The Licensing of the Revised grail Psalter
  • immacon0000
    Posts: 3
    I’m having trouble understanding how licensing works in the U.S., especially when it comes to setting lectionary texts to music. I’m particularly confused about the Revised Grail Psalter. Am I allowed to set it to music without asking for permission?

    Also, do I need to purchase a physical copy from GIA just to secure a license?

    I’m planning to use the Revised Grail Psalms for my music, which will be shared for free, with no monetary involvement, and used privately within our community. Is it possible to use the texts in this way without paying for a license or purchasing the book?

    Thank you for your help.
  • OrganistRob320OrganistRob320
    Posts: 176
    USCCB has owned the revised Grail which is now called the Abbey Psalms and Canticles since 2019.
    I believe they made it available for free use as you are intending with a copyright notice to be included somewhere which currently escapes me.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,090
    The USCCB's policy on permissions and requirements is in this booklet:
    https://www.usccb.org/resources/guidelines-publication-liturgical-books.pdf

    The section on musical compositions starts at page 42.
    Thanked by 4Xopheros Liam CHGiffen ServiamScores
  • Xopheros
    Posts: 71
    According to the official document found by @chonak, setting an English liturgical text to music requires a) review and approval by the Secretariat of the USCCB (appendix IV.4, p. 43) b) for a text license the negotiation of "a contract with the USCCB, ICEL, and any other bodies holding copyright interest in the material before publication" (app IV.5).

    This seems to be geared towards tight control and keeping the composition of English language catholic liturgical music in the US a closed shop, because this approach is feasible only for commercial publishers. It is also not compatible with making new music freely available under CC licenses, although this is, admittedly, not an issue for professional composers and commercial publishers.

    I am glad that I was not aware of such things when I started writing liturgical music in the 1980s and that back then the spirit of Vatican II was blowing and encouraged to try out a lot of things (with varying success). If such rules had been of concern back then, I would have never started writing sacred music.
    Thanked by 5CHGiffen OMagnumMysterium irishtenor davido tomjaw
  • Marc Cerisier
    Posts: 590
    It has certainly become more strict in recent years, and I know the USCCB is trying to monetize even the process of reviewing works using the APC for free sharing. This contrasts with GIA’s granting free permission to share non-commercial settings of the RGP (with no text review required as well). As of the last time I asked Mary, no policy was in place yet and she was not able to grant permission to freely share any compositions using the AGP. All you can really do right now is ask …
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,464
    " . . . USCCB is trying to monetize even the process of reviewing works using the APC for free sharing."

    It would be lovely to have a pope consider this as presumptively covered by simony.
    Thanked by 5OMagnumMysterium davido ServiamScores tomjaw Gamba
  • davido
    Posts: 1,150
    How could USCCB handle the bad press of this headline going viral on Catholic media: “USCCB sues Catholic composers for gifting free musical compositions to the church.”

    Just do it. Call the bluff.
    Thanked by 3tomjaw CHGiffen Newman123
  • OrganistRob320OrganistRob320
    Posts: 176
    Guimont's Abbey Psalms and Canticles has the following acknowledgement at the beginning:

    The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the monks of Conception Abbey, Copyright C2018, 2010, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC
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