Public Domain / Copyright

While the original compositions of classical music may be in the public domain, the specific recordings of those compositions can still be subject to copyright. This is because copyright law distinguishes between the underlying musical composition and a particular performance or recording of that composition.

  1. Musical Composition: The composition itself, including the sheet music and the musical notes, is often in the public domain once a certain amount of time has passed since the publication of the work, or the death of the composer. This can vary depending on the copyright laws of different countries.

  2. Performance/Recording: However, when a musician or an orchestra performs a classical piece and records that performance, a new copyright is created for that specific recording. The copyright applies to the particular arrangement, interpretation, and recording techniques used in that performance.

So, even though the original composition might be in the public domain, a new copyright can be established for a specific recording. This copyright covers the rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, and display that particular recording. It's important to check the copyright status of specific recordings to determine whether they are freely available or if permission is needed for use.

// Many tracks on Classicals.de are all new recordings, and subject to licensing terms // For licensing informations, please visit: https://www.classicals.de/licensing

All sheet music used are either in the public domain, or available through Creative Commons licenses, attributed on the individual track page. If i have unintentionally included a work that is still under copyright, or have not attributed a work correctly, please send me a message, and i will remove or update it immediately.

Public domain sheet music is available for free on these websites:

International Music Score Library Project: https://imslp.org

Musopen: https://musopen.org

The Mutopia Project: https://www.mutopiaproject.org

Sheet Music International: https://sheetmusicinternational.com

MuseScore: https://musescore.com/

Sheet Music Editor, Notation & Transcription Software:

MuseScore: https://musescore.org/

LilyPond: https://lilypond.org/

Disclaimer

All files provided on CLASSICALS.DE have been created and made available in strict compliance with European Union copyright law. CLASSICALS.DE makes no representation or warranty regarding the copyright status of these files in jurisdictions outside the EU and accepts no legal responsibility or liability regarding their status in your country. Users are responsible for complying with their local copyright laws and should consult the relevant copyright statutes or a qualified intellectual property attorney to determine if a specific file, or the composition that it is based on, is in the public domain or if downloading a copy constitutes fair use in their jurisdiction.

For an overview of copyright durations by country, please visit:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_copyright_duration_by_country

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this website, we assume no liability for the content of linked third-party sites. The providers of such sites shall be exclusively responsible for the content of such pages.

Blick auf das Matterhorn by Toni Haller