Question for all you music composers..

dvxwheelr

dvxwheelr

Active member
I have the sheet music for some old folk songs that I would like to use in a movie. The music has the basic melody and the chords to play with it and that's all. The music should be in the public domain because it comes from the 1800's, but it does state arranged by... at the top. Just what part of this is the arrangement? And can an arrangement be copyrighted? I need to know what I have to change to make it my own.:dankk2:
_dvxwheelr
 
You're good. Melody and chords are tied as a folk song. If you have the ok from whoever you get to perform it or if you are going to make your own arrangement of it you're good to go.

Have fun.

CaptM
 
dvxwheelr said:
I have the sheet music for some old folk songs that I would like to use in a movie. The music has the basic melody and the chords to play with it and that's all. The music should be in the public domain because it comes from the 1800's, but it does state arranged by... at the top. Just what part of this is the arrangement? And can an arrangement be copyrighted? I need to know what I have to change to make it my own.:dankk2:
_dvxwheelr
Click to expand...
Arrangements cannot be copyrighted. Chord progressions can't be copywrited. Melodies can be copyrighted. If you're using old folk music from a book over 75 years old, you'll be fine.
 
Arrangements can be copyrighted. If I was to do an orchestral setting of John Brown's Body that setting (arrangement) would be copyrighted and even though the song it is based on is PD the piece I created using it would be protected.

Arrangements of NON PD material must have consent from the C holder to even start.

Now -- if these chords are jazz chords someone wrote below the melody THOSE could be considered an arrangement... If you are looking at something someone did for a church choir and a simple piano arrangement THAT can be considered an arrangement and both would be copyrighted as such.

My guess for you would be to use the chords and melody to the extent that it stays true to the original OR make sure you stay away from any counter melody written in the arrangement and make your own.

I think we're all saying the same thing...

Wheelr -- you'll be fine.

CaptM
 
I generally try to locate a printed version of the PD peice that was printed pre-1900 (to be safe). That way, even if it is an arrangement, I'm free and clear.

It's like the Major says -- I'm legally better off basing my music on the actual written notes of Beethoven's Fifth than on CaptainMench's arrangement of Beethoven's Fifth.
 
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