BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition

[Ein Heldenleben]

They do and I suspect those highly trained can recognise the musically poor quality - BUT that is no longer important to what R3 has morphed into - the BBC sees itself (probably because of politically driven appointments) as a mass entertainment channel that fulfils the same basic function as the Roman 'bread and circuses' ie as supporting a form of mass culture (in widest sense) that supports the existing power structure and keeps the population docile enough - maybe in same way Stalin disliked the avant garde in music as innovation and questioning in one field could lead to questioning in another. The Third Programme accepted its role was to 'broadcast' to an educated minority who otherwise would have little recourse to such material 'out in the sticks' - rather like the old Anglican tradition of sending educated clergy to minister in rural areas.

Thing is it’s not working - the Carol competition is not making me docile - it is raising my revolutionary instincts . Maybe the “competition” is a super -subtle sub- Trotskyist “agent-provocateur”: act of consciousness- raising leading to the inevitable victory of the proletariat? Notice how it uses the word “competition” - a capitalist article of faith - in concatenation with the word “Carol” - a by now surely outdated religious artefact that’s an integral part of the whole consumerist opiate of Christmas.

[Old Grumpy]

Of the BBC's radio stations, only R4 maintains good overall ethos. I suspect this is because it has no obvious competition, so there's no need to dumb down. Radio 1 was formed to compete with pirate radio, so dumbed down to their standards. Radio 2 has effectively shed its classical music (and other) programmes to Radio 3. Radio 3 was fine until CFM and Scala Radio came along, resulting in the feeble BBC management desperately emulating them, with the consequences we now suffer.

GB News Radio seems setting itself up as some form of alternative for disillusioned R4 listeners: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-b1980210.html

What a motley selection of presenters...

[french frank]

Maybe the “competition” is a super -subtle sub- Trotskyist “agent-provocateur”: act of consciousness- raising leading to the inevitable victory of the proletariat? Notice how it uses the word “competition” - a capitalist article of faith - in concatenation with the word “Carol” - a by now surely outdated religious artefact that’s an integral part of the whole consumerist opiate of Christmas.

The BBC is accused of all sorts of dastardly political behaviour, but as I see it the only connection they have with politicians is that they all want to keep their cosy jobs by keeping their ship afloat.

I'm judging only by the 'biased' () views here, which I take to be justified: a 'carol competition' will have nothing to do with music/Christmas but is just about 'involving the customer base', a bit like 'Have Your Say' (for what difference that makes). The public service is more 'serving the public' (as in giving the public something to enjoy, giving them a platform or voice) than informing, educating and high professional standards. High ideals are sooooo 1940s …

[Ein Heldenleben]

The BBC is accused of all sorts of dastardly political behaviour, but as I see it the only connection they have with politicians is that they all want to keep their cosy jobs by keeping their ship afloat.

I'm judging only by the 'biased' () views here, which I take to be justified: a 'carol competition' will have nothing to do with music/Christmas but is just about 'involving the customer base', a bit like 'Have Your Say' (for what difference that makes). The public service is more 'serving the public' (as in giving the public something to enjoy, giving them a platform or voice) than informing, educating and high professional standards. High ideals are sooooo 1940s …

I can’t work out whether you spotted my heavy handed attempt at generating a few laughs. I think contemporary “ ideals “ are way higher than those of the 1940’s - taking the Europe - wide view …

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Here are this year's more-of-the-same Carol Competition Rules:-

Radio 3 Carol Competition 2022: Terms and conditions of entry
Entrants must be aged 16 or over at the closing date (1 November 2022).

The competition is only open to people who are not music professionals. A music professional is here defined as anyone who earns money from composing or arranging music (including composition teaching).

Entrants must not have had a professional commission, nor have had a composition commercially published within the last five years up to 6 September 2022. An entrant will also be considered professional if they have significant income from music composing or teaching work (including, but not limited to, income from selling compositions/arrangements or teaching composition online) and will not be eligible for the competition.

The competition is also not open to:

● Employees, or the close relatives of employees of the BBC, BBC Group companies, or anyone else connected with the creation or administration of this competition
● Previous winners of the Radio 3 Carol Competition
● Those who have been shortlisted for the Radio 3 Carol Competition within the last three years. Previously shortlisted candidates from before that period can enter.

2. How to enter

Each valid entry can either be uploaded online or sent by post.

TO ENTER ONLINE: Save the score of your carol as an Adobe PDF or a high-resolution image OR record an audio file of yourself singing the tune (with words) of the first verse only. Then complete the Entry Form online, linked to from bbc.co.uk/carolcompetition.

The online entry form will accept the following file formats:

Documents
● PDF

Images
● JPEG
● PNG
● GIF (not animated)

Audio
● MP3
● MP4
● M4A
● WAVE
● Windows Media Audio

TO ENTER BY POST: Each valid entry must include: A completed entry form (available to download from bbc.co.uk/carolcompetition) AND a printed copy of your score for the first verse only, with the words written underneath the notes.

