Composers Association of New Zealand

Commission Rates

Suggested scale (minimum to median) of commission fees: These figures were updated and revised by the Composers Association of New Zealand committee in April 2004.

1. Solo/Duo - excluding keyboard (inc. piano), harp.

$240-$460 per minute

2. Chamber/A Capella Choral/Keyboards (3-9 parts)

$330-$600 per minute

3. Chamber Ensemble/Orchestra (10-20 parts)

$390-$830 per minute

4. Full Orchestra/Symphonic Band/Brass Band (21 parts +)

$550-$1100 per minute

5. Orchestra + soloists/Choir (inc. Opera) (21 parts +)

$600-$1200 per minute. Librettist's fee should not form part of the composition fee (fee for an original, fully completed work is typicall 25%-40% of the ccomposer's fee).

6. Electronic Music (excl. equipment, materials)

$330-$550 per minuteware, studio costs, materials).

7. Instrumental/Vocal works with tape:

Appropriate instrumental category fee plus 50% for preparation of taped material

The schedule above provides a scale (minimum to median) of recommended fees. The minimum scale is intended to apply to qualified professional composers; experienced composers may require more than the median rates. It must be stressed that these figures do not include the costs of preparing and providing performance materials. Such costs are additional and are the commissioner's separate responsibility. Once again, composers are urged to ensure all details of a commission are clearly spelled out in contractual form before beginning work on a composition. Canzona vol. 4 no. 14 carries a suggested commissioning agreement that can be used to cover most commissioning situations. Alternatively, copies of this commissioning agreement may be obtained by writing to CANZ at PO Box 4065, Wellington. For longer works (concert pieces of more than thirty minutes or operas of more than ninety minutes), the per minute rates may need to be adjusted and used rather as a basis for discussion. Where a piano score is needed, this should be charged for appropriately. These guidelines may not be appropriate when negotiating a fee for works including substantial improvisatory elements.