On 18 Mar 2007 at 16:21, Bill Pechter wrote:
One of the differences between old violins and old
computers is the Violin
software (music) is free.
Ever try renting an orchestra score? It's not cheap--and even the
things that are public domain are usually available as rental-only.
If you want to rent something really current (like 40 years old), say
the books for "West Side Story", be prepared to have cash and
estimated attendance figures ready.
You'd be surprised how little music is "free". Even works that were
written 150 years ago are often available only in newer (read:
copyrighted) editions.
Anent this business of free music, I note that RIAA is now going
after web sites with unlicensed fake books. Copyright is copyright--
and there's no such notion as "abandonware" in music. If a work is
P.O.P., you're out of luck--you'd better not get caught copying
someone else's copy. Music also has an interesting twist that
software has--attendant rights such as performance, mechanical
reproduction, arrangement, etc. Just because you bought the sheet
music legally doesn't mean you can perform it in public.
Cheers,
Chuck