Nelson & His World

Hi
Just wondering if anyone would be able to give me any direction in having sheet music of Lord Nelson - published, I was thinking of doing just a limited edtion (self publish) - but I am sure that someone out there (publishers) that maybe interested. any ideas?

Titled "Ode to Lord Nelson"
(art work of the sheet music is complete - and ready for publishing)


Jack

Hello Jack and welcome to the forum.

Self-publishing is obviously the easiest route, though not the least expensive! I self-published a small collection of poems to mark Nelson's 250th birthday last year and can thoroughly recommend the company I used. If you are not in the UK, I am sure you will find companies offering a similar service, but check them out carefully; there are a lot of sharks keen to take your money.

If you want to get a publisher to handle your work, the following link gives good advice. The question here is about publishing symphonic scores, but the process they advise would be the same for your Ode to Nelson.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 332AA9Dc5t

Getting anything published in the current climate is difficult but don't give up. One piece of advice I will give you (I've had articles, short stories and poems published, but not music) is NEVER EVER sell your copyright. If a publisher asks you to agree to sell ALL RIGHTS, run a mile. That means the work is theirs and they can do what they like with it. Imagine then if they allowed your Ode to be used, say, as a background to a blockbuster film of the Napoleonic Wars, they'd get the royalties and not you!

Hi
Many thanks for your reply and advise.

Yeah, Im not located in UK, Im in Australia - which may seem strange to some - as to why write about a subject other than Australian. . . this question was put to me many times - and the same answer I give. which is simply - if i feel that a song / ballad is good enough to be written then its good enough for any subject. I chose Nelson as it was a good story.

After reading your reply, I just might self publish as a limited edition. Im not hoping to make alota money from this - its just that I do write ballads -- and if i don't publish them, then it'll be just sitting in the drawer - waiting to be discovered. The symphonic scores are already completed for the music sheet. The lyrics were written about 4 years ago, but only now able to do something about it.

Within the next 12 months - I maybe releasing a book of my works (ballads) 'Australia & Beyond' as I may publish Nelson in there as well Australian and US ballads Ive written.

Re: Publishers - yeah I have read stories about what they can do.

Being in Australia - my best bet - I guess, is self publish and sell the sheet music of Ode to Lord Nelson - over the internet, as Im sure its more to do with the UK market -- though I could be wrong, there could be Lord Nelson followers world wide.

Thank you for your reply. Jack

Don't forget to post the news here when your ode is published. You'll have one customer at least!

Best of luck!

PS If you look at Page 6 of the posts of this discussion forum you will see an image of a song in honour of Lord Nelson that was published soon after his death in 1805.

Hi Anna

Thank you for your help, and I viewed the music sheet on page 6 I like it. Truly a peice of heritage. Hopefully the Ode to Lord Nelson will be ready by the end of the month. . . will definately let you know

Jack