I'm curious about the copyright issue here. Unless you have been granted permission, these seem like clear violations.

Thanks for the comments. Yeah, I thought seriously about the copyright issues, too. But, as we all know, "plagiarism is the highest form of flattery"! (I know; "Tell that to the Judge!"). Clearly, I would have to ask the copyright holders for permission, were I to take this practice anywhere outside my own parish. It's too bad; our copyright laws are so restrictive!

As to the Propers issue, I would like to hear the Propers sung at all my parish masses, where, presently, they are only sung at one other mass, which is a fully sung Gregorian/Latin Mass led by William Mahrt (yes, I hope you recognize the name!). But at the other six weekend masses, the Propers are ignored. My mass community is not ready to try the Gregorian melodies, so I thought of marrying the Proper text to song-melodies that they would know, and it seems to have worked rather well. A half-way measure? Yes, but I think that half-way is far better than no-way at all. That's my $.02.5 worth. [P]

It's too bad; our copyright laws are so restrictive!

I wholly agree with this.

Clearly, I would have to ask the copyright holders for permission, were I to take this practice anywhere outside my own parish.

That's not accurate, actually. You've already violated copyright law- you did so the first time you put one of those melodies into your notation software, and do so again every time you print one or post a copy online.

Church use is only "covered" for performance. That is to say (and this is really weird, I think)- you can sing any of those melodies, or play them on an instrument, without permission. However you may not make copies of the score- not for your congregation, and not even for your own self or choir.

For what you are doing, you'd have to get permission to make and adaptation and to reprint it.

You could, however, print words only in a program, and even put into the program the name of the tune you are planning to use, and everyone could sing along without violating anything.

(It's a weird world we live in.)

I wonder if there aren't well-known Public Domain hymn tunes (as in, from older hymns) that you could use for adaptations of this nature, and you could still play them in whatever folk or contemporary style people are accustomed to in your parish.

Also, if you are a composer as well, I wonder if you have given much thought to writing your own Propers in a contemporary style.

I think this is a great idea- but with the copyright situation what it is, I'm afraid that it will, eventually, turn into a dead-end. I'd love to see more of this kind of work (Propers in various styles) being done.

Copyright is the Best. Thing. Ever.

In that it restricts the promulgation of most things created in the 20th Century, the Worst. Century. Ever.

I'll bet that piece is copyrighted, too! ;-)

Copyright can make it possible for creative people to try and make a living.