Canon in D tuba quartet

[kalishdude]

I recently arranged a version of Pachelbel's canon in D for two euphoniums and two tubas. I was wondering what the next step is with my arrangement. It was performed at a recital this week. What i mean to say is that if i wanted this piece to be published, what would i have to do and where would i have to go? Thanks

[Mike Forbes]

Daniel,

Congrats on the new arrangement. Publishing in the Tuba/Euph. world is truly a labor of love. Don't expect to make piles of $$. I've got a bunch of arrangements out with Tuba/Euph. Press and at the end of each year I get my royalty check--which is just about enough to take my wife out for a steak dinner.

Nonetheless, we need good charts in the rep., and new writers are always encouraged to give it a try! The best advice I could give you would be to make copies of this new arrangement and get it into the hands of people who might perform it. University professors, tuba quartets, military groups, etc. Giving out FREE copies of your works (especially as emailable PDF's) is crucial in developing a name for yourself. If the writing is good, oftentimes the folks you got free copies to will mention your arrangment to a number of different publishers (Tuba/Euph. Press, BVD Press (formerly Cimarron), etc.).

This is the best way to make it into one of these publishing houses; though there are other ways. Many people simply send in the manuscript to Dave Miles at Tuba Press and hope for the best. Others send in a recording as well. Eitherway, be sure to check the Tuba/Euph. Press website to be sure you're not duplicating something they already have in print....Dave will never print a duplicate arrangement. I had an a arrangement of "Procession of the Nobles" in the friendly key of E-Flat, but Dave wouldn't publish it because he already had an arrangement of that tune by David Butler in the key of D-flat. Nonetheless, Dave said no, so I took it to David Perkins of Music Express and it was published there (in quartet form)....so there are always other avenues for great charts besides Tuba/Euph. Press.

All this being said, if you can zip off a PDF of your chart (score and parts) to my email: sgtforbes@hotmail.com I will be sure to have Sotto Voce give it a read. Pachelbel's Canon would be a welcomed piece in the rep. (esp. for weddings, etc.--yes, tuba quartets do sometimes play weddings--usually for tuba players who are getting married)...we'd love to have a look at it. As is the case for ALL you writers out there. Get your stuff to people who can bring it to larger audiences! I must have handed out over 100 copies of my stuff before ever publishing anything. By doing so, I smoothed the path of getting published; and secured a foot in the door with the larger publishers like Editions-BIM and Carl Fischer.

Best of luck to you!!!

-Mike

http://www.tubaquartet.com

[BVD Press]

As a follow-up to Mike's post, here a few things to look for, think about, etc. when you re looking for a publisher:

1. Find a publisher that is publishing music that is similar to your charts. Instrumentation, level, style, etc. should all be considered.

2. Ask the publisher lots of questions. Look through their catalog and call their writers and ask about their experiences with the publishers. Remember you could be building a long relationship.

3. Find out how the publisher will be distributing your music. On their website, through dealers, at shows, in digital form, etc. Find out if they send copies out for contest list or magazine reviews. Find out if they advertise, etc.

4. Have the files in a notation program. Finale or Sibelius are the most common currently. A hand written copy is not the most desirable option. This will take much more time to get out to the public.

5. A recording is a nice touch, but not always necessary.

6. Write or call before sending something to a publisher. Do not expect an immediate answer. Publishers are generally slow in getting back to possible writers.

7. If you are offered a contract by a publisher, read it carefully. One more time: READ IT CAREFULLY AND THEN READ IT AGAIN! If you have questions, make sure you ask the publishers.

8. The bigger publishers are great, but be careful because your piece or pieces may get lost in their giant catalog unless they are a focused giant catalog. Editions BIM is a brass focused company and most pieces will do quite well there. Hal Leonard, Fischer, etc. are more general catalogs and a brass may get lost in the shuffle.

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Most publishers pay a royalty of 10% of the retail cost per piece. Some publishers pay a higher percentage, but the distribution may be limited by the higher percentage. The higher percentage paid to a writer will generally not allow the publisher to distribute through dealers who expect a 40%+ discount.

Mike has a great point about giving away music. I cannot tell you how many pieces I have given away in the last couple of years. IF someone likes the free one, they might be interested in paying for a chart in the future!

I hope this helps a bit,

[BVD Press]

You could self-publish (100% for you) and employ these same publishers to distribute your arrangement. Usually a 60/40 split is agreeable by both sides. IF you only have the one piece, this might be more work than it's worth in the end, but if you are planning to build a repertoire of compositions and arrangements, I would suggest this is the way to get your music out there.

I do agree with Ken, but if marketing your music will take away from what you want to do (play, write, arrange, etc.) find someone else to do it for you. For me, playing gets in the way of publishing so I basically gave the playing end.

Another issue you may want to consider about self-publishing: You will get 100% for yourself, but a publisher will probably get your music out into the marketplace a little quicker than an individual.