How to publish your own composition?

[John Dally]

This follows up on the "How do you compose?" thread. Once you've taken a tune through the various phases of composition outlined by Neil Dickie and others in the "How do you compose?" thread, then how do you get your tune published?
And a follow up question: Does the web now, or will it in the future, provide a viable medium for publishing collections of tunes?

[Bob]

A great subject for a thread John..

(And I really appreciate Neil's posts)

I have a question to add:
If the web / Net is used for publishing.. is the author only hoping to see financial reward? If so.. how will that work (the $$ I mean)?

I can think of a few ways of doing this.. (sell CDs, sell books, but what about something like BMW scores(?) from a web site) I'm curious about other ideas, experiences, thoughts... And is it possible we're looking at a tune?

Or, is just knowing that there are people / bands playing your new tunes considered some adequate form of compensation? Or is that frustrating? (OK, I see that was more than a question )

Cheers,
Bob

[ December 15, 2001: Message edited by: Bob ]

[Mitch Man]

Bob, I think alot has to with the question of
why does anyone compose tunes.

If it's just a case of a wee phrase that
somebody expanded into a tune, then I would
think that the composer would like it if others
just played it and recognised the composer in
some way.

If on the other hand you have a serious composer
who creates a complete collection of tunes,
then the composer should be compensated.

Perhaps if there was enough of a collection of
individual tunes, then that could be compiled and sold, but don't expect to get rich.

JM

[Stormy]

If the web / Net is used for publishing.. is the author only hoping to see financial reward? If so.. how will that work (the $$ I mean)?


I have placed scanned copies of my own compositions in my website
They are in .gif form and anyone can print them off for their own use
I've made it clear that I only wish recognition as the composer if any tunes happen to be played and end up on a recording
£'s (or $'s) never crossed my mind (ha bloody ha!)

Have I "published" my tunes on the web just by putting them there, or is there something more to "publishing"?

[Stormy]

The funny faces work but still nae bold text! I'll need tae try harder!!

[Bob]

Oh Oh.. loook out.. Stormy's got

Your example is one that came to my mind Stormy.. and I know of others doing the same thing..

However, I have had a few (real) Beer Tent conversations with people that have expressed an interest an desire to somehome gain income from the 'publishing' on the Net. And other's ideas on this interest me..

Bob

[Stormy]

Originally posted by Bob:
A great subject for a thread John..
I'm curious about other ideas, experiences, thoughts...
[ December 15, 2001: Message edited by: Bob ]

"DUNSIRE'S FORUM MUSIC COLLECTION VOL.1"
I'm happy to suggest a title and donate one of my compositions.
A stupid suggestion or what?

[Ian White]

As one who has looked into the issues of publishing... this has come forth... www.sibelius.com has a web-site devoted to those that write music (using their software) called Scorch Music; it allows anyone using Sibelius software to publish compositions on-line. So, before I get blown away by everyone for mentioning them specifically, please visit their web-site as a sorce for inspiration... what they are doing is lightspeeds ahead of anyone else, yet it is simple. They have hooked up with some of the biggest publishers in music, so they must be doing something right. Now... can this sort of thing be done with bagpipe specific software? I'm interested because maybe they might be interested in helping the piping community out... just think, one could write in BMW and have it converted automatically when going to publish to SIB... and even be able to have someone purchase and download in BMW if written in SIB.

Just a thought from a guy who does a lot of writting using Sibelius, not only because I like the publish readiness of the output, but also for the speed in which I can write.

P/M Ian White

[Stormy]

Posted at the request of the original author Mr.John Dally (it's hard work being famous,eh!)

After completion of any of my compositions I place them in my website. Any opportunities which arise (and they are few and far between) where I can "promote" myself and my tunes I try to make full use of. I can play the tune to someone on my chanter, or hum the tune over to them, and more commonly just tell them to visit my site.

"The Wee Howff" was picked up by Strathclyde Police after a chance meeting with a member of the band.
"Keltic Kalypso" is being practiced by a juvenile band and they might play it next year.
From e-mails and verbal comments I know that many people have visited my compositions page.

Some of the tunes I play myself and I'm often asked to make a recording of a particular tune. I've never got round to this yet, but I might try soon (I need a mike to plug into my hi-fi, very technical stuff that is!)

My favourite tunes?
"The Wee Howff", cause it's on the 2001 World's CD (and my name appears, does that make me an official composer?)
"Saucel Hill", "Ainsley Morrison", "Wee Crabbit Features" and "Jenny's Well".

I've got a couple of things on the go at the moment - movements, a wee phrase etc - and I'll work on them over the next couple of months. Jim Wark told me to strive for the point where the composition was such that no other player would wish to alter it. I've never reached that point yet and don't know if I ever will.

Why do it?
For my own personal enjoyment and if anyone takes up on a tune then it becomes an ego trip but with all this fame and no fortune I try to keep my feet firmly on the ground.

Is this OK for you John?

[Mitch Man]

The answer to the original question is defined
in the term of "Published"

Any printed format released to the public via
paper script, recordings or electronic media
such as the internet is concidered published.

How you collect any compensation is another matter

JM