HomePractical AdvicePianoDavid Lang competition calls on pianists around the world

David Lang competition calls on pianists around the world

A competition has been launched this week for pianists from all over the world to play a David Lang piece with the chance to perform it in New York.
Musicians have been invited to download for free the score to wed, taken from Lang’s memory pieces, and record themselves playing it.

Pianists can then upload their version onto YouTube where a judging panel will decide on the winner. Music fans are also invited to comment on the performances.
The judging panel consists of Vicky Chow, Jeremy Denk, Lisa Moore, and Andrew Zolinsky, who performs the piece on the official recording of David Lang’s work.
According to the composer, wed is a moody, introspective and beautiful piece and he has chosen to run the competition to see how other pianists interpret the work.
He said that he is “open to a lot of different ways of approaching it”, adding: “I wondered what other people would do with this music.”
“As a composer it’s very Fascistic to say which one is right,” Lange remarked. “I think it’s great to give people the option of finding as many ways as possible.”
The final winner of the competition will be taken to New York with all expenses paid to perform their interpretation of the piece at Le Poisson Rouge on May 6th 2012.
What’s more, the composer will create a new piece for four hands especially for the event, with the winner performing the world premiere of the duet with Andrew Zolinsky.
The piece is from Lang’s latest album, This Was Written By Hand, in which Zolinsky performs both the title track and memory Pieces. He premiered both works from the album earlier this year.
Memory pieces consists of eight works, each written to honour a friend of the composer who have passed away.
Pianists have until December 31st to enter the competition.

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