A Short Guide To Commissioning A New Piece


What steps should I expect to take when commissioning a new piece?
Every commission is different, but most of them involve steps such as these:
1) Find a composer you want to work with
2) Explore your expectations
3) Define the parameters of the commissioned piece
4) Negotiate a fee
5) Put it in writing
6) Keep communicating
7) Have trust in each other’s musical and personal integrity
Explore any spoken or unspoken expectations you and the composer might have:
-Think about what kind of piece you want.
-Why are you commissioning the piece?
-Are you wanting music that celebrates something specific, or are you wanting to give the composer more freedom, offering a blank page and saying “create what you want, I trust you, have fun!” is always an option.
There may be unspoken expectations, which you’ll want to be aware of:
-Are you looking for a particular style of music?
-Do you want music which challenges, comforts, questions, affirms, or invites laughter?
-Are you looking for a “crowd pleaser”?
One expectation to particularly watch out for it whether you are looking for a piece of music that’s similar (or nearly identical) to something else the composer has written! It’s fine to be upfront about wanting a piece that’s similar in length, difficulty or spirit to another of a composer’s pieces, but it’s important to keep in mind that composers don’t tend to “write the same piece twice.” You are bound to be surprised by the piece in some way or another, so keep in mind that this is an adventure!
Some basic parameters include:
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Instrumentation or Voicing
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Duration
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Difficulty Level (grade level) / Performance requirements
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Age of ensemble (if involving school groups)
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Text or Poem (if applicable)
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Timeline (including dates for delivery of score and parts, important rehearsals and performance)
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Level of Composer Participation – workshops or talks, attending rehearsals or premiere, conducting or accompanying the performance
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Commission Fee Schedule (usually paid in 2 or 3 installments)
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Dedication of the piece
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Due date of commission (parts and score)
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Premier Date
Commission fees & info:
-A downpayment of 25% of the total commission fee will be expected on agreement of contract
-75% expected on completion and delivery of score and parts
-Score and parts will usually be electronically sent via .pdf. Hard copies may be requested but may result in additional fees.
-fees are for composition not travel
-travel, lodging, & clinic work usually require a different fee structure, but can be negotiated with commission fees
-fees are also usually based on the length of the composition...ex. $500 per minute of composed music - a three-minute work would cost $1,500.00 US dollars.
WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THE MUSIC?
It is standard practice that composers retain the rights to their own work, and so the legal ownership of the piece remains with the composer. However, the commissioner is acknowledged in many ways—on the first page of the musical score, on any official recording, in the performance program and often in other written materials. It is customary that the commissioner is given a presentation copy of the completed score, almost always specially inscribed by the composer. An archive recording may be provided as well. Most of all, the commissioner experiences a satisfying sense of participation in the creation of a new work of music.
Put it all in writing:
Getting the terms of the commission down on paper is a vital part of the commissioning process. The Commissioning Agreement/Contract includes all the details of the commission that are known at the time the document is signed. Not only does this document make clear the rights and responsibilities of all parties, but it also becomes the working document for the project, insuring that everyone’s on the same page.
No contract is ever perfect or set in stone, nor does it need to be. What's important is that the contract represents everyone's best efforts to create a trusting relationship, communicating specifically and openly along the way.
Past
Commission
Examples
Eclipse (2006)
String Orchestra (grade 2)
Composed for 2001-2002
Linn-Mar 7th and 8th grade Middle School Orchestra. (Marion, Iowa)
String Orchestra (grade 4)
Washington HS Symphony Strings
Andrew Steffen - Director
String Orchestra (grade 4)
Composed for the 2018-2019 Concert Orchestra Students at Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa)
String Orchestra
(grade 4+)
Commissioned by and dedicated to GaeEllyn Gentzsch and the South East Junior High School Orchestra (Iowa City, Iowa)
Jubilant Overture (2013)
String Orchestra (grade 3)
Written for and dedicated to the 2011-2012 Linn-Mar Middle School Orchestra and their directors Kristine Schamberger & Kelly Vieth (Marion, Iowa)
The Fanfare Overture (2003)
String Orchestra (grade 1.5)
Composed for and commissioned by the West Des Moines Elementary String staff in (West Des Moines, Iowa)
Michelle Senger - Director