Commissioning; Foundation Center

COMMISSIONING
This heralded tradition in classical music has created some of the great masterpieces throughout history. Despite the misconception that composers generally write for their muse, most times they are paid and commissioned to compose works. Many of Franz Joseph Haydn’s works came about due to the generosity of Prince Nicholas of the Esterhazy court. Richard Wagner's celebrated benefactor was King Ludwig II.

Very often modern day commissions can range from $10,000 to $25,000 (and more) for one work. While QUADRE lacks the support of a king or queen (so far), we – as a nonprofit organization – have been responsible for commissioning composers to write for the horn quartet. David Garner’s work, Cuadro Cuadrangulos, was at a bargain price of $1000. Mark Adam Watkins has written over twelve works for us through the years and has received roughly $9000 for his efforts.

Supporting new music is critical to the development of our medium. As an art form that has had very little music written for it alone over the last 500 hundred years in comparison to the string quartet, it falls on the shoulders of today's horn quartets and composers - in tandem - to explore the possibilities of the genre.


FOUNDATION CENTER
The Foundation Center's mission is to strengthen the nonprofit sector by advancing knowledge about U.S. philanthropy. To do this, they do the following:

* Collect, organize, and communicate information on U.S. philanthropy
* Conduct and facilitate research on trends in the field
* Provide education and training on the grantseeking process
* Ensure public access to information and services through their Web site, print and electronic publications, five library/learning centers - INCLUDING SAN FRANCISCO, and a national network of Cooperating Collections.

Founded in 1956, the Center is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy and is dedicated to serving grantseekers, grantmakers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public. At the QUADRE office, we receive an email update from the foundation center every week.

For more information, visit them at http://foundationcenter.org

CA Lawyers for the Arts; Volunteers

CALIFORNIA LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
I think I mentioned this organization briefly before. QUADRE has been a member since 2000. California Lawyers for the Arts is a non-profit service organization which provides lawyer referrals, dispute resolution services, educational programs, publications and a resource library to people in the creative arts and arts organizations. Founded in 1974 by lawyers and artists, C.L.A.'s programs and services are designed to help artists understand and apply legal concepts. In addition, they regularly schedule workshops on issues with nominal fees. More information about them is at: http://www.calawyersforthearts.org/

This week I'm attending a workshop called **Demo Tapes to Recording Contracts** with William Murray, Esq. on Thursday, June 22, 6:00-7:30 pm in downtown Oakland. This workshop will address the steps involved in shopping a demo tape. I'll also learn about negotiating a recording contract and the role of agents and representatives. While this workshop is likely to be geared towards pop, rap, & R&B music, I think it might prove useful to us as we look for agents/managers to represent us and our recordings.


VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers often serve as the lifeblood of a non-profit organization. Admittedly, non-profits often lack the financial resources to pay staff salaries at a rate comparable to the corporate sector. However, volunteerism is much more than that. People feel good working with non-profits and their missions.

Whether it is helping out at the Red Cross or being a tutor at the local library, volunteers can make a huge impact. For example, many boards at non-profits volunteer their time to the benefit of the organization just like ours. This week I wanted to acknowledge the volunteer efforts of two folks in our office in Mountain View. Kelley Ott, Karen Ott's daughter, has helped out by organizing our music library. She'll be here this Friday to help out in the afternoon. Wen-Liang Chung is a new office volunteer that is coming in once a week for 2 hours to help out in the office with our mailing list, press kits, and filing.

If you know of someone that you think would be interested in volunteering with QUADRE, put them in touch with me. Volunteer opportunities include office tasks, our music library, board membership, and concert help (ushering, backstage, tickets, etc.)

Many thanks to all of you for your volunteering this year on behalf of QUADRE.

Wise Proverb; Rule #6

WISE PROVERB
"I know that you believe you understand what I think I said, but, I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."

RULE #6
I just graduated from the Leadership Mountain View (LMV) class of 2006. Starting in October and ending in June, LMV is an intensive community leadership development program tailored specifically for Mountain View to develop effective community leaders. As your humble executive director, I felt it might help forge some connections in the community for QUADRE. It did that and much more.

