As in previous years, the workshop coaches concluded that there is still much to be learned for all three composers, especially with regard to vocal music. Similar problems keep recurring: technical issues, such as inconsistency in vowel changes and problems with the voice registers. The music that the participants brought to the workshop tended to be quite academic – which is fine in the framework of a workshop, where we encourage the participants to bring sketches and to try out different things. But, we do sometimes miss the larger musical gesture and the feeling for the extra-musical content that comes with the choice of text. We want to urge these young composers to extend their musical voice and ideas to the larger story they want to tell in their music.
The workshop that took place during Tenso Days Mechelen 2017 was coached by composer/conductor James Wood, composer Leo Samama, and chamber choir Helsingin kamarikuoro. Composer Hanspeter Kyburz acted as additional jury member. Tenso would especially like to thank the singers of the choir – not only for producing very good performances of the pieces within limited time, but also for interacting intensively with the composers with questions and well-reasoned comments, which will undoubtedly contribute to their development in vocal writing.