Honoring the commissioned composer. (Composer Commissioning).

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.

* Make the first performance special.

There are several decisions that can enhance the premiere performance and thereby honor the state commissioned composer.

* Select a time for the premiere that allows for maximum conference attendance. A few states open their conferences with the commissioned work. The time selected can have a great impact on attendance and member enthusiasm for the new work.

* Select a desirable performance location.

* Consider allowing the composer to discuss the piece and even answer questions from the audience and performers. This can be done as part of the premiere performance or at a separate conference session.

* Allow a second performance of the piece during the same session. One state has a performance of the work, a discussion with the composer and audience about the commission and a second performance of the work. This gives members a second chance to hear the composition they had an important role in helping create.

States handle the premiere performance in different ways. Some states devote one entire conference session to the commissioned work. A few states perform other compositions on the same program. One state includes the winners of the MTNA Student Composition Competition on the same program as the commissioned piece, while another state includes MTNA Performance Competition winners on the same program.

* Invite the composer and performers to be guests of the state at the Awards Luncheon, banquet or other reception.

At this event the composer and performers can be introduced and recognized.

* Maintain a list of state commissioned composers.

Try to maintain a list of all commissioned composers and works in your state. Publish this list in the conference program, online and in other promotional materials.

* Provide publicity after the premiere performance.

Be sure to acknowledge the premiere performance by sending pictures and news releases to area newspapers, radio and television stations. The state newsletter should contain a report on the first performance. Consider an interview with the composer and performers.

Finally, you can honor your state's commissioned composer by continuing your participation in the MTNA Composer Commissioning Program and encouraging the commissioned composer to recommend the program to other composers.

Let me know if your state has other ways to honor your commissioned composer.

--Thomas Ediger, NCTM MTNA Composer Commissioning Chair Nebraska City, Nebraska 

He is director of choral activities and professor of music at Peru State College.