Question about composition dedication "etiquette"

[le_poete_mourant]

Is it acceptable to dedicate a piece of music one has written to someone posthumously, if one has not met the person one is dedicating the piece to?  I would like to dedicate a composition of mine to the father of someone very close to me, but I never met him, and I'm not sure if that would be frowned upon.  In any case, if it is not a faux pas, should I ask permission of the family of the deceased first?  Finally, how should the dedication be phrased (e.g., "To the memory of"; "To [name], 1949-2006"; etc.)? 

[ahinton]

Is it acceptable to dedicate a piece of music one has written to someone posthumously, if one has not met the person one is dedicating the piece to?  I would like to dedicate a composition of mine to the father of someone very close to me, but I never met him, and I'm not sure if that would be frowned upon.  In any case, if it is not a faux pas, should I ask permission of the family of the deceased first?  Finally, how should the dedication be phrased (e.g., "To the memory of"; "To [name], 1949-2006"; etc.)? 

Of course it is! You can do what you like with such a dedication; just try to phrase it accurately and there should be no problem.

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

after googling for some time - i have reached the conclusion that i am googling the wrong words.  'posthumous' has resulted in finding out that jean-yves thibeaut played the schumann symphonic etudes in march of this year with the five extra variations that schumann discarded. 

sorry that despite researching this issue - i have nothing to say.  don't want any lawsuits, though.  make sure the music is good.

[ahinton]

And if you're still worried, don't forget the case of Vaughan Williams, one of whose symphonies is "dedicated without permission" to Sibelius...

Best,

Alistair

[prometheus]

You can just as well dedicate it to 'that tiny dust particle in the Kuiper belt'.


If you dedicate something to someone it doesn't mean it must has imspired you or helped you to compose it. It is not implied by the word 'dedicate' at all, though in practice people often dedicate works to people that supported them etc.

[alzado]

I always enjoyed Erik Satie.  For one of his gnossienes, I think it was, he added this comment:

"I hereby dedicate this piece to myself."  (But in French, of course.)

[phil13]

I always enjoyed Erik Satie.  For one of his gnossienes, I think it was, he added this comment:

"I hereby dedicate this piece to myself."  (But in French, of course.)

He must have done something that really inspired him to write that work. 

I have never dedicated my works to someone posthumously, but I would not hesitate to do so if, for instance, their death prompted me to write a sad, sorrowful piece.

Go ahead, it's fine.

Phil