GORINCHEM - On Saturday 26 September 2009 the Nederlandse Klokkenspel-Vereniging organizes in cooperation with the City of Gorinchem an International Carillon Competition on the carillon of the 'Grote Toren' in Gorinchem. Immediate cause for the city of Gorinchem to initiate this contest is the occasion of Henny Blom being city carillonneur since 25 years.

The carillon of Gorinchem is tuned in equal temperament. All 47 bells, in the range c¹ - d¹ - e¹ - chrom. - c⁵ and attached as such to the keyboard, were cast in 1965 by bell-foundry Petit & Fritsen in Aarle-Rixtel. The carillon is installed in the top of a fairly closed tower and has a standard North-European keyboard.

CONTEST
The contest starts at 10.00 hours and ends with the prize-giving ceremony at 17.00 hours. The competition has two categories: carillonneurs with a diploma and carillonneurs without a diploma. The maximum playing time for every candidate is 20 minutes.

Category A (with diploma) is performing in the afternoon. For this category the compulsary work is 'Allegro' of Samuel Barber (1910-1981). The compulsary piece will be sent to each candidate. Every candidate has to play at least one freely chosen original carillon composition and can pick other works as desired. It is however not allowed to exceed the maximum playing time of 20 minutes.

Category B (still without a diploma on 1 January 2009) is performing in the morning. For this category the compulsary pieces are 'Dirge' of Samuel Barber (1910-1981). The compulsary piece will be sent to each candidate. Every candidate has to play at least one freely chosen original composition. More works are allowed, on the condition that the maximum playing time of 20 minutes is not exceeded.

AWARDS
Category A. The 1st prize is € 750 and three recitals in 2010. The 2nd prize amounts € 400. Category B. The 1st prize is € 350 and one recital in 2010 and the 2nd prize € 200.

JURY
Members of the jury are Bas de Vroome (president - carillonneur and organist), Stefano Colletti (carillonneur and pianist), Frank Steijns (carillonneur and violinist), Twan Bearda (carillonneur and engineer), and Henny Blom (carillonneur). The jury is assisted by a non-voting secretary. The jury regulations of the NKV are applicable. The compulsary piece and the freely chosen work(s) will be equally appraised by the jury.

OTHER CONTEST REGULATIONS
The findings of the jury are final, the jury has the right not to award one or several prizes. When freely selected works exceed the maximum time, the jury may delete a portion of the piece or leave some of it without rating. The sequence in which the participants will perform is decided upon by drawing lots. The jury will not know the identity of the participants. So participants are judged anonymously.

In each category not more than six candidates are admitted. In the case of a disproportionate distribution of the number of candidates over the two categories, the board of the NKV may decide to change the partitioning of the prize money and the number of participants in a category. All participants will be informed timely about such decisions.

INVITATION
You are kindly invited to participate in this contest. The application period starts on Monday August 10 and closes on Monday August 31, 2009. Please send (a copy) of the application form to the mentioned address or by sending an e-mail  . A copy of all free chosen work(s) has also to be sent (later) to this address. None of the music sheets may contain notes that could enable the jury to identify the participant.