Remember how last year’s music Pulitzer was awarded to Ornette Coleman’s “Sound Grammar” even though the album wasn’t entered into the competition? I argued at the time that by awarding the prize to a composer who hadn’t entered, the Pulitzer committee had essentially voided the requested $50 “handling fee.” This is significant because the number of people who apply for the prize each year is quite small–last year there were only 129 entries for the music prize. Presumably what happens is that only people who think that they write in the right style and have the right connections and national profile bother to enter–why throw away 50 bucks unless you think you have a shot, right? Wouldn’t it be nice if the slate of entries were a more accurate representation of the totality of contemporary American composition?
This year’s deadline is January 15, for “works that receive their American premiere between January 16, 2007 and January 15, 2008.” (How you’re supposed to make that deadline if your premiere is on January 15, I’m not sure.)
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to pick your best piece from 2007 and submit it, following all the guidelines except for the entry fee. Include a note indicating that the reason that you aren’t sending an entry fee is that since Coleman was awarded the prize without having entered, the competition is clearly open to anyone, whether they officially enter and pay the handling fee or not. I’ll be submitting my piece “Waiting in the Tall Grass,” which was premiered by Relâche at the end of November.
Thanks for the clarification, Lawrence.
Andrea: The people united will never be defeated! Now, back to my usual longwinded bloviating 🙂
gee galen, you’re kinda sexy when you’re short, to-the-point, and rabble-rousing…
Hey, why not? From a purely numerical perspective, you’ll have odds astronomically better than playing Lotto.
Galen, this is cool.
Galen, to answer your question — if a composer calls ahead and alerts the Pulitzer committee that there is a piece being premiered on Jan. 15, or within a few days before, they’ll accept a “late” submission. At least that’s my understanding.
right…hahaha!
Daniel, I can comfortably say that I do not fear winning the Pulitzer.
Does anyone already have the entry form???
Hmmm…this sounds like a very civil-disobedient thing to do…i like it! here’s my dilemma: let’s say my piece actually has a shot at winning (yeeeeaaaahhh right!!!), but they reject the application because of the lack of entry fee. Have I blown my foot off with a shotgun? This hypothetical keeps me from seriously considering.
Anyone else have this irrational fear?
Let me Pulitzely be the first to congratulate you on your Pulitzer nomination Galen!! 🙂