Musical Composition Competition at Magdalene
Musical Competition
Compose history with sound: Enter the Magdalene College Musical Composition Competition!
Magdalene College is thrilled to announce a musical composition contest.
The Pepys Library has acquired a magnificent seventeenth-century spinet believed to have once belonged to Samuel Pepys.
We welcome submissions of original musical compositions tailored for performance on this historic instrument.
The Spinet
Named the Haward Spinet, it is thought to be the earliest surviving English instrument of this type. It has been historically associated with Samuel Pepys and may be the instrument mentioned in his famous Diary.
To help compose a piece tailored specifically for the spinet, the video below offers aspiring composers a firsthand look and listen into the instrument's unique timbre and character.
The Haward Spinet
Played by: Mr James Potter, Fellow and Director of Music
Music: Matthew Locke (1621-77) - Almain, from the Suite in C, published as part of 'Melothesia' in 1673
Competition Criteria
Entries should have a duration between 4 and 6 minutes.
There are two categories for entries:
Category One: a solo piece for the spinet.
Category Two: a setting of a lyric by Geoffrey Chaucer from the Pepys manuscript collection for spinet and soprano.
Category Two: Selected Lyric
In Category Two, the following lyric should be set for spinet and soprano.
Complaint to His Purse, Chaucer - from Pepys’s manuscript PL 2006
To yow, my purse, and to noon other wight
Complaine I, for ye be my lady dere.
I am so sory now that ye be light,
For certes but if ye make me hevy chere,
Me were as leef be leyd upon my bere,
For which unto your mercy thus I crye
Beth hevy ageyn or elles mot I dye.
Now voucheth-sauf this day er it be night
That I of yow the blisful soun may here,
Or see your colour lyke the sonne bright
That of yelownesse hadde never pere.
Ye be my lyf, ye be myn hertes stere,
Quene of comfort and of good companye,
Beth hevy ageyn or elles mot I dye.
Now purse that been to me my lyves lyght
And saveour as doun in this worlde here
Out of this toune help me thurgh your might
Sin that ye wole nat been my tresorere
For I am shave as nye as any frere;
But yet I prey unto your curtesye,
Beth hevy ageyn or elles mot I dye.
Lenvoy de Chaucer
O conqueror of Brutes Albyoun,
Which that by lyne and fre eleccion
Ben verray kyng, this song to you I sende;
And ye, that mowen alle oure harmes amende,
Have mynde upon my supplicacioun.
To you, my purse, and to no other person
Complain I, for you are my lady dear!
I am so sorry, now that you are light;
For certain, unless you make me heavy cheer,
I were as happy to be laid upon my bier;
For which unto your mercy thus I cry:
Be heavy again, or else I may die!
Now vouch safe this day, ere be it night,
That I of you the blissful sound may hear,
Or see your color like the sun bright,
That of yellowness had never peer.
You are my life, you are my heart's steerer,
Queen of comfort and of good company:
Be heavy again, or else I may die!
You, purse, that be to me my life's light
And savior, as down in this world here,
Out of this town help me through your might,
Since that you will not be my treasurer;
For I am shave as close as any friar.
But yet I pray unto your courtesy:
Be heavy again, or else I might die!
Abridged glossary
wight = person
sorry = regretful
hevy chere = sad face/weighty purse
leef = I would prefer
beth = may you be
or = before
pere = equal
stere = rudder
gode = good
mot I dye = I shall have to die.
toune = town
tresorere = treasurer
frere = friar (Chaucer is saying that he has as little money as a tonsured friar has hair).
mowen = May
Prize
A £750.00 winning prize will be awarded for each category with a single winner in each.
Shortlisted composers will be invited to join us at a concert in College where the shortlisted entries across both categories will be performed.
Entering
Entries should be emailed to Dr Jane Hughes, Pepys Librarian, at pepyslibrary@magd.cam.ac.uk.
Entries should be a score in PDF format. Composers are encouraged, but not required, to send a recording of the composition, which may be a MIDI performance.
The composer should not be identifiable on the score but should make sure their name appears on the covering email.
Competition deadline: 5pm, 31 January 2025.
Additional Information
- Each entry must be between 4 and 6 minutes long. Entries must be submitted in a format as described above.
- Entries must be the original work of the person entering them, and this must be expressly stated with the entry. Any assistance or collaboration must be acknowledged with the entry.
