Saraband Music Cadet Publishing Program

Please note that this site also has a series of general guidelines for submission of manuscripts from musicologists, performers or others. Click here to link to that page.

From 2009, Saraband Music launched its Cadet Publishing Program. This is aimed at talented students currently studying or recently graduated from an Australian university or conservatorium, (although students who do not quite fit these guidelines may be considered if they have a supervisor who will mentor and referee their work).

In the course of their studies, particularly for an honours or postgraduate degree, many excellent research projects are produced, marked and then forgotten. Saraband Music would like to encourage those students who are involved in some aspect of early music from the Middle Ages to the early Classical period to work with their supervisors in preparing an edition which will be made available world-wide through Saraband Music and its overseas agents. This is of course of inestimable value on the CV if this student wishes to progress through academia or into professional musicology.

The first step is for a student or their supervisor to make contact with Patrice Connelly at Saraband Music via email (patrice 'at' saraband.com.au - replace the 'at' with the usual @ and eliminate spaces). Patrice will wish to discuss the project with BOTH parties. Do not send files or any material. Lets discuss the student, supervisor and details of the project: its size, commercial viability, competing editions if any, possible dates of submission and anything else that is relevant. Each project will be assessed on its merits and no guarantees are given until everything is discussed. A sample of the student's work may be required.

The student will be requested to produce a user-friendly one page introduction and if necessary, a short critical commentary. While the student mindset may be lodged in academia, the target market may be amateur musicians, teachers of children or adults, and certainly users without any musicological background. Clear communication with the target market will be required. Jargon will not be tolerated! Acknowledgement of help from the supervisor(s) should also be made.

In some cases, realisation of a figured bass may be required. This is fine, but in my experience, most people don't seem to like other people's realisations and are often critical. Saraband Music will accept any style of realisation which can be fully justified from peer-reviewed, published research (including in the intro), and which meets the approval of the supervisor.

Copyright issues will need to be dealt with prior to submission of any manuscript to Saraband Music. While the music may be in the public domain, it has to be sourced from a library or private owner who needs to be consulted. Usually one contacts the library or manuscript owner and asks permission to make a transcription. If one or more pages of facsimile are involved, some libraries may charge for this, and that will have to be negotiated. All acknowledgements need to be stated at the end of the introduction in the wording given by the library or owner. Some free copies may need to be sent to the institution in return for permission, and this will also have to be discussed prior to submission as it will cost money. If a condition of use is that a royalty is also paid to the owner of the manuscript, then this will not be accepted by Saraband Music.

Saraband Music will accept files in Sibelius 7.1 (or earlier). Finale is not accepted, but xml files may be translatable into Sibelius. Introductions should be in a Word file, and the format will be given during discussion. Saraband Music will allocate the ISMN number.

While any early music project (including arrangements) can be discussed with Patrice, in general Saraband Music is looking for instrumental editions of between 7-23 pages (plus 1 page intro). Solo vocal editions could be considered, but Saraband's market tends more to instrumental music and sells almost no choral music.

However, if the student is willing, a pdf file of their project may be placed on the Saraband Music website as a free download. Their name as editor will be credited. However there is no payment or contract for this offer. The student warrants (through email) that their edition is free from copyright or ownership restrictions and may be freely downloaded by any person. This can be a solution where an edition is not commercially viable, but deserves to be made available. Their contribution will also be gratefully acknowledged in a Saraband newsletter and on the Latest News page of this website.

Theses which are absolutely outstanding and thoroughly deserving of wider reading may also be considered for publication, but these will need to have easily scored first class honours and be recommended by more than one academic. If the university is prepared to make a small grant towards the cost of publication, this may make the project more feasible. An edited version of the thesis is possible, but the supervisor should be involved with this. Proofing will be the responsibility of the graduate. Publication of theses may be in print format or on CD ROM, depending on size, costs and market. This will be discussed prior to acceptance by Saraband Music.

Students who complete their work and are accepted for publication will receive a contract in the same way as Saraband Music's other editors. They will receive royalties, some free copies of their edition, discounts on further purchases of their edition, and if they are willing, the invitation to submit further editions later. A short biography will be placed on the Saraband website. Their help in publicising and promoting the sales of their edition will also be gratefully received.

Please contact Patrice for any further information or queries. Once accepted, projects will be listed below.

Heath Landers (University of Newcastle, supervisor Rosalind Halton): Angelo Maria Scaccia: 2 Violin Sonatas