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Question: Why must I pay for this!?
For sheet music for Beethoven or Bach, which is considered public domain!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Public domain means you don't have to pay royalties to the composer, when you perform the piece!. It doesn't mean you don't have to pay for the sheet music!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you wish to download something that is public domain, then fine!. BUT - copyright also covers *editions* - if you want fingerings, bowings, phrasing, etc!. that was added later - then this is copyrighted!. If you are interested in obtaining something on durable paper, bound in a collection, etc!. then you are paying for that material and service, rather than for the PD music!.

Many things are now available on CD-ROM!. You get the best of both works - it is all there, under your fingertips, and you can print as much as you want!. The downside - the editions are often old with really poor or archaic style of editing, reflecting previous performance practices, many of which were erroneous!. You can go to www!.cdsheetmusic!.com, and see if you can purchase (and they are pretty cheap - under $20) those huge collections of piano music!. However, if you are going to STUDY a work, and practice for weeks or months, you probably would want something that will physically hold up!. Over the years, I have had to replace bound copies of music - I just wear it out through constant practice and performance!

You have the very basics of copyright law, but not a total understanding of how you are applying it to music purchase!. Please take some time to read it ALL -there are sources the B Net, and pamphlets all over!. And if you are serious about music, you will want to invest in decent volumes for your professional use!. Good luck with your music study!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Because the actual piece of sheet music belongs to a publishing company!. Someone had to write out a copy of the music from some sort of original!. They have to get paid, too!. The only way to get free music, public domain or not, is to either steal a copy off the internet and print it out yourself, or to learn it by ear from a recording/video!.

Sorry, hun!. Nothing in life is free!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It is NOT public domain!.Www@QuestionHome@Com