find a guideline of the Grade Five level for oboe here, and a guideline of the Grade Five level for bassoon here

Please note the pitch parameters for each composition are: 
  • [Oboe] B (below middle C) - Eb"
  • [Bassoon] Low Bb - G (above middle C)
And a few more parameters:
  • Key signatures may be up to 3 sharps or 3 flats
  • Accidentals can be used but avoid too many different ones
  • For tonguing, the maximum speed is semiquavers at crotchet = 80, but this should be  repeated notes or easy patterns at this speed
    • NB: Exam scale speeds at this level are crotchet = 84, playing quavers
Make sure that that the instruments are not all playing all of the time. A bar rest here and there is essential.

Hope to see your submissions in soon!