Program Notes, Programs, and Posters

Preparing Programs and Program Notes

All students performing a recital will prepare recital programs including program notes. These notes will conform to conventions of the performing area (in length, complexity, and style), and could be translations of foreign text, descriptions of the works being performed, etc.

All students are taught how to write program notes as part of their study in musicology, and this is reinforced at the sophomore applied assessment. Creating notes for the recital helps students connect their applied study to all other areas of their musical education, and partially fulfills the “Communication Conventions of the Major” requirement of the capstone experience.

Guidelines

  1. All program copy (repertoire, texts and translations [vocalists], and program notes) must be presented in the order in which it is to appear and will be performed during the recital. Programs are paid for by the Conservatory.
  2. Consistency of information is essential. For example, if a composer’s dates are indicated for one composition, then all composers’ dates need to be included for all works included on the program.
  3. Personnel lists should be verified.
  4. Eight copies of the program will be retained by the Conservatory office for the ASCAP files and for the College archives. *Please note: If other students perform as part of a recital, a copy of the program will be retained for their student file in the Conservatory office.
  5. Information on formatting and program notes can be found on the Musselman Library's Music Research Pages: Guide to Writing Program Notes.
  6. More examples of proper listings of compositions and movements can be found in Writing About Music: An Introductory Guide, by Richard J. Wingell (available in the Conservatory office).
  7. Spelling of names and accuracy of dates should be verified with the aid of authoritative sources, e.g., Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, The New Grove Dictionary of Music, Opus, The Norton Grove Concise Encyclopedia of Music, People in Gettysburg Campus Directory, etc.

Examples of past Recital programs

Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3 | Example 4

Program Deadlines

  1. A rough draft of the program is due to the applied faculty member/panel chair three weeks prior to the recital hearing.
    • Note: the applied faculty member also serves as the panel chair for traditional performance recitals.
    • Panel chair (applied faculty member) will work with the recitalist on refining their program and program notes, both content and formatting, following conventions of the performance area.
  2. A revised draft of the program is due to the entire panel (all members) one week prior to the recital hearing.
  3. Panelists have the opportunity to offer assistance and suggest revisions to the recitalist during this time.
  4. The final draft of the program is due to the panel (all members) at the recital hearing, in hard copy.
  5. Immediately following the hearing, panelists determine any needed changes to the program based on the hearing. For example: pieces or movements cut, program order re-arranged, etc. Panel will communicate these changes to the recitalist.

Once approved by the instructor and panel committee, the final, edited program copy should be submitted electronically in a Microsoft Word document to Kate Brautigam (kbrautig@gettysburg.edu), the graphic designer at Ricoh, no later than three weeks prior to the recital. Students who do not meet this deadline will be responsible for having their programs printed off campus at their own cost.

The proof from Ricoh should be reviewed by both the student and applied instructor. Approval for printing should be given to Ricoh at least ten days prior to recital.

NOTE: In cases where questions remain about the entire recital, or certain pieces or movements (for example, a re-hearing is needed on part or all of the recital), recitalists should still send the edited revised draft of the program to Kate Brautigam at Ricoh immediately following the initial hearing and three weeks prior to the recital.  Programs can still be changed up to ten days before the event.

Recital Posters

Posters are optional for all recitals. Students are responsible for poster design and printing charges. No posters should be prepared or printed until the recital hearing has been successfully completed.

  • Poster copy and photo/s should be submitted electronically to Kate Brautigam (kbrautig@gettysburg.edu), the graphic designer at Ricoh, three weeks prior to the recital date (immediately following the recital hearing).
  • The poster proof from Ricoh must be reviewed and approved for printing by the student at least two weeks prior to recital date.
  • The Conservatory office will retain three copies for the College archives and copies as needed to display in Schmucker Hall.