Ali Helnwein - Commissions

Commissioning music from composers ensures that music will continue to be written for other purposes than for movies.

The reason we have great works by composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, etc. to listen to and play today is because of certain wealthy sponsors who saw the potential in these composers and did their part in supporting them so that this music could be written.

Today, the main source of income for a composer is through film scores and, increasingly, video game music. As a result there is less contemporary music for concert repertoire.

The sponsor is usually acknowledged by having the dedication printed at the top of each score, showing everyone from there on out who looks at the score that it is this person who supported the composer in writing this piece. Take a look at a book of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas as an example.

To give you an idea of some fairly standard commission rates, here is what the Association of Irish Composers writes about it:

The Contemporary Music Centre and the Association of Irish Composers

FEE GUIDELINES
for concert music commissions 2003/2004

The Contemporary Music Centre and the Association of Irish Composers wish to ensure that composers receive adequate remuneration for their work and have jointly drawn up the following guidelines.

The fees and categories given below should be regarded as a useful indicator rather than a prescribed structure. The lower end of each band is intended for less established composers; senior composers will command a higher fee and, in such cases, the upper figure should be taken as a median rather than a maximum.

Category of work ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Fee per minute (Euro)
Solo works (excluding works for piano, harp and keyboard) .......................................................................................................................................... €215- €300
Keyboard: piano, organ, harpsichord, etc; harp ................................................................................................................................................................ €230- €365
Chamber works; à capella choral works (2-9 players, SATB and choral works accompanied by a solo instrument) ........................................... €230- €455
Large chamber ensemble (10-20 players) ........................................................................................................................................................................ €325- €510
Chamber orchestra; brass band .......................................................................................................................................................................................... €450- €700
Symphony orchestra; symphonic wind ensemble ............................................................................................................................................................ €630- €885
Orchestral works with soloist(s) and/or chorus .................................................................................................................................................................. €725- €990
Electronic music (compositional element only) ................................................................................................................................................................. €310- €460

€ Instrumental/vocal works with tape (fees as for the appropriate category of instrumental work with a further 50% for preparation of the tape.)
€ Opera, music theatre or dance (fees as for the instrumental forces employed with an additional appropriate amount for production of a piano score.)

Guidelines for composers leading workshops/education projects

Per two-hour session ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. €110- €140
Per day ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... €220-€300

If you are interested in commissioning work, contact Ali at ali_helnwein@hotmail.com