The deadline nears for submissions to my call for scores. The interesting music is abundant. Can there be too much of a good thing?

The call was limited to 3-12 minutes of. music. Almost everyone helped me by abiding by that request, which is a good thing because the submitter count is turning out to be just about 400.

Several submitters sent me music well in excess of a half hour or even 45 minutes and invited me to select 12 minutes I liked. I'm sorry, I just can't do it. I wish I could help out like that, but I can't.

That was one lesson learned from this call. I must spell out that I am unable to edit submissions to bring them within the time limit. When you submit to other calls, I recommend you consider the spirit of time limits. It helps those considering your work to give you a chance.

A shout out to composers. I didn't ask this on the call for scores, but the question will come up when I begin recording. Who administers your mechanical licenses? I would like to understand how composers of concert music are doing it these days.

I won't be dealing with ASCAP or BMI when producing my CD since those are performing rights organizations and pressing a CD isn't a performance. What I need is music clearance for mechanical licenses for your music.

However, I know ASCAP members, for example, get a discount on Limelight for music clearance services. So how many of you composers use ASCAP and Limelight? How much of the music for Tangent Shores will I be able to clear through Limelight?

I'm up to 50 submissions in my listening and reading. I will respond to all composers when I have feedback. I enjoy the music very much. I know already that I like more of the music than I will be able to record on one CD and it inspires me to look for ways to extend the life and reach of the Tangent Shores project.

I opened the website for Tangent Shores today. I started a project with a call for scores and it turned into something so big, I wanted to give it its own life.

In Spring 2014 I was looking for solo piano music not yet recorded commercially. I posted a call for scores online and tweeted about it. I thought I was casting into the waves a message in a bottle. I didn't know who would receive the message and what would come back.


What came back was a tsunami! I have received music from all over the world; the United States, Malaysia, Spain, Greece, South Korea, it's endless. Tangent Shores is about the seemingly distant creators who turned out to be right at my doorstep and sitting at my piano, who have blotted out distance and touched me with their inspiration.


My plan for the project is to record a CD of my favorite submissions. However, I have received so much music, it is clear to me the possibilities for Tangent Shores extend far beyond the scope of one CD. I don't want to see the project end there. At the very least, I wish to announce on this site all of the composers who have shared their work with me so generously.