Jeff Whitmill is available for commissioned works. He's written to order for orchestras, bands and choral groups, as well his frequent efforts for The Music of Your Name.

Why Should I Commission a Work?

Well, if you're on a tight budget, you probably shouldn't. Commissioned works are considerably more expensive than buying works off the shelf, primarily owing to economies of scale. Where you might spend $40 or $50 for a choral or band piece out of a catalog, a commissioned work will set you back, easily, 10 to 20 times that.

So what's the benefit? Well, perhaps any of a number of things. You get, if you like and the composer agrees, to set some of the parameters of the piece - what kind of ensemble it's written for, what sections/soloists may have particular strengths you want to feature, a particular environment or occasion upon which you wish to focus. It's a great way of honoring a person, a place or occasion. You can have your name or your group's featured in the dedication, so anyone who plays it later will know you commissioned it.

Commissioning a work is a wonderful way to encourage the development and creation of new music, to add something fresh to the literature. You get exclusive rights to the first performance, whcih guarantees you'll have something no one else has. Exclusive performance rights can be extended for up to a year, if you're interested in maintaining that privilege a bit longer.

How much will it cost?

There are no set fees and prices for a commission. Everything's negotiable, and prices will be set before the writing begins. Generally, Mr. Whitmill sets a flat fee plus expenses - the expenses inlcude the costs of paper and cartridges to print the final work. A price of $500, plus expenses, is usually considered the bottom floor. If a piece is large, or for a large ensemble, or if composing includes creating a test, say, for a choral piece - these are all variables which would push the price up a bit.

You could also just give the composer almost complete freedom, saying you'd like him to do a work for you, but let him set the parameters. Of course, the general attributes of the work - performance medium and length, capability of the performers - would still need to be included in the discussion.

How long does it take?

This is something you'll want to settle in the negotiations. A target date for delivery should be agreed upon. It's always good to set a date 2-3 weeks before you actually need it, just to build in time for unforeseen obstacles. If you want something next week, forget it. if you want it 2 weeks from now, be prepared to pay a lot for priority service (i.e., jumping ahead of other projects). Beyond that, things are pretty negotiable.

Mr. Whitmill enjoys doing commissioned works, especially the process of getting to know a group and its capabilites. It's always fun to work in a fresh environment.

Are there any special types of music Mr. Whitmill favors?

Sure. He specializes in works for large ensembles:

• Sacred Choral Works with Organ, Brass and Percussion (Festival pieces)
• Band pieces
• Orchestral Works
• Choral Works (a cappella or with keyboard accompaniment)
• Works for Orchestra and Chorus

Is there anything he won't do?

Probably. But we haven't found it yet.

To contact Mr. Whitmill about a commission - or for answers to any questions you might have - send him e-mail at:

    jeff@whitmill.net