Valparaiso University Institute for Global Collaboration, in cooperation with the Liu Tianhua and Abing Traditional Chinese Music Foundation of China, and the Wuhan Conservatory of Music, announce a competition for new works for 大晟钟–Dasheng bells with western symphony orchestra, with the winners to be performed in New York and across China. Two Grand Prizes of $3500 each plus live performance will be offered in two age categories: Open, and 30 years old and younger (as of October 1, 2022). Up to three (total) additional prizes of $1000 will be selected by the judges. In keeping with Chinese practice, a $200 participation award will be granted to each score judged to be of merit, and every submitting composer will be recognized with an honorable mention and certificate.

The bell specifications and hanging layout are available from the competition website. The order and placement of the bells are fixed, as is the number of players – four. Like other instruments in the Bianzhong family, the Dasheng bells produce two discrete pitches depending on where they are struck. Please note that the bells can only practically produce one pitch at a time. The website also has sound files, including a link to a concert at the University of Michigan that featured new music being played on the set of bells that will be used for the premieres. Questions may be sent to GBCompinfo@yahoo.com.

Available instrumentation: 2+ 2+ 2+ 2 • 2 2 2 0 • timp +1 • harp • piano • strings (single standard woodwind doublings are available: piccolo, English horn, and bass clarinet).

The composer may choose to include any of these traditional Chinese instruments: dizi, erhu, guzheng, pipa, sheng, or yangqin.

The duration of the work should be four to eight minutes long. Though the bells should figure prominently, the piece need not be a concerto. Practical perform ability will be evaluated by experienced bell performers.

Deadline for entries is September 1, 2022. A full score plus a separate Dasheng Bell score should be submitted electronically in pdf format, with title, but no composer’s name, through the application form on this site. An electronically realized recording is helpful but not required, and may be submitted through the application form. The application form will provide the way for the title and composer’s name to be submitted. Composers wishing to be considered in the ‘age 30 and younger’ category, or in both categories, should include a photograph of a government identification document with legal proof of birth date, such as passport or drivers license. Winners will be announced by October 1, 2022, and the winning composers will be responsible for providing parts by November 1, 2022.

The Golden Bells International Composition Contest reserves the right to first performance for the Grand Prize scores, as well as the right to present subsequent performances internationally. Valparaiso University and its Institute for Global Collaboration plan to archive and possibly publish the prize-winning works, with the rights to all other performances held by the composer.