Hi giftables,
Briefly, it all depends on the versions you have in hand. Anything
published before 1923 is in the public domain and free to use, more
contemporary versions are copyrighted.
Who holds the copyrights for traditional Christian worship songs for
example "Amazing Grace", "Jesus Loves Me", etc?:
"Most of these songs would have fallen into the Public Domain and
therefore can be used without permission or payment. However, you must
always be diligent to know if you are in fact using the original which
is public domain - or whether you have chosen to use an arrangement of
the original. If you are using an arrangement - it would be under
copyright by someone and you would be required to pay royalties for
it's use. I am unable to tell you who holds the copyright, because
there are many arrangements, owned by many different people on the
songs you have mentioned. It would be up to the user to research the
song (using copyright notices on product, etc.) and submit permission
requests appropriately."
http://www.sparrowrecords.com/faq.aspx
Public Domain:
"Music and lyrics written by an American author and published in 1922
or earlier are in the Public Domain in the United States."
"Songs change over time. Even though a public domain version exists,
some versions may still be under copyright protection. The only way
to confidently identify a PD version is to find a copy of the song
with a copyright date old enough for public domain status. You can
then use that PD version or work from it to create your own derivative
work. If you work from a version still under copyright protection,
the copyright owner can likely make a valid claim for royalties."
http://www.pdinfo.com/
Christian Hymns Public Domain List:
"This list is intended only as a help in researching public domain
materials. This list is NOT sufficient documentation that music is in
the public domain. Even if a song is PD, there may be arrangements of
the song still under copyright. You MUST work from a published copy
of the item with a copyright date old enough to qualify the item for
public domain status."
http://www.pdinfo.com/list/hymn.htm
Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:
"An image of the cover and each page of music will also be retrieved
if the music was published before 1923 and the music is in the public
domain."
http://www.stockton.lib.ca.us/ht/music.htm
THE LORD'S PRAYER:
http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/otcgi/llscgi60
THE LORD'S PRAYER:
Individual Sheet Music Reprint From a US Publication with Copyright
Date of 1922 or earlier
http://www.pdinfo.com/rp/R002649.htm
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE:
"What is it about "You Are My Sunshine" that allows it to successfully
navigate such diverse musical paths? The answer lies in the
compositional makeup of its diverse and little acknowledged origins.
Starting with its supposed composition in the 1940s and working
backwards, this paper examines a series of songs that form a recorded
pedigree for "You Are My Sunshine." Each song contributes musical
components, or moments, from various folk traditions to what becomes
the standard (and copyrighted) version of "You Are My Sunshine."
http://students.washington.edu/bla2/Papers.htm
AMAZING GRACE: Project Hymnbook - Free Music Forum with Chords and Lyrics:
http://www.virtu-software.com/projecthymnbook/song.asp?sid=18
HOW GREAT THOU ART: Online Hymnal: HOW GREAT THOU ART:
http://s89015200.onlinehome.us/hymn/Great.htm
JESUS LOVES ME: Project Hymnbook - Free Music Forum with Chords and Lyrics:
http://www.virtu-software.com/projecthymnbook/song.asp?sid=13
Copyright questions are never straight forward but I hope I've been
able to get you started. If you have any questions, please post a
clarification request *before* closing/rating my answer and I'll be
happy to reply.
Thank you,
hummer
Google Search Terms Used:
jesus loves me public domain
how great thou art public domain
you are my sunshine public domain
the lord's prayer public domain
amazing grace public domain |