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