Music in novels

[Carrigan2121]

how do you even read and imagine it? you cant understand the type of sounds produced either without being a good musician or something, putting music into words is whack, wbu guys?

 

[Envylope]

Disagree. The implementation just has to be good. Lord of the Rings did it well.

 

[Paul_Tromba]

You don't have to be a good musician to understand written music as there are many ways to write out sounds, music, songs, etc. The best way is through phonetic lettering that can present it as written sounds. However, that is much harder to learn than basic written music theory and most English speakers don't use or understand it.

There is a more commonly used version that describes genre's of music and instruments rather than the music itself. For example, a heavy hitting power metal song backed by the sound of 10 violin's is playing over the loudspeaker. If you know what power metal sounds like and what violins sound like then you can kind of imagine what the music sounds like.

Putting in lyrics can also help because the sound of the words being sung can help to show the beet of the song. Tolkien actually used this a lot in the Hobbit.

 

[Envylope]

I will say it can be weird if you are reading a translated novel, and the flow of the song is supposed to be based on the rhyming pattern. It completely kills the flow and the words don't often rhyme when translated.

 

[Lysander_Works]

I assume you mean including the lyrics in the chapter content.

Speaking of which... I just finished a most amazing masterpiece of a combat chapter I can't wait to release (but must wait for the series to catch up to it). I got so into it that I had the MC singing some of the lyrics mid-combat/ spell invocation. Powerful lyrics and all, but part of me does wonder if people might be put off by it.
Note: All of my chapters including this one come with interior author notes which state and hyperlink unique Chapter Theme Music; so, the relevant song and credit is included either way.
Part of me wonders if this is allowed, in terms of the copyright system. Likely a grey area at best.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I assume you mean including the lyrics in the chapter content.

Speaking of which... I just finished a most amazing masterpiece of a combat chapter I can't wait to release (but must wait for the series to catch up to it). I got so into it that I had the MC singing some of the lyrics mid-combat/ spell invocation. Powerful lyrics and all, but part of me does wonder if people might be put off by it.
Note: All of my chapters including this one come with interior author notes which state and hyperlink unique Chapter Theme Music; so, the relevant song and credit is included either way.
Part of me wonders if this is allowed, in terms of the copyright system. Likely a grey area at best.

From what I understand of the Fair Use laws, as long as you are not selling the work and properly credit the songwriter and the publisher of the music you should be safe. If you ARE selling it, then you do need to contact the owner of the copyright or it might come back to bite you, big time, later. But I am not a lawyer and have not talked to the two I know who specialize in Intellectual Property law in a few years so may be off base a bit.

 

[Lysander_Works]

From what I understand of the Fair Use laws, as long as you are not selling the work and properly credit the songwriter and the publisher of the music you should be safe. If you ARE selling it, then you do need to contact the owner of the copyright or it might come back to bite you, big time, later. But I am not a lawyer and have not talked to the two I know who specialize in Intellectual Property law in a few years so may be off base a bit.

I assume you mean (for profit) by the phrase "selling," since stories on SH are free to read. I have my work on KDP (for money), and am gradually pushing it here, so, maybe it's something I'd only have to worry about when I go to update the Amazon version.
As far as crediting goes, I link the music with the proper title and artist of the music included, 99% of which is published on Youtube. Even in the case of KDP, the same link details would be provided...

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I assume you mean (for profit) by the phrase "selling," since stories on SH are free to read. I have my work on KDP (for money), and am gradually pushing it here, so, maybe it's something I'd only have to worry about when I go to update the Amazon version.
As far as crediting goes, I link the music with the proper title and artist of the music included, 99% of which is published on Youtube. Even in the case of KDP, the same link details would be provided...

It sounds like you are PROBABLY safe - but I would suggest you contact an actual IP lawyer before updating KDP (and yes, I do mean "selling for profit"). Heck KDP might even have specific rules for external files like that (they seem to have rules for everything else)

 

[Lysander_Works]

It sounds like you are PROBABLY safe - but I would suggest you contact an actual IP lawyer before updating KDP (and yes, I do mean "selling for profit"). Heck KDP might even have specific rules for external files like that (they seem to have rules for everything else)

Yes, I should check KDP's rule system on this too. Worst case scenario, I remove 8 lines from the KDP version. Artist may not respond after all.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Yes, I should check KDP's rule system on this too. Worst case scenario, I remove 8 lines from the KDP version. Artist may not respond after all.

Another thought - if Amazon has the songs available for sale, they might permit use of what radio shows call a "bumper" - a recognizable bit of the song to be embedded, and require the reader to purchase the full version to hear i.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Well the chinese did it quite well by making gags out of song lyrics.

For example, a sodomy in work can be euphermized by Jay Chou's Chrysanthemum Terrace. 菊花残，满地伤。

For those who lack imagination, try picture chrysanthemum into sunflower

 

[Lysander_Works]

Another thought - if Amazon has the songs available for sale, they might permit use of what radio shows call a "bumper" - a recognizable bit of the song to be embedded, and require the reader to purchase the full version to hear i.

So, embedded as audio in place of the text lyrics, or just embedded at the beginning? Or use the text AND the embedded bumper?
I did check and they do sell it. Just don't know how any of that works.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

So, embedded as audio in place of the text lyrics, or just embedded at the beginning? Or use the text AND the embedded bumper?
I did check and they do sell it. Just don't know how any of that works.

Any answer I gave would be a guess at this point - asking them is your best bet.