International Music Composition Competition
Saint Francis of Assisi - I edition 2025
Laudes Creaturarum
1225 - 2025
Competition for the composition of a work based on the Canticle of the Creatures of Saint Francis of Assisi in its original text
Elegible formats:
- Solo voice with keyboard instrument accompaniment
- Mixed choir or choir of equal voices, a cappella or with keyboard instrument accompaniment
Request for Participation
I request to participate in the first edition of the San Francisco de Asís International Musical Composition Competition 2025
Laudes Creaturarum
Altissimu, onnipotente, bon Signore,
tue so' le laude, la gloria e l'honore et onne benedictione.
Ad te solo, Altissimo, se konfàno
et nullu homo ène dignu te mentovare.
Laudato sie, mi' Signore, cum tucte le tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate sole,
lo qual è iorno, et allumini noi per lui
Et ellu è bellu e radiante cum grande splendore:
de te, Altissimo, porta significatione.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, per sora luna e le stelle:
in celu l'ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, per frate vento
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo,
per lo quale a le tue creature dài sustentamento.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, per sor'aqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, per frate focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte;
ed ello è bello et iocundo et robustoso et forte.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, per sora nostra matre terra,
la quale ne sustenta et governa,
et produce diversi fructi con coloriti flori et herba.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo tuo amore,
et sostengo infirmitate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli che 'l sosterrano in pace,
ka da te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.
Laudato si', mi' Signore, per sora nostra morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo vivente pò skappare:
guai a-cquelli che morrano ne le peccata mortali:
beati quelli ke trovarà ne le tue sanctissime voluntati,
ka la morte secunda no 'l farrà male.
Laudate et benedicete mi' Signore et rengratiate
e serviateli cum grande humilitate.
Regulatory Basis
1. PURPOSE OF THE COMPETITION
Comisión Nacional para los Centenarios Franciscanos, acting through Fundación Escuela Superior de Estudios Franciscanos, calls for a composition competition on the occasion of the 8th Centenary of the poem Laudes Creaturarum of St. Francis of Assisi. The aim is to create an original musical work based on the poem.
2. PARTICIPANTS
Composers of any age and nationality may participate, without restriction of residence.
3. REQUIREMENTS OF THE WORK
Each composer may submit only one work. The work submitted must be original by the composer, unpublished, not have been the result of a paid commission or awarded in any other competition, not have been previously performed in concert or public event, not even in any of its parts, neither under the current title nor under any other, nor broadcast by any means of dissemination. Adaptations or arrangements of pre-existing works will not be accepted.
The poem Canticle of Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi in its original text will be the basis of the composition. A version of the text is available in ANNEX I of this Regulatory Basis.
The eligible formats are as follows:
- Solo voice with accompaniment by a keyboard instrument
- Mixed or equal-voice choir, a cappella or with keyboard instrumental accompaniment
The duration of the work shall be between 5 and 15 minutes.
The score must be submitted in digital PDF format and accompanied by an audio demo in mp3 or midi format. In order to preserve the anonymity of the composer, the work must be submitted with a title and a slogan chosen by the author as the only identifying data.
The jury will not have access to the personal data of the contestants.
4. SUBMISSION AND DEADLINES
To participate in the competition, please fill in the form available at this link:
St. Francis of Assisi music composition competition The score and the audio file must be sent to the e-mail address that will be communicated to those registered for the competition.
A description of the work (maximum 500 words), including artistic intention and relevant technical elements, must be attached to the work. The deadline for submission is midnight Madrid time on 15 July 2025.
5. JURY AND EVALUATION CRITERIA
A jury of experts will evaluate the works submitted.
The following aspects will be considered:
- creativity and originality in the musical interpretation of the poem;
- quality of musical writing and interpretative feasibility;
- appropriateness to the character and spirituality of the text of St. Francis;
- formal and aesthetic coherence of the composition.
The Jury may declare the competition prize void if it considers that the quality of the works submitted does not reach a sufficient artistic level.
The decisions of the Jury shall be final. The Jury's decision will be made public as from 1 August 2025. Only the name of the winning composer will be made public.
6. PRIZES AND MENTIONS
A first prize of €4,000.00 will be awarded, subject to the current tax withholding.
The world premiere of the winning work will take place during the fourth quarter of 2025 as part of the celebrations of the VIII Centenary of St. Francis in Spain.
The jury may award honourable mentions if it deems it appropriate.
7. COPYRIGHT AND DISSEMINATION
The participants retain the copyright of their compositions. Escuela Superior de Estudios Franciscanos reserves the right to have the winning works performed, recorded and disseminated. Escuela Superior de Estudios Franciscanos reserves the right to choose the performers
who will give the first performance and the venue of the performance. The author of the winning work is obliged to include the following inscription in any publicity of the work, as well as in all recordings, editions and programmes that include the performance of the work: Prize of the International St. Francis of Assisi Musical Composition Competition, 2025.
8. ACCEPTANCE OF THE REGULATORY BASIS
The submission of a work implies acceptance of these rules in their entirety. Entity in charge of the competition: OE Oficina. oeoficina.com