The Deep Connection Between Art And Money

poto credit bourgeoisbee

The notion of making art not influenced by money is unfortunately a romantic and misguided notion.
A lot of the decisions as to what and Orchestra or choir perform are guided by financial influences - such as will the audience buy tickets for a piece by an unknown composer?
Does the orchestra / choir want to risk a complete financial and artistic flop?

It is, however, not all dark desperate and hopeless for young unknown composers. There is A light at the end of the tunnel and ways to get your compositions out there.

John Brough, who is the Director of Da Camera, a chamber Choir and blogger wrote a very interesting but sad piece on what happens to the huge amounts of mail he gets in his capacity as choir director from composers sending samples of their new work.
Most of it never even gets to leave the envelope that it was sent in…. and one in a hundred might be performed by the choir.

So how do artistic directors choose “new” music? Often music that is premiered at conferences such as Podium, or ACDA conferences will have an effect on a large number of conductors. Reading sessions at these conferences as well are a great way to see a host of new works, and sing them through with other conductors. Recordings and live broadcasts of new works will likely get a second glance. After that, once a composer has a reputation of being a fine choral composer, they open up doors for commissions - which in my experience is where the highest number of “world premiere” performances come from. Since I’ve been with Da Camera, we have performed two commissions, and have another coming this year. The main reason for this is they look great on grant applications. Plus there is also nothing quite like the incentive of putting money into to something that will see a project through to its completion.

As I said in the opening of this post - Its is, unfortunately all about the money, and the sooner we recognise that as a deciding factor, and  operate accordingly, the better.