Copyright of Marier’s Hymns Psalms & Spiritual Canticles
  • smvanroodesmvanroode
    Posts: 1,126
    I’m considering reproducing a composition by Theodore Marier from Hymns Psalms & Spiritual Canticles (1983) in a missalette. Specifically, it concerns the music for the “Alleluia, Sundays of the Year I,” no. 92, p. 160 of the Organ-Choir Edition.

    Am I correct that Saint Paul’s Choir School in Cambridge, Massachusetts currently administers the copyright for this publication?
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,385
    That's my understanding, but from previous correspondence with Richard Clarke, I think things are murky. There was a project to revive his psalms and bring them into accord with the current lectionary but that has stalled for multiple reasons. When you say "missalette" do you mean a permanent resource? Or just a fancy worship aid? If it's the latter, I suspect you could just fly under the radar under the "liturgical use" provision of copyright law, presupposing it's not live streamed and the booklet is not published. In any case, reach out to him (Or Michael Olbash) and they could point you in the right direction.
    Thanked by 1smvanroode
  • smvanroodesmvanroode
    Posts: 1,126
    Thank you, James. It’s indeed intended for a published misalette with a circulation of about 35,000.

    I reached out to Saint Paul’s Choir School a few months ago, but didn’t get any response. I'll try to contact Richard.
    Thanked by 1ServiamScores
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,801
    Hmm. I would try the choir school again. They had previously said in general that it’s OK to use. (I have meant to contact them again to get any update on a license.)

    However an external project would be more difficult.

    I’d like the CMAA or other orgs with benefactors to take on any copyright issues of pieces republished from the St Pius X Hymnal. I think that there’s a possible way out of this, but I can’t just ask someone to do work pro bono.
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