A sudden attack of careerism

Last week I recorded myself playing (badly) a piece of mine for solo cello, partly to check the microphone I borrowed works properly with my mini disc recorder (hey, it was cutting edge technology 3 years ago, and anyway, it's better quality than mp3) ahead of the première next month, and also partly because recordings are always a Good Thing to have to foist upon those who might play your music (the days having gone, apparently, when such people could be bothered to read scores properly and imagine what the damn thing might sound like). You can hear a (badly played) extract here, if it takes your fancy.

So anyway, yesterday, I came across an application form for the SPNM's 2007 shortlist. It was obviously fate, so into the post today went a score and a copy of the recording. Now, I've been here before - I've had 3 pieces shortlisted by the spnm in the past. If I'd had more time to think about it I'd probably have um-ed and ah-ed about it, whether I was happy enough with the piece to submit it and the like, but as time was short and i happened to have the necessary stuff together to send, there was very little thought involved in the decision. Proof of the value of procrastination - decisions are much easier to make if you don't have time to think about them too much. Is it worth the effort? We'll find out.
All this sudden activity reminds me I haven't done much in the way of writing since New Year, just this little thing I scribbled down a couple of weeks ago and never got round to posting. Partly down to the bastards, of course, but as well as feeling like a bit of a self pimping whore today, I feel a bit guilty about my lack of productivity. Must try and get myself into gear.