Michael, That is well said. If someone adds value to an object then they deserve to be paid for that. Value could be as simple as going to various sites (physical) and collecting them, or as complete as making an edition with fingering hints and historical notes added. As to the purchase of rights, for that to happen someone must have owned the rights. Only the composer can be the original owner, and only his heirs or assigns can own them now. If someone, somehow, had cornered all the copies of Dowland's works some time ago, and then claimed them as personal property and sold them to someone else then there might be a right involved. But only to the facsimiles, not to the melodies. After all, someone may have passed that melody, public in its time, from father to son for generations. I see no problem with any antique music unless there is "value added" in the version you use.
Best, Jon
