The Project

To connect with a piece of music is to understand the story it’s telling. That story is going to be different for every person. Dates, opus numbers and key signatures can only tell one version.

Program Notes is about relating to the people telling these stories here and now, instead of the centuries-old scores they’re reading from. It’s about information that is shared, not taught, and experiences that are lived, not researched.

There’s a story out there for everyone, we just need the chance to hear it.

Program Notes is about telling that story.

What are program notes?

Classical musicians traditionally include program notes in their concert programs to provide the audience with some context: information about the composers, historical background, perhaps a brief musical outline:

Beethoven’s third symphony “Eroica” was composed between 1803 and 1804 and is regarded as one of the first works of the Romantic period, pushing the boundaries of musical expression, form and harmonic structure. The first movement in E♭ major features an extensive development section which culminates in a dramatic passage of dissonant chords, before suddenly introducing a new theme in the distant key of E minor. Listen for the famous horn call that appears to enter early, guiding us back to the recapitulation in the tonic key…

Perfectly clear and concise, at least for anyone familiar with classical music eras, formal structure, key signatures, plus a bit of jargon for extra credit.

For everyone else, most traditional program notes are confusing at best, and wholly inaccessible at worst.

And here we wonder why more people don’t get into classical music...

A story for everyone

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to music and meaning. Every piece exists to inspire a story unique to our experiences and identities. Sharing that story gives someone else the chance to find meaning in it.

It might be a memory stirred up by a prelude, or a fairytale to accompany a concerto.

It might be poetry set to a nocturne, or a life lesson learned from an art song.

It might be an opinion formed by a fugue, or a screenplay written for a sonata.

We don't need music theory to feel something when we hear a Beethoven symphony. We just need to be offered a way in. Reading that story could be our way in.

It’s time for some new Program Notes, and it’s up to us to write them. Get started today.