public domain

[tc4b]

How do I know if a song is in the public domain? I want to use the melody from Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" for a project I'm working on for children, but I don't know if I can do that without paying. Thanks, and sorry if this isn't the right forum.

 

[grimtraveller]

Do some research. The answer is out there somewhere. I would say that Greig's piece is in the public domain by now. Two years from now the Beatles early stuff will be and "Mountain King" is alot older. It's a great piece. I love the slow build to it's fast, loud, manic conclusion. It's like "Stairway to heaven" long, long long before it's time !

 

[Prunepicker]

How do I know if a song is in the public domain? I want to use the
melody from Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" for a project
I'm working on for children, but I don't know if I can do that without
paying. Thanks, and sorry if this isn't the right forum.

It's Public Domain.

Most music is Public Domain after 75 years. There are exceptions
like when the music is in a trust. F'rinstance, Copeland, Stravinsky
and many modern composers fall in the trust category. The music
is owned by a particular company and you can't get it unless you
rent it or pay the big bucks.

One thing about this. If you're using a modern arrangement
or interpretation it could be privately owned. Not the song but
the arrangement or interpretation. That's the only thing you
need to worry about in this case.

 

[jerome_oneil]

Peer Gynt (where Hall of the Mountain King comes from) is a public domain work.

There is a public domain music library available on the internet that contains a ton of good stuff. I'd provide a link, but I can't due to my post count.

Google up I M S L P dot org, though, and you might have some luck.

 

[Prunepicker]

Here it is. International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP) Portal

 

[SEDstar]

yes, yes, if you MUST "crib" or "copy" stuff here and there, why not crib the classics, eh? LMAO...

all the best older classical is free to use, anytime anywhere, any way...

you can listen to hours of the more "obscure" stuff every guy on the street doesnt instantly recognize, and pick out beautiful stuff to use for your own...