One thing you could count on with Shirley Murray was texts for a liturgical purpose. Here is a wedding song from Alleluia Aotearoa filled with hope, joy and realism.
It is set to Ralph Vaughn William‘s tune DOWN AMPNEY, the tune most associated with “Come Down, O Love Divine”. He died in 1958, does that mean his tunes are public domain? In any case the text and sheet music are at Hope Publications. AA chose the same setting for once.
In case you don’t know the tune the fake organ in BIAB does.
Real organ is so much better:
1958 + 70 +1 = 2029
So that’s a “no, not yet, but soon” for places where copyright is based on creator’s death plus 70. What’s more, and RVW pieces are managed by companies that are still active and protecting their intellectual property. So I don’t take any risks with his materials.
The USA, on the other hand, is a different (and very complicated story). And a blog that is hosted on servers in the USA .. who knows!
Thanks, Mary.
I was worried that Hope Publications had put the sheet music up, but I suppose they must have an arrangement with OUP. Most of the other sheet music they put up is PD or their own copyrights. Hymnary have page scans like they do for public domain as well.
cheers
Geoff