LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Public Domain songs

docz -- 10/06/2004, 01:35:56 -- #7784

Hello, Scot mentioned a site called www.pdinfo.com a site with an archive of lots of public domain songs. It's got a wast number of songs, but I don't know most of them. Was just wondering if anyone knew of any PD songs that can be played and sung in modern styles? So far I've found: Amazing Grace and Oh When the Saints go marching in. Theese songs can be made pretty cool and modern, and are songs that people recognize. Anyone know of something simular in the public domain area? Doc-Z

marksdg -- 10/06/2004, 08:39:22 -- #7802

If something is not public domain, does that mean that you can still perform it, but not record it?

7 -- 10/06/2004, 09:04:54 -- #7804

"not public domain" = "copyrighted" In theory, if you play a copyrighted piece of music in public (for profit or not) a fee is supposed to be paid. In the case of playing in a club, the club pays an annual license fee that covers cover versions (and the fairy tale is that that money is equally distributed among all the copyright owners across the globe). In reality, don't worry about it if you're just playing small venues.

Scot -- 10/06/2004, 11:36:55 -- #7813

Here's the lowdown, from pdinfo.org: "Music and lyrics written by an American author and published in 1922 or earlier are in the Public Domain in the United States.  No one can claim ownership of a song in the public domain, therefore public domain songs may be used by everyone.   PD songs may be used for profit-making without paying any royalties." There are a quite a few good PD songs. The way to find them out is to listen to some old music- old Nat King Cole for example.  It's a challenge to play those old tunes hip, but it's a good challenge to take.

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