Submitting Music for Possible Publication

The GCNA welcomes submissions of carillon music for possible publication.  There is an ongoing need for new repertoire, both compositions written for the instrument and arrangements and transcriptions of music for other media.  The Guild publishes new music every year, as well as maintaining a substantial catalog of earlier publications.  Composers and arrangers are welcome to submit their music for consideration to the Committee on Music Publications.  Our annual deadline is usually January 1 each year, but music may be submitted at any time.

Submissions should be sent to Laura Ellis (address below).  Music selection is handled by two sub-committees: pieces composed originally for the carillon are evaluated by the Composition Sub-Committee, chaired by John Gouwens (address below); and Arrangements and Transcriptions are evaluated by the Arrangements Sub-Committee, chaired by Carlo van Ulft (address below).  While submissions may be sent in hardcopy, they may also be E-mailed as PDF files.

Important Note: Arrangements or transcriptions of pre-existing music which is still under copyright are ordinarily not accepted for GCNA publication.  It is the responsibility of the person submitting music for possible consideration to do the appropriate research.  For additional help and advice on this matter, please contact Laura Ellis (address below).

Since the GCNA endeavors to make music easily available for performances at all venues, composers and arrangers will be asked to sign a contract waiving the collection of royalties for live non-profit performances of the music it publishes. Most composers and arrangers sign the copyrights over to the GCNA, but other arrangements are possible. The GCNA does not ordinarily collect or pay royalties on the music it publishes. We are a volunteer organization, and that volunteer spirit includes our composers, arrangers, and publishers.

Composers and arrangers unfamiliar with the carillon are encouraged to make contact with carillonneurs near them.  However, we do offer some helpful pointers (PDF, 48KB) as well.

Composers may also want to consider submitting any recent, unpublished, unperformed carillon compositions for the biennial competition organized by the Johan Franco Composition Fund Committee.  The most recent information on the competition may be found here.