Dean M. Estabrook wrote:
I've just been offered a commission to write a choral piece. Though
I've done a lot of composing, this is the first time for me in the
world of commissions. If there is such a thing, what might be the
going rate for an SATB piece for a church choir of 20 singers,
lasting about 3 minutes? I told the person wanting the work that I
honestly didn't know what to ask, but that I'd look around ... hence,
this message. She supposed that something between $500 and a grand
might be a reasonable range ... what say ye?
I'd say that the person doing the commissioning is just below what I
would consider a minimum. Last year I commissioned a work of about 1 to
1-1/4 minutes in length, for SATB unaccompanied with light divisi, and
the negotiated price was $600. (US). The person accepting the
commission was an established, published composer of choral music.
While (if I were a composer, which I am not) I might ultimately _accept_
what the person offering the commission is paying, as the composer I'd
probably start the negotiations about three times as high. It is much
easier to negotiate a lower price than a higher one.
ns
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