Copyrights for performances of Gregorian chant on youtube as we livestream liturgies.
  • Bobbarai
    Posts: 1
    As we livestream liturgies, what is required in terms of copyright notices when a Gregorian chant is sung. i.e. the introit on Laetare Sunday?
  • madorganist
    Posts: 906
    Nothing at all. It's over 1,000 years old and in the public domain. If you include any music that is under copyright, you cannot monetize the video, but I'm unaware of any other restrictions. The being said, the YouTube robots will try to file copyright claims on chant recordings. It's annoying, but you can easily dispute them.
  • Schönbergian
    Posts: 1,063
    If you decide to reproduce a harmonization of the chant online that's fairly recent, you may need to tread lightly. Otherwise, it's long since entered PD.
    Thanked by 1madorganist
  • PaxMelodious
    Posts: 443
    Are you taking about a printed representation, or an actual sung instance?

    Even if the tune and harmonisation are public domain, the actual performance is likely copyright, unless it was recorded <<however many>> years ago. Get yourself permission from the singers, or an appropriate licence for playing /streaming recorded music.
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 402
    Apparently the new ICEL chants are copyrighted. I was part of a chant Webinar that involved singing part of the LOTH, but we couldn’t use the updated version because it was apparently under copyright by ICEL.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,981
    Aren't most of the ICEL chants free to use for worship? I could see an objection if you want to monetize it.
  • Schönbergian
    Posts: 1,063
    The printed representation. As far as I know in North America (and 100% in Canada), the physical layout of the page cannot be copyrighted, only the content. So even if it's a new origination of an older setting, it would still be fair game.
  • madorganist
    Posts: 906
    Perhaps this requires some clarification from the OP. I took "livestream" and "when a Gregorian chant is sung. i.e. the introit" to mean the broadcast of a live performance, not something prerecorded, not video of a printed edition, not ICEL chants in English.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen irishtenor
  • PaxMelodious
    Posts: 443
    Aren't most of the ICEL chants free to use for worship?


    Yes, I believe they are. So "performing" them in a churhch during a scheduled service is fine. But is livestreaming worship?

  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    ICEL's permissions policy for its texts is here:
    http://www.icelweb.org/PubPolicy.PDF

    The last page grants permissions for internet use, with certain conditions, and I would follow that for use in a video.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    Now here's a laugh. I just checked CMAA's collection of videos, and found that there was a YouTube "Content-ID" claim on one of them:
    https://youtu.be/YAbKXXb5pIQ?t=62
    A demo of the Pater Noster, in Latin!
    Thanked by 3madorganist tomjaw Ioannes Andreades
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