So I’ve decided to submit a music supplement to the college I’m applying at and their time limit is 15 minutes. I currently have 3 recordings with a total time of around 20 minutes. They are Mozart 4, Lalo Symphonie Espagnole and Bach Partita 3 Loure. I can either do Lalo/Bach, Mozart/Bach or Lalo/Mozart. The problem with the latter is that it is about 1 minute over. I’m happy with all my recordings and I’m not really sure how hard the time limit is. Will it matter that much if it’s over by 1 minute, since I’m sending youtube links? Thanks again for any advice.
I’d recommend not going over the time limit as just like the word count, it’s more a rule than a soft requirement.
Pick the two with which you have the most emotional connection. You might not hear it, but they probably will. Two is plenty, and staying well under the time limit projects, if anything, a “confidence” message. Going over, if it’s noticed, projects a “I can’t follow rules” message.
Your musical merit can be assessed in the first minute or two of listening, usually just by beginning few bars, so packing everything to the 15-minute requirement isn’t necessarily doing yourself a favor. Going over the limit is never a good idea.
Maybe you can ask admissions about cueing the best 3 minutes of each. If you are really attached to all three. Or just submit one that you really like (and you can still cue the best parts). @TiggerDad is right in saying they aren’t going to listen to the whole thing anyway. Make it easy on the busy admissions folks!