Credits for composer and lyricist
Question about the conventions for listing credits on the first page of sheet music.
Specifically, if someone wrote all the music and half of the lyrics, should their name appear twice?
Or would that be splitting hairs?
Browsing through my own collection of sheet music, I find no example of a name being listed twice, so I'm guessing it's not commonly done.
Any thoughts?
Comments
When writing "Westside Story" Leonard Bernstein, (apart from writing the music,) contributed to the lyrics, but decided to give all the Lyrics Credit to Stephen Sondheim.
This was to encourage the young Sondheim, (young at that point).
I think that you can discuss it with the lyricist and decide what they think.
But, if you wrote half the lyrics, you can give yourself credit. Jeff
In reply to When writing "Westside Story… by jeffcarrollco
Thanks. Interesting example.
It happens that this is about a musical. It's a joint work. He wrote the script, I wrote the music, and it's 50-50 on the lyrics. We've agreed any billing would be:
Book: him
Music: me
Lyrics: him and me
(But, I think book usually includes the lyrics too, so I'm not sure if that works. We might have to rethink this.)
Anyway, since the credit going to appear in other places, I think it's fine to go with his name on the left and mine on the right (at the top of each song) and leave it at that.
In reply to Thanks. Interesting example… by rkh5shwy4b
This all sounds good to me.
I don't think that you need to
acknowledge the "book" on a Song
(I've never seen it done only on a
Vocal score is the book mentioned)
Make sure that the Lyricist is
happy with your decission.
Good luck!
In reply to This all sounds good to me… by jeffcarrollco
Oh, I just meant credits on a billboard or program notes or whatever.
Thanks for your reply to my comments regarding crediting lyrics.
Another story: Peter Allen (Australian Singer songwriter) was part
of a four person team to write the award winning song
"BEST THAT YOU CAN BE" for the Movie "Arther" other people were:
Burt Bacharack, Carole Bayer Sayer, and Christopher Cross.
He contributed the line, "When you get caught between the moon
and New York City" The other three songwriters tried to get
Peter Allen to drop his name from the acknowledgements - but he said,
"NO! I was involved in writing the song and I should be acknowledged!"
Which was just as well - as it turned out to be a Number One Hit!
Had he agreed and let them drop him, he would never have been
acknowledged or made any royalties! It's an interesting issue.
Jeff
In reply to Thanks for your reply to my… by jeffcarrollco
And it's a great line. Maybe the most memorable line in the song, so I'd say he was right. The line probably boosted sales!
Now I have to go Google Peter Allen!
Love these anecdotes.