I wonder if anyone can help me out with a strange question. I am playing in a competition that requires a publishers release in order to rearrange/cut/change a piece.
Now.......is Asturius (Albeniz) copyrighted?
I have been told that since it originated from a folk song no one owns a copyright so I don't need to worry about it. I couldn't find anything on the actual music, or any acknowlegments on the CDs it was performed on.
Any help would be appreciated.
Jennifer

Jennifer,

Have you tried contacting the publisher directly?

Even though the original folk material may not be copyrighted, a transcription/arrangement of those melodies might well be. Unless you hear otherwise from the publisher, I'd assume that the work is copyrighted and is protected as such.

JW

Whether it originated from folk music etc. does not have any significance in the copyright in this case, as the piece is effectively written by ALBENIZ, Isaac.

Now, since he died in 1909, the copyright however should be expired by now. (It usually is 50 years after death.) So, I expect that if you take the original work (means no editorial change is included) and arrange yourself, then, that will consititute a new work and you will hold copyright for it.

You obviously cannot photo copy etc. the published sheet music and cut and paste etc. because this will infringe other copyright itmes such as layout etc.

Whether the piece displays (c) mark etc. does not have any significance. Under the international copyright law, as soon as an "original" work is created, the work will be copyright protected without requiring any explicit reference to the copyright, if my memory is right.

Hope this helps,

Nat