USCCB Double Standard on Psalm Paraphrases?
  • contemporaryworship92
    Posts: 303
    I have been following the discussion about the new rules requiring all new Psalm settings, even if made for non-commercial use, to receive permission from the USCCB. And that this permission involves verifying that the text exactly matches the Lectionary.

    Meanwhile, to my knowledge, there is still no *explicit* rule against using paraphrased Psalms.

    GIA and OCP still sell paraphrased Psalms, and they still sell hymnals full of paraphrased Psalms. In fairness, these hymnals will have Psalms that exactly match the Lectionary in the readings section, but the front of their hymnals still have 100+ offerings that will say "Psalm XYZ" at the top but in fact only be a paraphrase of Psalm XYZ. And if you search for Psalms on GIA's or OCP's website, you'll have to read the fine print to know whether or not the Psalm is paraphrased.

    This leads to the paradoxical situation that if I want to use a paraphrased Psalm that is already in my hymnal, I will face no legal barriers, but if I want to use my own work that exactly matches the Lectionary, I will have to go through an arduous process that might be impossible to actually go through, if, for example, a Psalm is requested for a funeral that is happening in less than 6-8 weeks.

    Same issue for Gospel Acclamations. Most Mass Settings come with a Gospel Acclamation that only has a handful of stock verses. If you want to adapt that Gospel Acclamation's verse to make it match the lectionary for that day, you need to go through all the licensing, but meanwhile, I am not aware of any explicit rule that would stop you from using the stock Alleluia verse that came with the officially published work.

    Have I significantly misunderstood the situation, or am I accurate in my perception of a double standard here?
    Thanked by 5GerardH davido CHGiffen irishtenor Abbysmum
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,464
    Anecdotal evidence I've read from more than one source in the past indicated that, in years past (not recents years), USCCB staff encouraged composers who were not aiming to have their work set in lectionary/missalette propers to use paraphrases.

    Which, btw, should have been a red flag about tails wagging their respective dogs.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Xopheros
    Posts: 71
    You may copy or set to music (which is a "derived work" in copyright lingo) psalm paraphrases without permission only if they are in the public domain. I doubt that any of the praphrases sold by GIA or OCP are in the public domain. That means that you must figure out who holds the copyright and ask there for permission.

    For example, the original French texts from the Genevan Psalter may be used without permission, as are old translations like the German translation by Lobwasser. The same applies to the Psalter by Ulenberg (originally in German, and I am not aware of any historic translations). You may not use, however, any of the modern translations as a basis for your own arrangements or for making text underlays. As historic translations usually are in a vigorous baroque language, there might be reasons to prefer a modern translation.

    Here is an online collection of some English metric psalm paraphrases that are in the public domain and thus may be used without permission. Beware that these are all in different meters than the Genevan Psalms or Ulenberg's Psalms, so you cannot use them with any of the wonderful polyphonic settings by Goudimel, Sweelinck, or Orlando di Lasso (or those by myself).
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,237
    The 1662 Coverdale Psalter is in public domain. I have been to Vespers (Roman Catholic) lately that uses that translation. Wow, it really has the beautiful rhythms and strong texts. The Vespers is the traditional breviary in English.
    Thanked by 4IanW AndrewP tomjaw Aristotle Esguerra
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,464
    You may copy or set to music (which is a "derived work" in copyright lingo) psalm paraphrases without permission only if they are in the public domain. I doubt that any of the praphrases sold by GIA or OCP are in the public domain. That means that you must figure out who holds the copyright and ask there for permission
    .

    Correct - that is a feature, not a bug, for commercial publishers. They get all the rights without having to deal with permissions from other rights holders. Again, tails wagging dogs . . . .
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen tomjaw
  • Andrew_Malton
    Posts: 1,235
    @kevinf : interesting. Where is a Catholic Vespers offered using the traditional breviary in English? Is that what s known eg on its title page as the Anglican Breviary?
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,237
    No it was created locally at the parish. Kind of innovative. Follows the Roman breviary,except in English for the psalms. Even the chapter, the Mag and the hymn is in English. I take my Latin breviary with me and they follow it perfectly.On big days they have benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The only Catholic vespers in the state.
    Thanked by 2tomjaw Aristotle Esguerra
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,180
    It (appears) to be official policy that all psalm settings must now match the lectionary text exactly. Those that do not, will not be approved.

    Those that are currently licit will no longer be after the 3 year grace period (after the introduction of the new lectionary) unless they are updated to match. If they are not updated, they may not be used as responsorial psalms. In theory, they could be used as something else, such as a responsorial offertory meditation or some such thing.

    The official policy now on the books (https://www.usccb.org/committees/divine-worship/policies/guidelines-for-the-publication-of-liturgical-books/appendix-iv ) now has a few pertinent things in paragraphs 9-17:

    In cases where out-of-date texts are used for newly composed music, permission for liturgical use and copyright permission will not be given.


    The composer of music for liturgical texts "must respect the integrity of the approved text. Admittedly, not all texts, as approved by the Episcopal Conference, easily lend themselves to musical composition because of their style, length, or translation. Nevertheless, composers may not alter the prescribed texts of the rites to accommodate them to musical settings. ...


    The Responsorial Psalm is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word (cf. GIRM, no. 61). The text is to be taken from the LFM and presented integrally at least once in every setting. Repetitions within the text are allowed, should be used sparingly, and may not alter the meaning of the text. The addition of vocatives is allowed.

    Thanked by 2contemporaryworship92 Aristotle Esguerra
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