The Composer's Program Note for Newly Written Classical Music: Content and Intentions.

Area of Science:

• Musicology
• Arts and Humanities

Background:

• Program notes are a long-standing tradition in Western classical music concerts.
• Existing research suggests program notes may not effectively enhance listener understanding or enjoyment.
• The role of program notes for newly composed works remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate contemporary composers' perspectives on writing program notes for their own works.
• To understand the intended audience, function, and content of composer-authored program notes.
• To explore the composer's role in shaping the performance and reception of new music.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory study involving 17 living contemporary composers.
• Qualitative analysis of composers' views on program note creation.
• Development of a model illustrating composer-performer-listener relationships.

Main Results:

• Composers identified three key roles: shaping performer interpretation, guiding audience/performer engagement, and fostering composer-performer-listener communication.
• Some composers aimed for "performative listening" and co-constructed musical experiences.
• Composers prioritized structural information for performers and generally avoided excessive personal details.

Conclusions:

• Program notes involve complex interactions between composer, performer, and listener, challenging the traditional sender-recipient model.
• Composers' views highlight the potential for program notes to actively shape musical interpretation and reception.
• Further research is needed to optimize program note effectiveness and explore alternative communication formats.