www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Liturgical music and copyright

I am recording an album and this one song I am using I thought of the idea of including a chant that we often sing at our Parish at the end of the song repeated a few times. I thought it might solidify the theme of the song. I took the words and the melody directly from the Ruthenian RDL book that we use.

I am planning to sell this music. Is there anyone I should ask if I can have permission to use the melody, or set up an arrangement of royalties? Or are these chants so old that they are public domain? The chant I am using is "All you who have been baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ." It is in D the first two notes jump up a 4th from A to D.

Secondly, is there a reason to believe that I should not do this from a spiritual point of view? My intention (I hope) is to use the melody to make the Christian theme of the song come through more and to make it sound better. Also possibly to evangelize as my target audience is not necessarily entirely Christian, and something for Christians to enjoy. But part of me feels like the idea is selfish. That I want to steal from the liturgy and this beautiful prayer to enhance my own music. Like I am taking something holy and adding it to something unworthy and or for personal gain/reputation as opposed to purely to glorify God or worship Him in the liturgy.

My music is more subtle in its Christian ideas. Any thoughts on the legal and or artistic/spiritual aspect of the question?
Also is such a line like this taken out of context something that might make someone think that since they are baptized they are then secure in their faith even if they are not living it? Is it misleading in any way to someone who has been baptized but no longer practices or tries to live their baptismal vows? They could hear it and just think: I have been baptized, so I must be clothed with Christ and spiritually okay. Maybe I am over thinking.
The style of the music is somewhere between folk bluegrass pop and indie. With guitar voice and other noises and various other sounds to enhance things.
Thanks.

Glory to Jesus Christ,
I don't know why or how, but the green pew book is copyrighted. "All rights reserved. Permission to copy from this book must be obtained in writing from the Chancery Office."

I would change a word or a note to get around it; as it is centuries old and property of the Church (which is us).

Assuming that the song is in good taste, I love the idea; as we are called to evangelize. Let me know if you put up a sample youtube version.

Fr Deacon Paul

Matt Maher has a wonderful song with the refrain "Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling over death by death.. " I don't think he's paying anyone royalties for using the ancient words of the Byzantine liturgy...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2KNvuscKRA [youtube.com]

Thanks guys. Yeah, the words probably are not subject to copyright, however, I am also using an exact melody that someone put to ink and put a copyright on, so that might make things difficult. I wonder who is the right person to contact regarding this.

You will need to contact the music publisher, not the Chancery Office and not the music composer, to obtain permission to put this on your CD. You will probably have to pay a licensing fee.

If the chant is old enough, it will be in public domain and you can use it freely.

I'd love to hear it!