Program Annotations and Liner Notes
“Thank you so much for these wonderful notes. They are just right and enjoyable to read. … I will certainly recommend your services to others. In addition to the quality of the notes, this was a great time-saver.”
— Director, college choir
In our work with music directors of various performing ensembles, we’ve learned that each director has specific needs and expectations for program annotations. Some prefer to write their own notes; others prefer to obtain completed notes; while still others prefer to write their own notes but do not have the time or resources to carry out the necessary research. To meet various needs of all our clients, GraceNotes offers a continuum of program annotation services, including:
· Preparation of complete, original annotations suitable for concert programs or recording liner notes (most clients choose this option).
· Drafting program or liner notes that you can finish to suit your specific needs.
· Researching and organizing information so that you can write your own program notes or liner notes.
· Polishing and integrating your drafts to produce a finished, professional product.
· Customized arrangements as requested by our clients.
For one choral client, we collected draft notes on individual selections that had been prepared by the singers; bolstered the content with some focused research; polished and edited all the text; and brought it all together in an integrated presentation.
We tailor our notes to meet your needs and interests in a way that “canned” notes cannot possibly achieve:
· Length. Our notes can be as long or as short as you need them to be, from brief paragraphs to a 2000-word essay. You may review some samples here.
· Format. We can provide separate notes for individual selections, or we can prepare an integrated program essay that highlights overall textual themes or explores commonalities and contrasts among your program selections.
· Content. What sort of information interests you and your audiences? Our notes can emphasize – or integrate – musical analysis, historical and social context, or other aspects you would like to share with your listeners. Perhaps you would like the notes to reflect an overall programming theme for the concert or for your entire season. Perhaps you’d like to include some comments from the artistic director, the soloist, or the composer?
· Audience. We tailor our notes to meet the interests and knowledge of your audiences, whether it’s families with children, the audience for the local orchestra, or a sophisticated assembly at a music educators’ conference.
Our goal is to provide program notes that will inform, entertain, and enlighten your audiences, and bring them to greater understanding and appreciation of your programming.
When you send your request or inquiry for program notes, please include
· Your contact information (name, phone, email, city, etc.)
· Performance date(s)
· A complete list of compositions with composers’ names.
· Details on performing forces.
· Contact information for composers of new or commissioned works.
· Season or series repertoire list, if you are ordering notes for a concert series or for an entire season.
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Testimonials. GraceNotes program annotations are consistently well-received and have garnered praise from directors, ensemble musicians, and audience members. Here are just a few of the comments we’ve received:
“The notes made the connections between the songs very understandable, and created a great appreciation of the unity of the whole program.”
— Comment from an audience member at a choral concert
“I love the program notes – fascinating reading! We are so fortunate to have you!”
— President, early music ensemble
“Thanks so much for the wonderful program notes and for sending them to the singers…This is a great way for everyone to gain more understanding of the music we’re working on.”
— Music Director, community choir
“A masterpiece!”
— Music Director, community choir
“Your notes are great!”
— Music series administrator
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