Call for Scores: 2017 Art Song Anthologies

About NewMusicShelf

NewMusicShelf is an online marketplace for independently-published composers of concert music to sell digital editions of their sheet music.

Founded in 2010, the company allows composers to directly upload works for sale through its online platform. NewMusicShelf handles all transactions and digital delivery, leaving composers more time to manage all other aspects of their careers. Composers retain all rights to their work, and, because NewMusicShelf is a non-exclusive distributor, are allowed (and encouraged) to sell their works through other outlets.

About the Anthologies

In 2018, NewMusicShelf will release four anthologies of new art song by living composers. Each voice-type-specific volume of 20 songs will be curated by professional singers, and will be released in print and digital formats. Songs included in the anthologies will also be performed in a concert of the anthologized works in New York City, and recorded and released in a companion CD.

The anthologies will be marketed to teachers of singing and their students as a means of making new vocal music more accessible to a broad range of vocalists, from younger, more inexperienced singers to professional level vocalists. The songs included in the anthologies will have a variety of difficulty levels, but will be easily programmable on collegiate and professional recitals.

Composers will retain full ownership of their work, and will receive royalty payments for every copy of the anthology and CD sold. They will also receive a copy of the anthology and CD that their work is included in for their library.

Submission Instructions

Eligible Composers

Composers of all ages and nationalities are eligible for inclusion in the anthologies. Composers who are included should be able to receive royalty payments either domestically via check in USD or domestically/internationally through PayPal.

Eligible Works

Composers may submit up to two songs per voice type (up to eight songs in total) in any language for consideration.

Eligible works must be:

• original works by the composer
• for solo voice or voice and piano only – works with additional or alternative instrumentation will not be considered
• under 10 minutes in duration
• published by the composer him-/herself OR submitted with the written approval of the publisher

Submitted songs may be selections from a cycle or collection of songs. Some preference may be shown to these works because of the potential they have to spur greater interest in the composer’s broader vocal catalog.

Composers must have permission to publish the texts. Texts in the public domain are fine. Songs with texts under copyright must be accompanied by proof of permission from the copyright holder.

Arrangements of pre-existing works within the composer’s catalog are allowed so long as they adhere to the above requirements. Arrangements of other composers’ works are ineligible.

How to Submit

1. There is no fee for submission.
2. Create a Dropbox or Google Drive folder titled with “NMSVA2017” and your last name, in the following format: [VOICE Last] (e.g., “NMSVA2017 Tobenski” or “NMSVA2017 Biscardi”).

1. Upload a PDF of the score to the folder, titling the file with the voice type, your last name, and the title of the song as: [VOICE Last – Title] (e.g., “TENOR Tobenski – The Gallant Weaver” or “SOPRANO Biscardi – Someone New”).

1. If available, upload an MP3 of the song with the same naming convention as above. (Recordings are not required, but are helpful to the curators in evaluating your work. MIDI is acceptable, but not preferred.)
2. For non-English-language songs, please provide a translation, as well.
3. For songs in languages other than English, Spanish, Italian, Latin, French, or German, a clear IPA transliteration is appreciated.
4. For songs not published by the composer, please upload a copy of a letter giving you express permission to submit the song(s) in question.
5. For songs with texts that are under copyright, please upload a copy of a letter giving you permission to set the text and have the song published.
6. Complete the application form, including the link to the corresponding Dropbox/Drive folder.
7. Share the folder with newmusicshelf@gmail.com
8. Ensure that the Dropbox/Drive folder and its contents are available through the end of January 2018

Submissions are due by August 31, 2017.
Deadline extended to September 15, 2017

Notification of acceptance (with contracts) will go out in late Fall 2017.