Composition Competition

«Sounds of Matter» is an international composition competition that encourages composers to find creative new ways to convey scientific ideas through their music. The focus is set in the field ofmaterial physics, specifically seven different research projects (nano carbon-metal hybrids,nucleation, polymers, 2D-materials, metallic glass, ferroic materials, diffusion) currently carried out in the Faculty of Physics of the University of Vienna.

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For that purpose, every research team has provided images, videos, soundfiles or datasets that should spark inspiration and serve as as source material. An overview of all available materials can be found at matter.soundsof.net/materials. Composers are invited to submit pieces that are somehow connected to or inspired by one chosen material (image, video, dataset etc.) together with a short text that explains this connection. It is the relevance and originality of your explanation that, together with the quality of the music submitted, will be the main evaluation criteria. 

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The competition is hosted by the Faculty of Physics of the University of Vienna, in cooperation with the University of Music and performing Arts, and is divided in three different categories: