Blog Post: Commissioning New Music

Commissioning new music can seem like a very daunting challenge which may seem out of reach for most people and so I wanted to write a blog post focused on my own experiences of commissioning new music.

1. Choose A Composer.

The first thing which I wanted to state is that anyone can commission a piece of music and often the first step that needs to be taken is to find a composer this could be someone from your local musical organisation, a young composer or even an internationally successful composer. 

Before reaching out to contact a composer there are a few things that you will need to consider which includes the following points:

1. Budget.

2. Reason for commissioning a new piece of music.

3. Stories, themes and form that you would like included in the new piece of music.

4. Timescales which include when you would like the receive the piece of music and when you will be performing the premiere. 

5. How long would you like the piece of music to be.

After deciding these points then you are ready to submit a proposal to the composer. The initial conversation with the composer will focus about the above point and once agreed a contract will be agreed upon which is something that I will cover later in this blog post. 

Creating new music is an exciting and creative period which allows you to explore new and exciting concepts. Once a concept is set discussed then process will move to the next stage.

2. The Contract.

The contract sets out an agreement between yourself and the composers. This will include the details of the piece of music and an agreed form of funding the new piece of music. I would always advice checking out potential grant schemes which may be able to support with the funding or promotion of a new project at this point. 

Often the composer will be open to a financial agreement in which you will be able to pay monthly sums for the new piece of music instead of the whole lump sum up front which is especially useful if you are commissioning new music by yourself. 

Also set out in the contract is the performers rights which usually allows the perform an exclusive period of time to premiere the new piece of music before it is published. 

3. Staying In Communication. 

It is important to stay in contact with the composer throughout the whole process of the creation of a new piece and it is critial that you inform the composer of any changes within your own personal situation this could be a change in your health or even financial situation. 

Honesty is the key to building up a new relationship with a new composer and most individuals will understand any changes in your situation. 

4. The First Draft.

The first draft of a new piece of music is quite an exciting period, you can expect that the first draft of a new piece of music will include all the parts along with an electronic sound file and score. When listening to the electronic sound file try not to be put off by what you hear as the final sound of the piece will sound music different than an electronic sound file. 

The first task is to set about learning the new piece of music and it can help to listen to the electronic sound file and score to quickly get to grips and identify the different sections of the new piece of music. It can also help to have a second pair of fresh eyes who can look over the new commission and give further thoughts and suggestions however this involevement must have been agreed with the composer. 

There may be things during this stage which you want adding to the new piece of music or want changing and it is always useful to compile a list of thoughts which you can talk to the composer about. Remember that this is not a published piece of music yet and that the composer will be most likely open to any changes that need to be made. 

5. Permiere Performance. 

The Premiere Performance of a new piece of music is often the culmination of many weeks, months and years of hard work and can be quite a special occassion. The premiere performance marks the beginning of a new life for a piece of music which you may have been exploring for the past number of months and like the beginning of any new life it is important to create a positive impression. The programming and explanation of a new piece of music is key in this respect and the use of media within the performance can really enhance the new piece of music.

6. Promotion.

With the premiere performance of a new piece of music completed it is exciting to see the new piece of music receive it's second and third performance. The next stage is often the promotion of a new piece of music which can be a constant process from the creation of a new piece right up until the new piece is published and beyond. It is important to contact local media outlets to help promote your new piece of music. New companies will be more than willing to promote pieces which have a special connection in regard to a personal or local story. It is important to use social media to promote a new piece of music and this can include releasing a clip showcasing a section of the new piece of music. Seeing a new piece of music being performed by other musical organisations can be quite exciting.

The creation of a new piece of music can be quite a refreshing and exciting experience that anyone can embark on and with a bit of courage that person may be you in the future. Always try to grasp each opportunity that presents itself as it make take you on a journey that you would least expect.

I wanted to keep this blog post short but if you have any further questions then I would be more than willing to discuss these with you via my social media pages.