We are pleased to invite composers to submit works for performance at the 4th Annual Symposium on Enharmonic Interfaces and Controllers for Keyboard Instruments, with a special focus on Extending the Organ’s Potential. Selected works will be featured during the symposium concerts held at the MDW (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna) on December 12–13, 2025.
Instrument Categories & Guidelines
The concerts will take place in St. Ursula church. The link below gives detailed information about the organs available (3 in total).
https://www.mdw.ac.at/iok/die-orgeln-des-instituts
If you would like to write for a different organ available at the organ institut, please contact the organizers. If enough people ask for a specific organ we might be able to accommodate your request.
Option 1: Mechanical Organ (Solo)
We welcome compositions of 5–15 minutes for solo mechanical organs
Option 2: Enharmonic Organ with Frescobaldi2 Extension
The Frescobaldi2 system enhances a standard digital organ by adding five split keys per octave (for up to 17 keys total), allowing for microtonal exploration and extended tuning systems.
We invite submissions of short works (5–15 minutes) for solo performance on this enhanced instrument, using the extended mean-tone tuning (1/4 comma temperament, or alternate temperaments on request). The tuning table is provided below:
If you would like to explore alternate temperaments or tunings, please contact the organizers in advance.
Frescobaldi2 standard, split-key tuning:
Newly added keys in bold
1/4 comma temperament (other temperaments available, composers please get in touch for more information)
Tuning in cents away from C:
C 0c
C# 76c
Db 117c
D 193c
D# 269c
Eb 310c
E 386c
F 503c
F# 579c
Gb 621c
G 697c
G# 773c
Ab 814
A 890c
A# 965c
Bb 1007c
B 1083c
Option 3: Duo for Mechanical Organ and Enharmonic Organ (Frescobaldi2)
We invite works of 5–15 minutes for duo: mechanical organ and enharmonic organ with Frescobaldi2. Composers should consider the unique expressive capabilities of both instruments and their tuning/tactile interfaces.
Option 4: Duo for two Mechanical Organs
We invite works of 5-15 minutes for mechanical organ duo (St. Ursula only – see link above for available instruments). Composers should consider the unique expressive capabilities of the different organs in St. Ursula, especially the difference in tunings between the instruments.
To get a visual of the original prototype of the Frescobaldi2 and to hear it in performance:
2024: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-0jRwu33pSjptpie6ZGrrCO7g7mniwQl
2023: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-0jRwu33pShW1N2T1TddDzIgWtVLtKHE&si=FT36aG9TbrYwtxj3
2022: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-0jRwu33pSiUslnNqvsIvfQ5ErVCKkSk&si=QfvppMb1YsAew3Ur
If you have questions please E-Mail:
Submission Information
All abstracts must be submitted via the online form no later than 15 September 2025. Please ensure that your submission is performance-ready. Selected composers will be notified in October 2025.
Please submit all finished compositions and sketches via this Google Form