Honoring the commissioned composer. (Composer Commissioning).(Brief Article)

Once a state has selected a composer to commission, it's important to follow through on procedures that can best honor the chosen composer. What follows are general suggestions based on input from some MTNA state affiliates and the MTNA Composer Commissioning Advisory Committee. The committee consists of Patricia Plude, San Francisco, California; Warren Gooch, Kirksville, Missouri; Deanna Walker, NCTM, Nashville, Tennessee; and David Mattingly, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. You may contact any of them with your suggestions for the Composer Commissioning Program.

* Send a letter of congratulations.

States need to realize that when a composer is selected to create a new work for a given state, this is, indeed, an honor. It's a good idea if the State Commissioning Chair or the State President sends the selected composer a letter of congratulations. At this time it's useful to review the deadlines for delivering the composition and the time and place for its premiere performance. The State Chair or President also can convey enthusiasm for the project with the chosen composer.

* Encourage ownership in the commission by state members.

States should encourage their members to take real ownership in the commissioned work. State members are rightly responsible, in part, for the new composition and should take pride in this new music. Commissioned composers are better honored when state members take an active interest in the new composition. Remember, through this program we all are contributing to twenty-first-century American repertoire.

* Advertise the commissioned work.

I talked with members from several states for this article. Most of them report that their state includes an announcement of their commissioned work in the state newsletter. A few states include this information on their websites. It's nice to include pictures and bios of the commissioned composer and performers, as well as a description of the newly composed piece. Consider asking the composer to submit program notes for the work. Often a composer's comments can provide additional insight into the composition. All of the people I talked with say their states invite the composer to the premiere performance.