Dave Payn
Active Member
No doubt there are some budding arrangers (like me!) wanting to pen a few festive arrangements for band. I'm not acting under any official capacity here, but I merely wish to avoid seeing people get into unnecessary trouble with publishers by inadvertently arranging their copyright material in the belief that the work/s in question may be out of copyright. So here are a list of 'festive favourites' that you will need to obtain prior permission in order to arrange.
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
The tune usually sung/played in Europe is a traditional work, but under PRS-MCPS rules is fully copyright by having been 'collected' by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Permission to arrange should be sought from Oxford University Press (01865 556767. Ask for Music Copyright department)
SUSSEX CAROL
Usually sung to the words 'On Christmas Night all Christians Sing'. Same collector details but the publisher is Stainer and Bell Ltd (020 8343 3303)
ROCKING CAROL
Usually sung to the words 'Little Jesus, Sweetly Sleep', this work, though a Czech traditional tune, is also fully copyright in the UK, having been 'collected' by Martin Shaw. Again, permission to arrange should be obtained from OUP
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Largely a traditional work, but the tune accompanying the phrase 'Five Gold Rings' first appeared in an arrangement by Frederic Austin, which is owned by Novello. This 'Five Gold Rings' element is copyright! Anyone wishing to arrange this should speak to (and ask specifically for) the copyright department at Novello and Co Ltd (020 7434 0066)
IN THE BLEAK MID-WINTER
There are two tunes usually accompanied with this Christmas work. The more 'hymn-like' version (found in most brass band Carol books!) was written by Gustav Holst and is copyright until 31st December NEXT year. Permission to arrange should be obtained from OUP. The other version is more of a choral work, composed by Harold Darke (d. 1976) (starts with a couple of bars of quiet organ intro, then first verse sung by boy trebles/ladies, if you know the version I mean!) and permission to arrange should be sought from Stainer and Bell Ltd. (020 8343 3303)
I WONDER AS I WANDER
This also comes under the 'collected' banner, collected by John Niles and owned in the UK by G Schirmer Ltd. (020 7434 0066. Ask for G Schirmer copyright)
Other Chrimbo tunes that some people might be wondering whether copyright subsists:
MARY'S BOY CHILD
A fully copyright work (Jester Hairston) and owned by Bourne Music Ltd (020 7734 3454)
TROIKA
Composed by Sergei Prokofieff and part of his Lieutenant Kije suite, again this is fully copyright and owned by Boosey and Hawkes. (020 7580 2060)
These are the main Christmas works which could cause problems. If you have any queries, send me a private message, or contact me during work hours on 020 7306 4214.
As I implied, I'm not doing this to be a jobsworth, nor am I about to embark upon some sort of 'inspection'. I'm simply passing on information I hope will be useful to composers, arrangers and publishers out there.
Kind regards
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
The tune usually sung/played in Europe is a traditional work, but under PRS-MCPS rules is fully copyright by having been 'collected' by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Permission to arrange should be sought from Oxford University Press (01865 556767. Ask for Music Copyright department)
SUSSEX CAROL
Usually sung to the words 'On Christmas Night all Christians Sing'. Same collector details but the publisher is Stainer and Bell Ltd (020 8343 3303)
ROCKING CAROL
Usually sung to the words 'Little Jesus, Sweetly Sleep', this work, though a Czech traditional tune, is also fully copyright in the UK, having been 'collected' by Martin Shaw. Again, permission to arrange should be obtained from OUP
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Largely a traditional work, but the tune accompanying the phrase 'Five Gold Rings' first appeared in an arrangement by Frederic Austin, which is owned by Novello. This 'Five Gold Rings' element is copyright! Anyone wishing to arrange this should speak to (and ask specifically for) the copyright department at Novello and Co Ltd (020 7434 0066)
IN THE BLEAK MID-WINTER
There are two tunes usually accompanied with this Christmas work. The more 'hymn-like' version (found in most brass band Carol books!) was written by Gustav Holst and is copyright until 31st December NEXT year. Permission to arrange should be obtained from OUP. The other version is more of a choral work, composed by Harold Darke (d. 1976) (starts with a couple of bars of quiet organ intro, then first verse sung by boy trebles/ladies, if you know the version I mean!) and permission to arrange should be sought from Stainer and Bell Ltd. (020 8343 3303)
I WONDER AS I WANDER
This also comes under the 'collected' banner, collected by John Niles and owned in the UK by G Schirmer Ltd. (020 7434 0066. Ask for G Schirmer copyright)
Other Chrimbo tunes that some people might be wondering whether copyright subsists:
MARY'S BOY CHILD
A fully copyright work (Jester Hairston) and owned by Bourne Music Ltd (020 7734 3454)
TROIKA
Composed by Sergei Prokofieff and part of his Lieutenant Kije suite, again this is fully copyright and owned by Boosey and Hawkes. (020 7580 2060)
These are the main Christmas works which could cause problems. If you have any queries, send me a private message, or contact me during work hours on 020 7306 4214.
As I implied, I'm not doing this to be a jobsworth, nor am I about to embark upon some sort of 'inspection'. I'm simply passing on information I hope will be useful to composers, arrangers and publishers out there.
Kind regards