SANTA BARBARA MUSIC PUBLISHING
CHORAL MUSIC SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

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SEND YOUR SUBMISSION VIA EMAIL—we no longer accept mailed submissions.

• Email direct to Submissions@sbmp.com
• Subject line of email: Piece Title/Submission
• One piece per email
• Send Finale, XML file, or a PDF; if accepted for publication a Finale or XML file will be required.
• Include a performance recording along with the name of the choir and the conductor responsible for the recording.
• A printout of the text will be appreciated.
• If the poet is living, include a "permission to use" letter.
• The time varies for response depending on the current work-load. The average is 2-3 weeks.

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ARRANGEMENT OF A FOLK SONG

Note: if the folk song is a standard, we are unlikely to be interested in it unless the arrangment has something fresh and unique to offer.

• Document your source; if possible, include the source copy with your submission.

• Country of origin: this can be difficult to ascertain with English language pieces; we will help with the research if we      decide to publish the piece.

• Check our catalog before submitting a piece; if we already have an arrangement of a folk song, we will not want another similar one.

POEM/TEXT

• Include a copy of the poem as the poet wrote it.

• Document the poet: name, dates, country

• If the poet is living and the poem unpublished, include a signed permission for publication.

• For the published poem, include contact information we can use to obtain permission: publisher, ISBN      number/title/author of the book where the poem is found. Before issuing a contract, we will need to procure the      permission; be prepared for a long wait and possible disappointment.

• Poet royalty: typically half the royalty. If the poet is a friend, deal with this from the get-go and let us know what the      agreement is.

• Foreign language pieces must include a translation.

RANGE

We suggest the composer provide this along with the submission. A careful check of the range may cause some editing to take place before the piece is submitted. We prefer moderate ranges appropriate for the targeted choir.

ORIGINAL WORK

If you have something to share about the creation of the work, include it with the submission.

SACRED MUSIC

We only publish sacred pieces that are geared to the concert hall; if they are also appropriate for church, that is fine. We do not any longer publish music that is solely appropriate for church use.

EDITION OF A PUBLIC DOMAIN PIECE

Include a copy of the original source piece. With so many public domain pieces now available for free on the internet, we rarely have interest in these pieces.

LARGER WORK (eight minutes or longer)

Do not send a large work unless you are a composer already well established in our catalog; then inquire first before making the submission.

RECORDING/PERFORMANCE

A recording of a live performance will be a must in evaluating some pieces and is recommended for all submissions. Do not submit pieces that have not been performed.

ONE PIECE AT A TIME
It is better to send one good piece, not several pieces.

FORMAT OF THE PIECE
If your piece is accepted for publication, in addition to the submission pdf we will request the computer file, either Finale or XML format. 

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS
If the piece has been sent to more than one publisher, indicate this in the cover letter. We do not recommend this procedure.

NEW COMPOSERS TO THE SBMP CATALOG
Please include a brief statement of introduction and or bio.

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RECOMMENDED READING FOR FIRST TIME COMPOSERS
HOW TO GET YOUR CHORAL COMPOSITION PUBLISHED