Three mini commissions for composers & songwriters in Kent, Essex & East Sussex to write short pieces for voice, as part of Hera’s new project ‘Houseplants’.
The Project
There’s lots of classical music about the beauty of plant-life, so why shouldn’t it celebrate how much you love the cacti in your bathroom? We know plants mean a lot to a lot of people, whether they’re in a house, a flat, or a room, with a neat row of pots or an indoor jungle. For our new online project, we’re talking to people near our home in Whitstable, Kent about their plants. Three volunteers will be interviewed, and a brilliant photographer will take portraits of them and their plants in their homes.
We want to find three composers to write new pieces of vocal music, songs in a variety of styles, using the interviewees words, and inspired by their pictures. We’ll record the pieces with professional musicians, and the finished mini photo-operas, or musical portraits, will be released online in 2023. You can watch ‘Response’, another short online piece, featuring gardening and chrysanthemums, by composer Yaz Lancaster and video artist Laura Spark on our website.
This project is supported by a Digital R&D Commission from The Space. It will be released on Hera’s website and social media, & will also feature in the StrangeLove Festival.
The Commission
A short song/vocal work (approximately 3 minutes), for 1 voice and 1 other instrument of your choice (including a second voice). The piece will set a text and respond to photographs provided by Hera. There will be an opportunity to work collaboratively on the text of the piece, if you choose.
Fee: £600
You will also receive audio only and audio-visual copies of the finished recording. We will also pay travel expenses for you to attend the recording session, if you wish.
Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for composers & songwriters working in any genre who are interested in composing for classical voice. Your practice might be in contemporary classical music, new music, folk, jazz, electronic music or other forms. We would like to commission three varied artists, each with their own style and approach.
We are looking for artists who will benefit from the opportunity, whether that’s from the particular commission brief or the recording. We find the term ‘emerging’ unhelpful, and would like to hear from artists at any age or point in their artistic life who feel that taking part in the project would benefit them.
This opportunity is open to all. As a feminist company, we’d love to hear from women and artists from other under-represented groups. Our feminism is intersectional and trans inclusive. We are a disabled led company, and would be very pleased to hear from disabled & neurodivergent artists, and will do whatever we can to make the project accessible for you. Please get in touch if you have questions.
About Hera
Hera present inclusive opera and music theatre online and on tour. We have worked with contemporary composers including Cevanne Horrocks Hopayian, Sarah Taylor Ellis and Yaz Lancaster. Our digital opera “We Ask These Questions of Everybody” by Amble Skuse (‘Politically important and an artistic triumph’ ★★★★★ The I) is available online as part of DaDaFest International until 18th December (all tickets Pay What You Can). Find out more at www.wearehera.co.uk
How to Apply
To apply please fill in the form here: https://forms.gle/QQfTUuUN8pdaind4A If you have any problems with the form, or if you have any questions then email info@wearehera.co.uk . Applications close at 18:00 on Friday 25th November.