Phil Daley wrote:
2. I take an SATB choral piece and arrange it for TTBB.
I'll propose an answer to this, but would first not the the distinction
between copyright--the right to control the reproduce the physical
medium upon which the music is carried, either the paper of the score,
of the disk or tape of the sound recording--and performance rights,
which is the right to control who performs a work, and to be compensated
by those who do through the payment of royalties. Under U.S. copyright
law, there is an explicit exemption which provides that music used in a
worship service is exempt from the payment of performance royalties.
There is no exemption from copyright, so that music sung in a church
service must be sung from legitimately acquired copies.
If you own sufficieint copies of the SATB choral piece for the entire
choir, and arrange it by telling some of the basses to mark their copies
so that they sing the alto line down an octave, and some of the tenors
do the same, and sing the soprano line down an octave, there is no
copyright violation involved. No matter how many changes you (or
choristers at your direction) make by indicating them on legitimately
purchased copies, there is no copyright violation, because the copies
upon which the changes are designated are legitimate. If however, the
work is subject to copyright, and you make your arrangement by writing
it out on a new copy, then there is a copyright violation if you have
not previously been granted the permission to make the arrangement.
disclaimer: I am not an attorney in any jurisdiction. The statements
above, while an accurate report of my informed opinion, are not intended
as legal advice, and should not be relied on as such.
ns
There is no copyright violation involved however much you might arrange
the work
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