[abcusers] MIDI questions

[ANewman110]

Hi all, a couple of things that I am trying to get nailed down:

1.  Could somebody explain to me what MIDI thing I'm supposed to do when I see this:
V:2 bass program 1 46

(That came from Jack Campin's CD which he graciously sent me, iabc can play 'David 
Hume's Lament', but I still can't change voices).

My second question is more general: what is the advantage of using MIDI tracks over 
just one track but multiple voices?  I have it implemented as one track for now, but I 
notice that most MIDI files seem to have multiple tracks, and I'm not sure what that's 
supposed to accomplish.

Thanks,
Aaron
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Re: [abcusers] Lead Sheets and Copyrights

[ANewman110]

I'd appreciate that.  I wonder what they would say about transcriptions and chord 
changes.  I have heard that chord changes by themselves are generally OK without the 
melody line.  A popular little jazz book is published that way.  I've heard that 
transcriptions (of jazz solos) are also legal, since they are not generally 
copyrighted by the 'composers'.

In a message dated 12/28/2002 1:35:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

>So, I am writing to a couple of the larger copyright holders (Hal 
> Leonard, Warner/Chappell and two others) to find out just what is it gonna 
> take in terms of time, effort and money, for a small-scale 
> musician to do 
> things "the right way."
> I'll post the results here as I get answers.
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Re: [abcusers] Lead Sheets and Copyrights

[ANewman110]

Hi Ed, I agree but I'd qualify that with 'without the copyright owner's permission'.  
When you purchase music legally, the copyright owner grants you certain rights which 
generally include 'fair use' types of things such as making photocopies for your 
personal use.  

Surprisingly to some people, these rights don't include any right to perform the work, 
which I think is what you're more concerned about.  You can contact BMI or ASCAP for 
that information, but usually like I say that is (or should be) taken care of by the 
venue owner.

I think the only reason you'd need to go to the copyright owner directly would be if 
the music were out of print, or if you wanted permission to distribute your own 
arrangements.



In a message dated 12/28/2002 1:35:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

> The definitive answer in the U.S. seems to be a http://www.mpa.org/, the 
> home page of the Music Publishers' Association. Copies for 
> any reason 
> whatsoever are illegal.
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Re: [abcusers] Lead Sheets and Copyrights

[Ed Skinner]

 The definitive answer in the U.S. seems to be a http://www.mpa.org/, the 
home page of the Music Publishers' Association. Copies for any reason 
whatsoever are illegal. That includes photocopies, hand-copies and, by 
extension, abc-copies. The small number of exceptions at the FAQ don't apply 
to my situation.
 They also provide a form and look-up service for requesting permission 
to create a new arrangement, etc... Although I don't remember a specific 
mention of a simple transposition, their intent is clear: you must get 
permission from the copyright holder.
 So, I am writing to a couple of the larger copyright holders (Hal 
Leonard, Warner/Chappell and two others) to find out just what is it gonna 
take in terms of time, effort and money, for a small-scale musician to do 
things "the right way."
 I'll post the results here as I get answers.

-- 
Ed Skinner, [EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.flat5.net/
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Re: [abcusers] Lead Sheets and Copyrights

[Jack Campin]

> Several years ago my wife, myself, and two others were Christmas 
> Caroling at a local store. We performed our four-part arrangements
> from books cobbled together with photocopies. Yeah, that's a definate
> "No-No."
> Anyway, a (over?) zealous individual from the audience (er, a customer 
> of the store) took great pains to get a look at our book, presumably to 
> confirm they were photocopies. He smilingly asked for our business card
> and then contacted the local ASCAP organization.

I have encountered this one in the context of choir parts - as I understand
it there is *no* obligation on anyone (in any country) to perform from
original copies.  You had better have the originals, but you don't need to
use them every time.

> Regardless, I'm now very wary of showing my book.

I've never seen any Scottish band playing from anything *but* a folder
of xeroxes.  They all do it at every gig.  Most such bands include a
composer, and I can't see any publisher who tried to make trouble over
this getting any new work ever submitted to them again.  A typical
five-piece ceilidh or SCD band will get through more than 50 tunes a
night, from all sorts of sources, mostly in-copyright.  They aren't
going to be carrying 250 books around, and a composer whose publisher
insisted on that sort of logistical hassle wouldn't get played.

===  ===


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