A series of pedagogical exercises to make music that can only be performed and experienced over zoom, regarded as a musical instrument with particular affordances and biases which enable some thing and not others, partially to overcome the reluctance of teaching experimental music during COVID-19.

CALL FOR ZOOMUSIC

Tokyo Gen’On Project and No Collective invite submissions for a piece to be performed at the concert to be held in December this year. The concert will be guest-curated by You Nakai (No Collective). It will focus on “ZOOMUSIC," music that can only be performed and experienced over ZOOM, the online communication tool used around the world during the pandemic.

The concert will be performed simultaneously online and offline (at the Suginami Public Hall in Tokyo). For those who choose to attend the offline version, the experience will probably be something similar to attending a TV or film studio where they are creating something that is primarily meant for audiences who are not there, watching on screens. We look forward to seeing idiosyncratic ideas that explore new musical possibilities by regarding ZOOM not as a transparent medium, but as a musical instrument with distinct affordances and biases.

No Collective and Tokyo Gen’On Project members will select around three or four pieces. All applicants will be notified of the results by e-mail by Saturday, August 20. There is no entry fee, and you will receive a commission fee of 70,000 yen (including tax) if your proposal is selected.

A:WHAT WE LOOK FOR

- Performance composed primarily to be experienced over ZOOM, considering both what is seen and heard, and exploring ZOOM-specific features and parameters: different audio settings, chat function, live transcription, breakout rooms, virtual backgrounds, share screens, etc.
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- Performance that also takes into account the fact that it will be shown simultaneously online and offline, and considers the experience of audience members for the offline segment.

B:CONDITIONS (PERFORMANCE)

AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTATION (in addition to ZOOM)
Saxophone, tuba, piano, percussion, and electronics. These may all be used or you may select one or several. One instrument could be multiplied through recording or other features specific to ZOOM. Percussion instruments may include marimbas and other small hand-held mobile instruments.

PERFORMANCE TIME
‍5 to 10 minutes (this could be extended if there is a way to perform the piece without interrupting other pieces on the same program.)
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EQUIPMENT
Audio interface, microphone, camera, laptop, phone, and iPad. Other equipment can be discussed if necessary.
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SETTING
ZOOM will not be in a webinar format, but will include audiences in a regular meeting format (which makes it difficult to distinguish audiences from performers).

DISCLAIMER
After the results are announced, we may ask you to make additions or corrections to your work for the actual performance.

C:CONDITIONS (APPLICATION)

APPLICATION PERIOD
July 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022, 23:59 (Japan time)

ELIGIBILITY
- Applicants must be able to participate in rehearsals (online is acceptable).
- Applicants may be of any nationality, but must be able to communicate in Japanese or English.
- The work may have already been presented at a public concert.
- Arrangements of your own compositions that have already been presented in the past are also acceptable.
- One person may submit more than one work.

HOW TO APPLY
Send an e-mail to nayac@mc.point.ne.jp with the subject line "ZOOMUSIC Proposal (Name)" and with the following information:
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A: In the body of the E-mail
(1) Name
(2) Date of birth
(3) Biography (in Japanese or English)
(4) Title of work
(5) Year of composition
(6) Description of work (in Japanese or English)
(7) Instrumentation
(8) Duration (minutes and seconds)
(9) Address, contact telephone number, E-mail address
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B: As an attached file:
Score or instruction of the proposed work.
- Please indicate the name of the work, but do not include the name of the composer in the score.
- If the score is written using a software, please submit it as a pdf file. If handwritten, scan it as a pdf, jpeg, or png file.
- Everything should be in a single file.
- The proposal does not have to take the form of a score in the traditional sense of the term. If you can convey the plan of the performance, you can use video or images or other media. If you are submitting a video, upload it to YouTube for limited public access and include its URL in the body of the e-mail. The name of the composer must not be included in the title or description of the YouTube video (if the composer is identified in the video, this is okay).

PERFORMANCE
Date: Monday, December 19, 2022, 7:00 p.m. (Japan time)
Venue: Suginami Public Hall (1-23-15 Kami-ogi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo)
＊The concert will be performed online and offline at the same time.

CREDITS
Curator: You Nakai (No Collective)
Performer: Tokyo Gen-On Project
Sumihisa Arima (electronics)
Masanori Oishi (saxophone)
Yoshiko Kanda (percussion)
Aki Kuroda (piano)
Shinya Hashimoto (tuba)
Organizer: Tokyo Gen'On Project, Supported by Japan Arts Fund

INQUIRIES
Please send an e-mail to Tokyo Gen'On Project Office, indicating your name and contact information:
nayac@mc.point.ne.jp