Classical Music and Copyright

[SoX]

Just wondered what the situation was here. like does anyone own the copyright to Beethovens 5th etc.? and Ride of the Valkyries....

[General Zod]

hrrm. . . .thought something about this was posted not too long ago, but. . . .the original works themselves if they're over a certain age are public domain. however any particular arrangements by current composers may be copyrighted.

[Tsyroc]

Just wondered what the situation was here. like does anyone own the copyright to Beethovens 5th etc.? and Ride of the Valkyries....

I think that where copyright comes in is in particular recordings by specific artists/symphonys/conductors etc.... You could go play and record your own version of Beethoven's 5th without violating any copyrights but recorded versions of other people's performances are copyrighted.



As for the sheet music. I don't know that you could just go buy a copy of the music and then photo copy it as much as you want but you might be able to write it down yourself and then copy it as much as you want.

[Dalton]

The music itself is public domain, but I think copyrights apply to new arrangements and the orchestras that play them.

[Rogue 9]

Basically what Dalton said. I've looked into this, being a classical musician myself. What I can and can't do with various arrangements concerns me greatly. (For example, some arrangers don't allow public performance of their arrangements for profit without prior permission, and presumably a cut of the profits.)

[Saurencaerthai]

Unless it was composed and the 70-90 years of the copyright after the author's death haven't expired, it's public domain.