We perform Thursday April 10 at Weatherford HS (10:15 a.m.)
SIGHT SINGING Conference AAAA
The choral sight-reading contest encourages the extension of knowledge in basic fundamentals of music and rewards the consistent use of a systematic approach to sight-reading. The level of difficulty for each grade or class will allow for the demonstration of musicality as well as for technical accuracy.
The primary purpose of the commissioned sight-reading music is to test musical literacy at specific levels. The guidelines stated for the sight-reading material provide the composer with a parameter of difficulty in composing music for each specific classification. All of the elements need not be used in each composition. Harmonic, rhythmic or textual ideas whose primary purposes are to create special effects appropriate for concert performance would best not be used in graded instructional sight-reading materials.
Other general considerations for composers are:
- Avoid using texts with unfamiliar words such as foreign or mythological terms or limericks.
- Ensure that a tonal center is evident throughout the piece.
- Return to the original key following a modulation.
- Music for treble and men’s choirs should to be of equal difficulty to that of mixed choirs in the same classification.
- Avoid introducing more than one rhythmic or harmonic problem at a time.
- Remember that it is unnecessary to employ all of the allowed elements in a single piece.
Meter
Maximum of one meter change and return
Key
Major or minor keys up through four sharps and four flats
Possible modulation to relative major or minor keys
Harmony
Simple altered chords with the altered tone approached and left step-wise
Voice leading in all parts should be logical and should avoid leaps of the major 7th and the tritone
Texture
Homophonic, with polyphonic sections
No more than 25% polyphony
Rhythm
Dotted patterns
Simple syncopations
Tied notes across bar lines
Sixteenth note patterns
Eighth note triplets spanning no more than two beats may be used for necessary text accommodations
Length
36 to 42 measures including repeats
Voicings
Mixed: SATB; Girls: SSA; Boys: TBB
Text
Choir may use the printed text or their preferred method of reading on both readings.
Ranges
| Sop. I | Sop. II | Alto |
 |  |  |
| Ten. I | Baritone | Bass |
 |  |  |
Section 1110: CONCERT ORGANIZATION CONTEST
(a) EVENTS. Competition will be provided in each region for the following organization events (event code in parentheses):
(1) Band (100)
(2) Orchestra (921)
(3) String Orchestra (926)
(4) Mixed Chorus (931)
(5) Tenor-Bass Chorus (933)
(6) Treble Chorus (935)
(1) Conferences. Organizations shall be scheduled according to conference assignments. It is suggested that, if time permits, a
judges’ break be scheduled between conferences.
(2) Junior High/Middle School. In junior high/middle schools, at the option of the region executive committee, it is
recommended that contests be scheduled so that junior high/middle schools that feed A, 2A and 3A high schools perform
prior to organizations that feed 4A and 5A high schools.
(3) Zoning Junior High Contests. Junior high contests may be zoned with no restrictions as to the number of organizations in
each conference.
(c) ELIGIBILITY.
(1) Entries. Any band, orchestra or choir from a school unit which is a paid member of the League may be entered in
region competition.
(2) Member Requirements. All members of the competing organization shall be eligible under the requirements listed in
Section 1102 (b).
(d) ENTRY PROCEDURES. List event code number on all forms. See Section 1103.
(e) CERTIFICATION. After the executive committee chair has checked the entry form, a certification of each entry will
be delivered to the contest chair. Contest chairs are instructed not to schedule any organization if a certification has not
been received from the executive committee chair.
(f) ORGANIZATION ROSTER FORM NO. 1. A certified copy of the Organization Roster Form No. 1 listing in
alphabetical order all students eligible the day of the competition shall be on file with the region executive secretary or the
designee prior to the time of each organization’s contest performance.
(g) PERFORMANCE REGULATIONS.
(1) Perform for Ratings. All organizations shall perform for ratings.
(2) Required Music.
(A) Each band, orchestra, string orchestra and choral group entering competition shall conform to the performance
requirements listed in the Foreword of the Prescribed Music List in effect for the current school year.
(B) Entries will be certified provided only three selections are listed on the entry form. If a multi-movement
selection is programmed the movements to be performed shall be designated on the entry form. “To be
selected” is not an official entry.
(C) Those selections so listed on the entry form become program requirements for contest performance unless the
contest chair is notified, in writing, of changes of selections seven days prior to the first day of the contest.
(D) In the event that an organization does perform without conforming to the program as listed on the entry form
after the entry has been certified, that organization and/or its director shall be penalized in accordance with Sections 27 and 29.
(3) Performers. The director of a band, orchestra or choir may not perform with the competing organization. The
accompanist of an orchestra shall be a member of a competing organization. The accompanist of a choir may not
sing with the competing organization unless the accompanist is eligible under Subchapter M of the Constitution.
(4) No Repetition. The following guidelines will govern the repetition of a composition for contest purposes.
(A) An organization in a one or two-year school may repeat a selection in the second year after the initial
performance.
(B) An organization in a three-year school may repeat a selection in the third year after the initial performance.
(C) An organization in a four-year school may repeat a selection in the fourth year after the initial performance.
(5) Multiple Performance Of String Orchestra Selection Prohibited. A full orchestra and string orchestra from the same
school shall not perform the same string orchestra selection on both contest programs.
(6) Rule Violations. Organizations which do not conform to the music requirements in the Prescribed Music List will be
penalized in accordance with Sections 27 and 29.
(7) Performing Time.
(A) Bands and orchestras shall be limited to not more than 45 minutes, including performance, entering and
clearing the stage.
(B) Choirs shall be limited to not more than 20 minutes, including performance, entering and clearing the stage.
(C) With the approval of the Region Executive Committee, individual regions may impose more restrictive
performance time limits.
(8) Scores. Directors shall supply each judge with a conductor’s score of the selections to be performed with the
measures numbered. These scores shall be an original or conform to the copyright requirements as stated in Section
1104. Directors not in compliance are subject to penalty in accordance with Sections 27 and 29.
(9) Instrumentation. While judges shall be instructed to criticize instrumentation only insofar as it affects the balance
and general effect of the performance, schools are encouraged to conform as closely as possible with accepted
standards of instrumentation.
(10) Use of Synthesizer.
(A) The use of synthesized sound, to reinforce or to substitute for acoustical instruments that are a traditional part
of the band or orchestra instrumentation, is prohibited.
(B) A synthesized substitute may be used for other instruments specified in the score under the following
provisions:
(i) The synthesized substitute shall be performed live as a part of the contest performance.
(ii) The performer shall be a member of the competing organization.
(iii) It shall be the responsibility of the performing group director to provide all equipment for the production
of synthesized sound.
(C) The use of synthesized sound may be considered by each judge in determining the overall rating for the
performance.
