Christmas Caroling

  • Thread starter Thread starter S_V7
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
why wouldn’t it be?
if you live in a jurisdiction where you fear it may be illegal, simply call the city or county and ask.
 
Maybe not in Russia, China, North Korea, or Cuba but here in the US it’s fine.

Fox
 
I am mostly concerned about the copyright issue, i.e making copies of songs to “perform”.
 
If you stick with the old, “real” Christmas carols, like Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, The First Nowell, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Hark the Herald Angels Sing & We Wish You a Merry Christmas, there won’t be any copyright issues, since they’re all surely in the public domain. And all you really need to copy is the words - just let everyone make up their own harmony. These are the carols your audience will recognize and appreciate, you’ll be spreading the true message of Christmas, and your copyright worries will disappear.

Have fun singing!
Betsy
 
Yeah, but if you go through a Starbucks neighbourhood singing ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘O Come All Ye Faithful,’ the locals may chase you off with a broom. :^P

Other than that, I don’t think you have much to worry about. I don’t believe anyone would file a noise complaint against carolers.
 
S_V7 said:
I am mostly concerned about the copyright issue, i.e making copies of songs to “perform”.
Click to expand...
the words of most traditional carols are in the public domain, but copying arrangments of the music is probably illegal. you can probably find legal lyrics to download, or simply borrow enough missalettes–with the pastor’s permission–if this will be a parish group, or buy inexpensive songbooks, if your singers are not going to need the music that won’t be an issue. Channing-Bete has a little pamphlet with all the traditional carols for $1 or so in bulk. there are many on sale in music stores this time of year
 
Most churches can “reprint with permission” if done in bulk for the congregation for a service. I would imagine you could get the same thing for an event (if the songs you want to do are not in public domain).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top