"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery", wrote the 19th century cleric and writer Charles Caleb Colton. However, such flattery when it comes to writing music can land the composer or songwriter in very hot and potentially expensive water.
A BASCA seminar that takes place in the PRS for Music Boardroom on Thursday 31 March will look at how to stay clear of the rocks of plagiarism, even when instructed to sail close to the wind by a producer or director. Other elephant traps lie in the area of deliberate soundalikes, or where the specific aim of the composition is to parody an original.
On the panel will be Neil Innes, whose work includes possibly the king of all parodies, The Rutles. Neil will be joined by Philip Pope, who also doffed his cap in the direction of The Beatles recently for a series of sketches in the last series of Harry and Paul. Philip also wrote extensively for Spitting Image and was the musical force behind The Hee Bee Gee Bees, including writing the classic Meaningless Songs in Very High Voices.
Joe Bennett, a musicologist and Head of School, Music and Performing Arts at Bath Spa University will add his considerable experience of numerous case studies, while film and television composer Alan Parker will talk about the perils of being asked to write soundalikes for various productions, as well as "The Curse of the Temp Track".
Professional members and Members of BASCA can attend this event free of charge but it is also open to non-members in return for an entrance fee of £30, and Student members can attend for half price. If you would like to attend, please contact Graham Jackson.
Soundalikes, Parody and Plagiarism
31 March 2011
PRS for Music 29-33 Berners Street, London W1T 3AB
Further details and contact information:
Graham Jackson
Email: info@basca.org.uk
A BASCA seminar that takes place in the PRS for Music Boardroom on Thursday 31 March will look at how to stay clear of the rocks of plagiarism, even when instructed to sail close to the wind by a producer or director. Other elephant traps lie in the area of deliberate soundalikes, or where the specific aim of the composition is to parody an original.
On the panel will be Neil Innes, whose work includes possibly the king of all parodies, The Rutles. Neil will be joined by Philip Pope, who also doffed his cap in the direction of The Beatles recently for a series of sketches in the last series of Harry and Paul. Philip also wrote extensively for Spitting Image and was the musical force behind The Hee Bee Gee Bees, including writing the classic Meaningless Songs in Very High Voices.
Joe Bennett, a musicologist and Head of School, Music and Performing Arts at Bath Spa University will add his considerable experience of numerous case studies, while film and television composer Alan Parker will talk about the perils of being asked to write soundalikes for various productions, as well as "The Curse of the Temp Track".
Professional members and Members of BASCA can attend this event free of charge but it is also open to non-members in return for an entrance fee of £30, and Student members can attend for half price. If you would like to attend, please contact Graham Jackson.
Soundalikes, Parody and Plagiarism
31 March 2011
PRS for Music 29-33 Berners Street, London W1T 3AB
Further details and contact information:
Graham Jackson
Email: info@basca.org.uk
