CMC Archival Recording Scheme

CMC's Archival Recording Scheme exists to make recordings of works by Irish composers for archival and promotional purposes which would not otherwise be recorded through any other source, and to document the work of all composers in the Contemporary Music Centre’s collection, thereby creating an archive of recorded works for posterity.

How does the scheme work?

  • CMC uses the events details supplied by composers and promoters as its normal source of information on forthcoming performances.
  • For any performances not already notified to CMC in this way, details must be received at least two weeks in advance of the concert.
  • Decisions to record concerts are at CMC’s discretion. They are made on the basis of the criteria outlined below and are entirely subject to availability of budget.
  • Due to budget constraints works can only be recorded within Ireland and the choice of recording engineer rests with CMC.

Criteria for recordings

The following categories of performance will be considered for recording under the scheme:

  • Premieres by Irish composers commissioned with funding from the Arts Council of Ireland’s Commissioning Scheme.
  • Premieres of significant performances by Irish composers not funded by the Arts Council of Ireland’s Commissioning Scheme but where a recording of that work is not planned from another source (e.g. commercial, radio).
  • Significant performances of works written in the last five years by an Irish composer where a recording of that work does not already exist and where a recording is not planned from another source (e.g. commercial, radio). Significant performance may be a work which both CMC and the composer consider to be an important contribution to his/her compositional output having a minimum duration of 5 minutes and/or a work played by a significant performer/performers of national or international standing.
  • Irish composers who are not registered with CMC and who do not meet any of the above criteria will not normally have their work recorded except, at the discretion of CMC, in the case of a work by an emerging Irish composer played by performers of stature.

Priorities

Due to budget constraints, the following categories of works will be prioritised:

  • Works composed through the Arts Council of Ireland’s Commissions Scheme and, following that, premieres of significant performances.
  • Concerts in which more than one previously unrecorded Irish work is being performed.
  • Works for which recordings cannot be funded by another source, i.e. the commissioner, performing group or concert promoter.
  • No more than two separate recordings per composer per year can normally be funded under the scheme. Permission to exceed this will be subject to the approval of the CMC Board of Directors.

Copies of recordings

  • CMC will provide one CD or digital copy of the recorded work(s) to the composer free of charge. Further CD copies if required will be charged at the composer's rate.
  • On request, CMC will provide one CD or digital copy of the recorded work(s) to the performer(s) free of charge. Further CD copies if required will be charged at the normal rate.
  • All copies of archival recordings supplied by CMC are strictly for personal study only. They may not be copied or utilised in any way without the express written permission of the Contemporary Music Centre.

Use of recordings by CMC

  • Since the purpose of the CMC Archival Recording Scheme is to build a comprehensive sound archive of Irish contemporary music for posterity, copies of all recordings made under the scheme will be lodged in the Centre’s collection and will be available there to members of the public. 
  • CMC will, from time to time and at its discretion, make use of these recordings for promotional or information purposes, mainly by supplying personal study copies to performers and programmers abroad.
  • Further use of any recording in the CMC archive will be subject to the prior written agreement of the composers, performers, and any other parties concerned.

Applications

Composers, performers and others may apply to have works recorded under the scheme by sending an email at least three weeks in advance of the event detailing the work(s), the performer(s), the venue and the date to: Jonathan Grimes, Head of Information, jgrimes@cmc.ie.