2007-10-20 05:06:10 · 5 answers · asked by Tonya P 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Straight answer: No, they are not under copyright. (Assuming they are the genuine article.)
Two reasons: (a) It's over 70 years after the death of the composer/libretist; (b) there wasn't a single composer/libretist anyway -- effectively they've always been in the public domain.
HOWEVER: You cannot use an arrangement that belongs to someone else if that is still under copyright. For example, you couldn't use a Sondheim arrangement of a traditional song because even if the song is out of copyright the arrangement is still in copyright.
The word is "copyright" not "copywrite", because it is "the right to copy".
2007-10-20 08:36:26 · answer #1 · answered by replybysteve 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's very strange ---most Americans don't know this---
and I was one of them until I was looking up some
old "Sea Chanteys" which I had to sing in a Eugene
O'Neal play years ago ---
Your best source is free !
The Library of Congress !
Go to the Internet---type in "Library of Congress Slave
Spirituals " You will find what you want there---
I have often used "American Popular Music before
1900 for Stephen Foster lyrics----
but there is a section on the Spirituals here also
and many other sources listed here that you can use
I heard in concert the great American Singer Paul
Robeson (All American Football Player--Internationaly
known Singer persecuted for his political beliefs )
I have recordings of his spirituals which are out of this
world ---he was a Bass-Baritone with marvelous Timbre!
Use your Library of Congress ,people---it 's paid for
by your Tax Dollars !
2007-10-20 13:47:41 · answer #2 · answered by ytellu 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure they are all public domain now (especially since nobody knows who wrote the original words and music for most of them). But SOME old songs are copyrighted. I wanted to find "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" online, and much to my surprise, someone owns the rights to something Martin Luther wrote. So you should check the songs you intend to use.
2007-10-20 12:36:46 · answer #3 · answered by helene 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most Folk Music has no copyright.
Arrangements, however, are a different matter.
Take the advice of my illustrious predecessor and look in the Library of Congress.
2007-10-21 01:19:45 · answer #4 · answered by d_cider1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. If you have a source for them, check it for copywrite, but if you are just using your memory of them , probably not, but you can check each one separately on line by doing a web search of its title.
2007-10-20 12:24:21 · answer #5 · answered by Theatre Doc 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