Galloping Home

[Kevin]

I think you might be getting the not muddy waters. I am sure that it is still in copyright. You could ask Faber and Faber about it though, they deal with a lot of copyright issues. I have done a few pieces and registered them with them.
I know that one of the online reteailers allows arrangements if it is on their list but I cannot quite remember which one.

[djh255]

Just looking at website of Music Sales which apparently looks after the rights of Eaton Publishing and Denis King (who is still with us by the way). Naturally their view is that any use of copyrighted material is subject to licence for which there is a minimum fee of £100 plus VAT. That more or less puts the kybosh on it I suppose. Maybe I could plead that I'm not going to make any money out of this but I'm sure that will fall on deaf ears.
Faber & Faber seem to be all about the printed word - no mention of music - perhaps I was looking in the wrong place?

[Kevin]

Try uploading it on sheet music plus. You have to register free. They have thousands of pieces you can arrange and they take care of the copyright etc. If it is on their list great.

[djh255]

Hi guys,
You may be interested to hear the result of my attempt to get my arrangement of ‘Galloping Home’ legally published.

My first look at the terms of copyright and publishing as described on Music Sales website nearly scared me off, but I decided to approach them directly by e-mail anyway, to enquire if there was a simpler way. This is the gist of what I said:

I had created this piano arrangement/transcription which had been well received.
I was aware also of a latent demand for a piano arrangement of this piece.
This demand would probably be modest, so surely there must be a way of publishing this without any unnecessary expense.

Amazingly I got a reply. This led to a telephone conversation with a guy from Music Sales who explained that it was indeed an interesting project, but they would not be able to entertain printed copy due to expected low demand. However, they would be prepared to publish it digitally but only after buying the rights from me for a nominal £1. I would nevertheless be credited as being the arranger on the published piece.

This suited me fine, as I was never expecting to make any money out of it. So I sent of my sib.file for them to review and edit as necessary. They were impressed, sent it down to be edited according to their house style, and said that all that was needed was a final check on Digital Rights. Enter Bucks Music (from where I don’t know) who agreed to publish, but only on the basis they would take 50% of all proceeds. This was too much for Music Sales who promptly pulled the plug. They apologised but said that it was just not worth the effort in view of the tiny expected sales.

So that’s it. I had to keep chasing Music Sales as it was never going to be a priority for them and I can hardly blame them as they had their own distractions - being taken over by Hal Leonard (Europe) for a start. Anyway, the initial approach was made by me just before Christmas - and I have only now just been given the red light. Four months of hope dashed in a second - I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
However, I’ve had a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of the copyright ‘industry’ and the intricate web of many different companies all seemingly trying to get a slice of the cake.
I had established that Music Sales held the Publishing Rights. But on their website both Chester Music and Eaton Music are credited with being Publisher. And, as I discovered to my cost later, Bucks Music seem to have the Digital Rights (I suppose Denis King might still have an interest?!).

[Kevin]

Strange as I have just heard from afaber music about publishing Cry Me A River. All granted with no problem. I might try for Galloping Home as well!

[djh255]

Good luck if you do Kevin. Let us know how you get on!

[Kevin]

Playing Hop, Skip and Jump on 16th June.

[djh255]

Great, thanks.
By the way, if appropriate, please feel free to put up on LKR Music any of your arrangements of my pieces.
Was hoping to come up with something new but nothing yet.

[sarah]

I’m not sure if anyone will still be interested (I realise this thread is from a few years ago) but I was able to obtain a piano solo arrangement of this music by emailing Denis King directly. I think the charge was £15 for a digital download. Happy to provide further details if anyone is interested.

[Kevin]

Thanks and welcome Sarah. I managed to publish an orchestral version, with permission, on Score Exchange.