The importance of supporting new music.(Form Focus: Composer Commissioning)

How honored would you feel to have been present at the premiere of a Beethoven piano sonata? A Debussy prelude? A Mozart string trio?

Probably no one attending performances or premieres of works by any of these composers knew they were in the presence of greatness any more than we do when we attend the performance or premiere of a work by one of our contemporary composers today. It is rare that a composer who becomes the genius of tomorrow receives proper respect or, particularly, substantial financial reward during his or her lifetime and yet, every civilization is measured by the level of sophistication reached by its art.

It is the duty and responsibility of every musician's organization to support the creation of new music. This includes MTNA. If musicians themselves do not consider it an important endeavor, who should? Fortunately, there are a few people who grasp the value of the ongoing creation of musical art to allow its deserved evolution to continue; the world of music is eternally grateful to these visionary patrons. Each of you, through your membership in MTNA, is one of these insightful few who understand the necessity of the contribution of superb new works every year to the world's body of musical literature.

Because of the promise of profit from sales, we can count on publishers to provide incentive for the continual composition of teaching pieces. Although this genre often is the highest level of performance reached by many musicians, it is extremely important because music education instills a love, appreciation and respect for music, elevating the music student's thoughts to a place from which there is no return. His life is enriched forever; he cannot go back in that state of mind in which he was less aware of one of life's greatest pleasures. Once one has experienced the beauty, emotion and satisfaction of a fine performance, once one has found himself in awe of the composer who created something so intangible, yet so real, his awareness of the beauty in the world becomes much more acute. This is the person who will buy tickets to attend symphony concerts, opera, ballet, chamber music recitals, choral concerts and musical theater. This is the person who will donate generously to the arts and, if financially able, will underwrite events that establish his community's rank among others regarded as the cultural centers of the world. This also is the person who will make sure his child will receive musical training and all its benefits.

Be an example ...