The May gathering revolved around the leadership theme of 'Creativity' with the community theme of 'Recreation, Arts, and Entertainment.' As part of that day we saw a video of the Boston Philharmonic conductor Ben Zander in a film he produced titled, "The Art of Possibility." There were a lot of wonderful nuggets from the movie, but the one that got all of us talking was Rule #6.

First rule of leadership..... remember rule #6!
(Don't take yourself or your life too seriously. Speaking of which, there are no rules #1, 2, 3, 4 or 5!)

NY Times Article; All About Music (Jokes)

NY TIMES ARTICLE
ARTS / MUSIC | May 28, 2006
Check the Numbers: Rumors of Classical Music's Demise Are Dead Wrong
By ALLAN KOZINN
For all the hand-wringing, there is immensely more classical music on offer now than there was in what nostalgists think of as the golden era of classics in America.
Click here for the full article:


ALL ABOUT MUSIC (JOKES)
The following definitions (?!) come from Sonny Ausman, recording engineer extradonairre for both of QUADRE's albums. Check out the listings under the letter 'G'. Enjoy.

ALLREGRETTO
When you're 16 measures into the piece and realize you took too fast a tempo

ANGUS DEI
To play with a divinely beefy tone

A PATELLA
Accompanied by knee-slapping

APPOLOGGIATURA
A composition that you regret playing

APPROXIMATURA
A series of notes not intended by the composer, yet played with an "I meant to do that" attitude

APPROXIMENTO
A musical entrance that is somewhere in the vicinity of the correct pitch

CACOUGHPHANY
A composition incorporating many people with chest colds

CORAL SYMPHONY
A large, multi-movement work from Beethoven's Caribbean Period

DILL PICCOLINI
An exceedingly small wind instrument that plays only sour notes

FERMANTRA
A note held over and over and over and over and . . .

FERMOOTA
A note of dubious value held for indefinite length

FIDDLER CRABS
Grumpy string players

FLUTE FLIES
Those tiny mosquitoes that bother musicians on outdoor gigs

FRUGALHORN
A sensible and inexpensive brass instrument

GAUL BLATTER
A French horn player

GREGORIAN CHAMP
The title bestowed upon the monk who can hold a note the longest

GROUND HOG
Someone who takes control of the repeated bassline and won't let anyone else play it

PLACEBO DOMINGO
A faux tenor

SCHMALZANDO
A sudden burst of music from the Guy Lombardo band

THE RIGHT OF STRINGS
Manifesto of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Violists

SPRITZICATO
An indication to string instruments to produce a bright and bubbly sound

TEMPO TANTRUM
What an elementary school orchestra is having when it's not following the conductor (also common in municipal bands and community orchestras)

TROUBLE CLEF
Any clef one can't read: e.g., alto clef for pianists

VESUVIOSO
An indication to build up to a fiery conclusion

VIBRATTO
Child prodigy son of the concertmaster

And here are the latest and most up-to-date definitions of traditional musical terms:

AN-DANTE
A tempo that's infernally slow

ANTIPHONAL
Referring to the prohibition of cell phones in the concert hall

BAR LINE
What musicians form after the concert

BASSO CONTINUO
When musicians are still fishing long after the legal season has ended

BEN SOSTENUTO
First cousin of the second trombonist

CADENZA
Something that happens when you forget what the composer wrote

CANTABILE
To achieve a complaining sound, as if you have a sour stomach

COL LEGNO
An indication to cellists to hold on tight with their lower extremities

CON SORDINO
An indication to string players to bow in a slashing, rapier motion

ESPRESSIVO
Used to indicate permission to take a coffee break

L'ISTESSO TEMPO
An indication to play listlessly; e.g., as if you don't care

MAESTRO
A person who, standing in front of the orchestra and/or chorus, is able to follow them precisely

OPERA BUFF
A musical stage production performed by nudists

PASTORALE
The beverage to drink in the country when listening to Beethoven with a member of the clergy

PESANTE
An effect distinctly non-upper-class

PIZZICATO
Too much coffee -- time to take a break

RUBATO
A cross between a rhubarb and a tomato

STRINGENDO
An unpleasant effect produced by the violin section when it doesn't use vibrato

VIBRATO
A device to assist female performers who have trouble when the music is marked "con espressivo."