- Those making entries must confirm that the entry has not already been performed or in any way published.
- The jury reserves the right not to award a winner.
- Judging will be in two rounds: a shortlisting process, during which the total number of entries will be reduced to a maximum of three in each category; a final judging round during which a winner will be awarded.
- The jury is unable to provide feedback on all entries, but may at its discretion provide feedback on shortlisted entries.
- The intellectual property rights to each entry remain with the composer. Magdalene College shall have an exclusive right to give the first performance of the shortlisted entries and may perform the winning pieces at future College events, subject to the permission of the composer, with no further fee. The College may also use recordings of shortlisted pieces for promotional purposes directly relating to the College and/or the Pepys Library. If a composition is used in this way, there will be acknowledgement of the composer. After the first performance, the composer will be free to have their work performed elsewhere at any time and to charge whatever fee they determine.
- The College also reserves the right to seek the radio broadcast of the concert or part of the concert on a reputable station. In the event that the concert or part of it is broadcast on radio, there will be no further payment by the College to the composer(s) within three years of the completion of the competition or at any time in the event of a repeated broadcast; and entry to the competition denotes agreement to such a broadcast and to any repeats of the broadcast. Any further recording or broadcast will be subject to the composer’s agreement, and an agreed fee to be paid to the composer by the broadcaster, the College or another relevant party, for which a new contract will be made.
Can I visit to play the instrument?
No, the instrument will not be available for prospective candidates for the prize. You can see a performance on the instrument above.
Should I try to imitate the music of the seventeenth century or can I take a different approach?
This is entirely up to you.
May I enter both categories and can the same person win both?
Yes.
If I set the chosen lyric in Category Two, may I set for a different voice?
No. The lyric must be set for spinet and soprano.
May I set only part of the chosen lyric?
Yes. You may set the whole lyric, or a portion of the lyric or, if you wish, sections which are not continuous. However, only words from the set lyric may be included.
What is the compass of the instrument?
The top note is c3. The compass, as conventionally written, is "GG/BB to c3, short octave". BB is tuned to GG; C# is tuned to AA and D# is usually tuned to BB.
The pitches are chromatic from low E. There are no split sharps.
The octave span of the keyboard is 165mm, exactly the same as the modern piano and there is adequate space between the accidental keys to use unhistorical/pianistic fingering practices!
What is the proposed tuning and temperament?
The spinet is currently under restoration. The instrument is currently tuned (pre-restoration) to A415. Historically, the pitch of the instrument was likely to have been at English quire pitch, circa A473. The proposal is to tune it to A440 for performance.
1/5th comma meantone is historically plausible and is the current proposal for post-restoration temperament.
The instrument has quite a close plucking point (nearer to the end of the string) which gives quite an incisive sound and a very clear tenor. The treble sings well against the tenor and bass and can be used in quite a declamatory way.
If I am shortlisted when will my piece be performed?
A concert before a small invited audience will take place on at a special concert at Magdalene in 2025 (date to be confirmed). It will include the shortlisted compositions performed by a specialist early keyboard player, and there will be other music in the concert associated with Pepys.
May I perform my piece myself at the concert?
No, the piece will be learnt by our professional expert(s) and they will play all the shortlisted pieces at the concert.
If I am shortlisted and invited to the concert, will my expenses be paid?
Yes. Reasonable travel expenses within the UK will be paid. Accommodation will be arranged by the College, and a subsistence allowance will be provided for two days. Please note that receipts for travel must be available.
Who will be on the Jury?
The jury will include representatives of the College, and professional musicians with expertise in early musical instruments, composition and performance.
Will the winner be announced in advance?
The winners will be informed, in advance of the concert, of the jury’s decision as will the other shortlisted candidates. However, the formal public announcement of the prize will be on the day of the concert (date to be confirmed).
If I am shortlisted but do not win, may I withdraw my piece from the concert?
We hope you will not wish to do this, but entry to the competition is taken as accepting that shortlisted pieces may be performed at the discretion of the judges.
We look forward to listening to your entries, good luck!
Pepys Library Contact
For appointments to visit, photographic services and general enquiries please contact the Special Collections Librarian.
Pepys Librarian
Dr Jane Hughes
Special Collections Librarian
Mrs Catherine Sutherland
CALL
01223 332115