Uploaded July 2021 | Updated September 2026, 12 minutes ago
Avram won second prize with composition 'YIZKOR (Remembering)' in the Music to Picture category for Guildhall Young Artists competition, 'RELEASE'.
Avram, Age 12 says: "The painter Chagall depicted life in a typical Polish “shtetl”, like the one my family fled from to the UK. Any family left behind perished. So I wanted to create a sound-memory of their lost world, inspired by Chagall’s images – which often include musicians.
In lockdown I had only myself as musician, so I wrote for four cellos, then played and recorded in layers.
I wanted a mode, so I invented my own nine note scale (inspired by Freygish). And I used mostly a 5/4 time signature, for a peasant feel. I wanted active village life, a thoughtful middle part, a sense of threat, and finally an echo from one lone voice - maybe a child.
Sometimes I wrote conflicting rhythms, which I think would sound much better live than assembled. And I’d love lots of rubato, which will have to wait for a live performance... I need three other cellists to play it with me!"
In March 2021, all 1,600 students who access a Saturday music school across the Guildhall Young Artists network, including Junior Guildhall and the Centre for Young Musicians, were invited to submit a composition to four categories: Songwriting, Digital Media, Music to Picture and Concert Music. As well as cash prizes for the top 3 compositions in each category, participants could also win other prizes including an online masterclass with an industry leading artist.
Avram won second prize with composition 'YIZKOR (Remembering)' in the Music to Picture category for Guildhall Young Artists competition, 'RELEASE'.
Avram, Age 12 says: "The painter Chagall depicted life in a typical Polish “shtetl”, like the one my family fled from to the UK. Any family left behind perished. So I wanted to create a sound-memory of their lost world, inspired by Chagall’s images – which often include musicians.
In lockdown I had only myself as musician, so I wrote for four cellos, then played and recorded in layers.
I wanted a mode, so I invented my own nine note scale (inspired by Freygish). And I used mostly a 5/4 time signature, for a peasant feel. I wanted active village life, a thoughtful middle part, a sense of threat, and finally an echo from one lone voice - maybe a child.
Sometimes I wrote conflicting rhythms, which I think would sound much better live than assembled. And I’d love lots of rubato, which will have to wait for a live performance... I need three other cellists to play it with me!"
In March 2021, all 1,600 students who access a Saturday music school across the Guildhall Young Artists network, including Junior Guildhall and the Centre for Young Musicians, were invited to submit a composition to four categories: Songwriting, Digital Media, Music to Picture and Concert Music. As well as cash prizes for the top 3 compositions in each category, participants could also win other prizes including an online masterclass with an industry leading artist.
