Lyrics competition

William Morris has been the Composer in Residence at the BHA since Summer 2008. Here he invites members of the Association to bring his music into focus through words...

Do you have a talent for meter and rhyme? Do you have a desire to put your feelings and thoughts about Humanism into verse? If so, then now is your opportunity. The BHA is looking for a wordsmith to sum up what it means to be a humanist.

What Do We Have To Sing About?

As you may be aware, as Composer in Residence I have spent the last year and a half researching the use of music in the association and composing new music. In looking for suitable words to set for humanist songs I have found that it has actually been fundamentally more of a search into what being a humanist is all about.

While there is much wonderful poetry which is suitable for setting to music, there is not much that is purpose written for the association which celebrates all the positive characteristics of being a humanist...with a consistent metrical and rhyming scheme!

The Songs

Musical tastes are so personal. It has the ability to tap into the subconscious memory and affect people on an unspoken level. It also has the power to uplift and unite.

In my research I have had the pleasure of playing my songs to a number of humanist groups and have found that while one person may instantly dislike a tune, someone else will be moved by it. I have had many people calling for a more popular style while others prefer the more traditional, reflective mood.

To make the competition as inclusive as possible I have written four contrasting songs and given them temporary titles to help give a creative 'way in'. MP3s of the songs can be found at the bottom of this page.

The one titled 'Reflective' is a simple tune with a traditional, modal feel. It would be in straightforward verse form and could stretch to as many as 3-5 stanzas. It could be seen as a celebration of a life well lived or as advice to a new life about to be lived.

The song titled 'Joyful' has a more upbeat 'latin' feel to it and is gently celebratory in nature. It could have 2-3 verses.

The song 'Lullaby' has a slow, more classical feel to it. Don't be put off by the title! It is only there to help indentify it and could very easily be something else or something less specific. Again it could have 2-3 verses.

The song titled 'The One Life' (in three files, see below) has a celebratory, pop feel to it. It was written after attending the Celebrant's Conference when there was a call for songs in a modern, uplifting style. It needs 3 different verses, 1 repeating chorus and a middle 8 (all recorded as separate mp3s). The chorus I had started by writing (see below) is by no means definitive and can be by all means changed (or included!).

We're sharing, and living the one life that we have!
We're caring, and giving.
So celebrate, don't hesitate to live the life as best as we can!

The Competition

All entries will go before the committee and a short list selected. These will go in front of the whole association and voted on. There will be regular monthly updates on votes counted and at the end of the year a winning song will be chosen.

The winning entry will then be professionally recorded by the recently set up BHA choir, be publicised throughout the association and adopted as the official BHA anthem.

Tips

• Often a tune will only begin to speak to you after repeated hearings so try to give them a few goes before being drawn to one (or two!).
• Try 'playing against type' and go for a style you wouldn't normally choose, that is often when you can be the most creative.
• Memorise the tune you're working on. Put in any words to begin with to get the correct stresses and number of syllables.

 

Feel free to contact me with any queries through my email pentatone@hotmail.com.

Good Luck To All!

William Morris
Composer in Residence