Copyright Question-Bach-Beethoven

JoeMeister

Does anyone know if we can use Music from Bach Beethoven or any of the old Masters in our Apps. Is there a copyright problem?
Thanks

gyroscope

@JoeMeister

Hi Joe there might be a performance-related copyright, and I'd guess more likely than not.... although there's bound to be some copyright-free recordings by orchestras of those composers about; just got to find them! :-)

jamie_c

Yes, the written music itself is so old its got to be in the public domain. It's the actual recording of that music you have to be concerned about. Though as gyroscope mentions there has to be some recordings of it old enough to be in the public domain as well, just have to search it out!

SlickZero

I dealt with this last year when I made a Christmas App. I used most of the traditional Christmas classics, because they are in public domain, but I played the music myself.

Like @gyroscope already said - The classical music you are referring to is in public domain now, but it depends on the recording you use. There are copyright holdings for orchestras that play the music, but not on the music itself. If you are a musician, you could play the music, and record it, and use it without a problem.