If entering a written score, entrants must use traditional music notation and the tune should be presented on a single page of A4 paper. Completed entries must be submitted by standard post only to:

BBC Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition
Room 2045
Broadcasting House
London W1A 1AA

3. Due to the volume of entries for the Competition, there will be no acknowledgement of receipt for entries submitted by post. Entries submitted online will receive an automated email acknowledgement to the BBC account registered email address. Any queries about entering the Competition should be emailed to 3Breakfast@bbc.co.uk.

4. The winner is the entrant who writes the tune that makes the best Christmas Carol when sung with the words of the chosen poem, which can be found at bbc.co.uk/carolcompetition. Entrants should write a melody line only, for singing in unison. The melody line should set the three-line verse and one-line chorus “look here, the winter’s brightening” of the carol. The same melody line will be used for each of the carol’s three verses and choruses.

5. Entrants may repeat words or phrases, and/or swap around lines from the text of the VERSE, but should bear in mind that the tune will be repeated and therefore any repetitions must work for all subsequent VERSES. Entrants should not alter the words of the CHORUS, but may repeat the line in full.

6. This competition will be judged solely on the tune/melody line. It is not necessary to provide a harmonisation or accompaniment. If you do provide a harmonisation or accompaniment, they will not be assessed as part of the judging criteria.

7. Only one entry per person will be accepted. If an entrant should submit more than one entry, only the first entry registered will be judged and any subsequent entries will be disregarded.

8. Entrants must warrant that their entries are original, entirely their own work and do not infringe copyright or other third party rights. The BBC reserves the right to carry out any appropriate checks including contacting entrants to verify this. Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene, violent or any other material that would deem the entry unsuitable for broadcast by the BBC. The BBC accepts no liability if entrants ignore these rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify the BBC against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these rules.

9. We welcome tunes in a variety of musical styles and genres. The judges will assess each valid entry in relation to the following criteria:

● A tune that is attractive and original
● A tune that is easy to learn
● A tune that can be sung by people who do not have special musical skills or training
● A tune that reflects the mood and meaning of the text

10. The competition will launch on Tuesday 6 September 2022 in BBC Radio 3 Breakfast. Each time the competition is mentioned on air, in Breakfast or on another programme, listeners will be told of the different ways of entry, the deadline for entries, and where to find the T&Cs and Privacy notice. The deadline for receipt of entries is 23:59 (11.59pm) on Tuesday 1 November 2022.

(continued in next post)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(continuation)

11. Entries will undergo the following judging process:

● All entries will be verified by a member of BBC production staff to ensure that they are compliant with the terms and conditions of this competition. Any invalid entries will be removed from the judging process at this point.
● Each valid entry will be assessed using the criteria set out above by members of the BBC Singers and members of the Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition production team. They will submit a longlist of up to 50 entries to the final round of shortlisting by the judging panel.
● The final round of shortlisting will involve a panel of at least five judges, who will review the longlisted entries. They will shortlist six entrants by agreement, based on the criteria outlined above.

If the judging panel requires any clarification in relation to an entry, the entrant will be contacted at this stage.

Radio 3’s in-house arranger will then work in collaboration with shortlisted composers to create harmonised versions of each entry for choir and piano accompaniment. The arranger’s artistic decisions are final, but each shortlisted composer will be asked to sign off the final harmonised version before the carol is submitted to the public vote. Reasonable adjustments will be made to this process to make sure that all candidates have equal access to the process.

Radio 3 listeners will be asked to vote for their favourite tune after they have had the opportunity to hear the final six performed by the BBC Singers on Radio 3, broadcast on-air and made available online. The six shortlisted carols will be recorded by the BBC Singers, with some verses sung in unison with an accompaniment and some in harmony.

12. The BBC's decision in the selection of shortlisted entrants is final. No correspondence will be entered into. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted. Applicants may receive automatically generated emails but replies will not be responded to.

13. The shortlisted entrants will then be contacted by the BBC production team by email, telephone or post by Thursday 24 November 2022. If, after reasonable attempts to contact a winner, the communication has not been acknowledged, the BBC reserves the right to replace them on the shortlist with another selected entrant.

14. The six shortlisted entries will be performed live by the BBC Singers on Radio 3’s Breakfast programme (subject to technical and operational circumstances) between 8am and 9am on Friday 16 December 2022. From 16 December to 22 December 2022, recordings of the carols will be played across a range of Radio 3 shows, equally and fairly. All of the shortlisted carols will be available to listen to on the Radio 3 website from 8.50am on Friday 16 December 2022.

15. After hearing each carol on-air during the voting period, the audience will be directed to visit bbc.co.uk/carolcompetition to vote for their favourite carol.

16. Voting will close at 6pm on Thursday 22 December 2022. The winner with the highest number of votes will be announced in the Breakfast programme on Friday 23 December 2022.

