Spindrift Commissioning Guild
About the Guild
Spindrift Commissioning Guild is a community of supporters who believe in new art music and want to help me create it.
A commission is expensive for a single performer or a small performing group. There aren’t many royal patrons as there were in Handel’s and Mozart’s lifetimes. The idea behind the Guild is to bring commissioning within reach of everyone. The Guild gives you the opportunity to band together with others and support the creation of a new piece of music, and it helps me make a modest income creating that music.
When you join the Guild, you pay an amount of your choice to support a project: for example, a new composition that I'm writing, concerts, or recording sessions. New projects will be added to the list as they get planned and scheduled. I welcome your suggestions and requests.
Your contribution is tax-deductible too! Fractured Atlas is my fiscal sponsor (more about that below).
So what kind of music will come out of this? I usually describe my music as contemporary classical, sometimes neo-Romantic. My music is often energetically rhythmic, with complex harmonies---sometimes dissonant and sometimes tonal. One reviewer described my percussion and piano duo “Traveling to Magic” as “Bartok meets the Blues.” Each piece is different, and I often don’t know what it will be until I start out. That’s part of the adventure!
You can hear some MP3 samples of my work on many of the Music Catalog pages. Keep in mind though, every new piece explores something new!
List of completed Guild projects
Current Projects
For 2010, I've completed one project - a concert in Lexington, MA of Quinteto sobre los Poemas de Carlos Pintado. These projects are still open and waiting for your support...
- "The Future of Life" Sonata for trombone, percussion and piano
- American Christmas Sings for the Halalisa Singers
Click a project link to learn more and get the details on how to donate.
There will be more projects to come, including new pieces of music and recording sessions.
An invitation
from
Pamela Marshall...
I would like to invite you to join this group of patrons who support the making of my music. To find out more, contact
me
Fiscal Sponsorship by Fractured Atlas Expand Text
In 2005, I organized Spindrift Commissioning Guild to accept monetary support for specific projects. Now Spindrift Commissioning Guild can accept tax-deductible charitable donations under the fiscal sponsorship of Fractured Atlas.
Spindrift Commissioning Guild is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of Spindrift Commissioning Guild may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
It would be really helpful if you can give at least $25, but please consider any gift you can afford. Thank you!
Benefits for Guild members Expand Text
Music isn't a tangible object, so what do you get besides the good feeling of participating in the cultural life of our society?
Guild members receive:
- Your name listed in the group of commissioners:
in the printed score;
in concert programs when space allows;
and on the Spindrift web site when the music is publicized
there.
If you prefer, you can be associated with the famous patron Anonymous - Occasional progress reports and concert announcements
- Invitation to a local premiere
- Downloaded PDF score of the music for a commission project
- A demo CD or MP3 recording of a concert or recording project
How to Donate Expand Text
You can make a donation online or with a check. Fractured Atlas receives the money and disburses it to Spindrift as the project progresses.
You can support the project in any amount. A donation of at least $25 will be really helpful. All donors will be listed in the music score and on my web site. You can be anonymous, if you want. And always, thank you for your interest and support!
Online
Use the Fractured Atlas web site to donate by credit card
After you donate, send me an email indicating what project you want to support and whether you want to receive the finished music as a PDF file. If you want to my work generally without choosing a specific project, that's greatly appreciated too. You can use the Spindrift contact form if you want.
Get updates Make sure you sign up for my Spindrift Commissioning Guild email list to get project updates
By check
Send a check, made payable to Fractured Atlas to Spindrift Commissioning Guild, Pamela Marshall, 38 Dexter Road, Lexington, MA 02420. Include a note with your check to tell me what project you want to support. Include your email address, so that I can send you project updates. If you don't use email, I can send updates via USPS mail.
Subscribe to Spindrift email lists here
Please keep in touch Send me your comments about the project. For Commission projects, performers, let me know your concert schedule. I like deadlines. Knowing there’s a performance coming up helps the music flow!
Previous Projects Expand Text
Guild News
A concert of my major new piece for strings and piano "Quinteto sobre los Poemas de Carlos Pintado" in Lexington, Massachusetts pairs with Piano Quintet No.2 of Louise Farrenc, in March 2010
Enchanted for oboe and chamber orchestra was completed in 2006 with two successful concerts.
The music for Triptoe Suite for orchestra was completed in 2007and concerts are planned in Vermont in the spring.
The collaboration Art-Poem-Music: Body and Soul has had several concerts, including a performance at the FTM10 conference in North Carolina in May 2009. Body and Soul Volume 2 won Honorable Mention for the Miriam Gideon Prize from the International Association of Women in Music.
In November 2009, Spindrift Commissioning Guild became a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, making your support tax-deductible.
Finished projects
- Art-Poem-Music: Body and Soul Volume 1 for voice and string trio, a collaboration between artist Sirarpi Walzer, poet Elizabeth Kirschner and composer Pamela Marshall - performance February 2007
- Triptoe Suite for orchestra for Green Mountain Youth Symphony - performance Spring 2007
- Enchanted for oboist Veronica Kenney with the Concord Ensemble chamber orchestra - performance August 2006
- Black Bear Dance for Esprit de Cor in Lexington, MA for multiple horns and drumming group - performance June 2006
- Meditations, a set of organ pieces for Carson P. Cooman
Propose a New Project Expand Text
I welcome your input into this process. It gets my creativity going to write for particular musicians and performances. If you know performers or ensembles who might like to work with me on a new project, send me their contact information or have them contact me and I will work with you and them to develop a project plan.
In the spirit of communities supporting artistic creation, here are some ideas:
- You are a member of an orchestra, band or chorus. You'd like a new piece and many of the members are ready and willing to contribute something to the cause. Perhaps audience members will also contribute. $30 times 100 sponsors produces a $3000 commission fee and a substantial piece.
- A music class at your local elementary school would like to meet a composer and commission a piece. Parents and friends can support the project with their small donations.
- A musician-friend is having a birthday or a musical couple is having an anniversary. Several friends are willing to join you to commission a birthday piece for them to play.
Take a look at my Poetry-Inspired Music project for more ideas for small-scale solo pieces.
If you are interested in proposing a future project, supporting a project, or being on the mailing list to find out when new projects are in the works, contact me.
Thank you for your interest and support!