Program notes enhance and deepen an audience's understanding and appreciation of musical compositions performed in recitals and concerts. The task of creating effective program notes requires significant application of research and writing skills, in order to reach audiences with varying degrees of musical knowledge.
This guide will assist you in researching and writing clear, informative, and engaging program notes.
It is never too early, once you have decided the selections on your program, to embark on the research!
The ESM Concert office offers guidelnes for Student Degree Recitals here. It includes this information:
You may wish to include information from any of these possible categories:
Biographical notes about composer
Biographical notes about librettist/author of text
Historical notes (e.g., first performance, reception of work)
Historical context (e.g., current events at time of composition)
Musical style, genre, and/or structure of work
Extramusical association of work
Legacy or influence of work
Relation to other works on concert program (if concert is thematic)
Personal information (why work was chosen for the concert)