17. Entrants should be available to attend the recording session of the six final arrangements on Monday 5 December 2022 in London (travel expenses may be available dependent on your circumstances). Entrants should also be available for a phone call at around 8.30am between 16 and 23 December 2022 inclusive to be interviewed live on the Breakfast show, either as a finalist or as the winner, dependent on circumstances. The shortlisted entrants will be expected to take part in pre- and post-competition publicity, if required.

18. The winning entrant will have their carol performed live on the Breakfast programme on Friday 23 December 2022 and a recording played on BBC Radio 3 during programmes throughout the Christmas period.

19. The prize is as stated and cannot be deferred or transferred. There will be no cash alternatives.

20. Entrants supplying scores and those who receive commissions from the BBC agree to grant the BBC an exclusive licence to use such entries and commissions in all media for the purposes of the competition including without limitation, transmission on radio and streaming on the internet and making copies or new recordings, if required. In connection with BBC's planned usage of the entries and commissions, entrants must ensure that works submitted are original.

21. Entrants must supply full details as required above and comply with all of the terms and conditions of this competition in order to be eligible for the prize. The BBC does not accept responsibility for ineligible, incomplete or fraudulent entries.

22. The BBC reserves the right to cancel this competition at any stage.

23. Entrants are reminded that their participation in BBC competitions (including winning or receiving an award of high commendation) cannot be used in commercial advertising or promotions, to attract external funding, to lobby or campaign, or to attract donations.

24. The BBC does not accept responsibility for any technical failure, malfunction or any other problem with any server, internet access system, programme software, the postal service or otherwise which may result in any entry being lost, late or not properly registered or recorded. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.

25. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition. Entries that deviate from the terms and conditions of this competition will be disqualified. Entries are subject to the BBC Privacy Policy and BBC Online Terms of Use.

26. The promoter of this competition is the British Broadcasting Corporation and these terms and conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

27. This competition accords with BBC’s Code of Conduct for Competitions and Voting, details of which can be found in the BBC Editorial Guidelines.

I did think about entering the competition with a single note melody, just to show how dumb this competition has become. "If you're any good, we don't want you." But according to the rules, I'm ineligible, so that can't happen.

[french frank]

We have the words to set, the poem by Niall Campbell:

Turn up the lights of a light-filled room,
outside the winter’s closing in,
the night is cold – but here’s the tune:

look here, the winter’s brightening;

Down goes the sun like honeycomb,
up pulls the storming winds and rain,
but here’s the moon, its full white bowl.

Look here, the winter’s brightening.

Love sets the plates and lays the meal
love is the winter’s welcoming,
its snow-white door, its turning key;

look here, the winter’s brightening.

"The Radio 3 Carol Competition is your chance to create a Christmas number one!" I know the word carol has several meaings, but maybe "Christmas-time song" would be more appropriate?

[Pulcinella]

I wouldn't want to enter any competition to be judged by members of the BBC Singers.

[DracoM]

[cloughie]

We have the words to set, the poem by Niall Campbell:

Turn up the lights of a light-filled room,
outside the winter’s closing in,
the night is cold – but here’s the tune:

look here, the winter’s brightening;

Down goes the sun like honeycomb,
up pulls the storming winds and rain,
but here’s the moon, its full white bowl.

Look here, the winter’s brightening.

Love sets the plates and lays the meal
love is the winter’s welcoming,
its snow-white door, its turning key;

look here, the winter’s brightening.

"The Radio 3 Carol Competition is your chance to create a Christmas number one!" I know the word carol has several meaings, but maybe "Christmas-time song" would be more appropriate?

Wonderful inspired writing - bet it took all of half an hour to complete! Should stick to his day job - you mean it is his day job? A tune would probably take less - is Noddy Holder busy at the moment?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I wouldn't want to enter any competition to be judged by members of the BBC Singers.

They always sing these carols as though they hate them - even the better ones where the composer was allowed to compose without patronising interference .

[oddoneout]

Wonderful inspired writing - bet it took all of half an hour to complete! Should stick to his day job - you mean it is his day job? A tune would probably take less - is Noddy Holder busy at the moment?

You know summer's well and truly gone when the Carol Comp. rears its head...
I thought it might have been a child's pome - Blue Peter competition winner p'raps, alternatively a rather primitive AI effort.
Apparently this chap is writing an opera for the BBC Philharmonic, correction has written. https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/er2bc8

[french frank]

Apparently this chap is writing an opera for the BBC Philharmonic

It reads like a poem that was composed especially for the R3 Carol comp. Otherwise it would have no reason to exist.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Wonderful inspired writing - bet it took all of half an hour to complete! Should stick to his day job - you mean it is his day job? A tune would probably take less - is Noddy Holder busy at the moment?

It is truly truly dreadful .” Love sets the plates “ . Oh please…..

[oddoneout]

It reads like a poem that was composed especially for the R3 Carol comp. Otherwise it would have no reason to exist.

It's a bit of a sad contrast to the early years of the competition certainly. Coupled withe the simplification of the composing element perhaps they could put it on R2 now - and let R3 have the Chorister of the Year instead?