“It is 164 years after Chopin’s death. His music is well into the pubÂlic domain, yet most peoÂple conÂsume it as if it were still copyÂrightÂed: from CDs, iTunes, or Youtube videos (many of which are copyÂrightÂed). We think Chopin deserves betÂter.” That’s how Musopen.org frames its new KickÂstarter camÂpaign called Set Chopin Free. If the camÂpaign reachÂes its goal of raisÂing $75,000 (it’s already at $34,748), Musopen will work with talÂentÂed musiÂcians to “preÂserve indefÂiÂniteÂly and withÂout quesÂtion everyÂthing Chopin creÂatÂed.” They will record perÂforÂmances of 245 Chopin pieces in both 1080p video and 24 bit 192kHz audio, and then release them all into the pubÂlic domain. Sounds like someÂthing our readÂers can get behind. If you conÂtribute to this camÂpaign, you can get some pretÂty nice-lookÂing gifts, while makÂing your own gift to the culÂturÂal comÂmons. Learn more about the Set Chopin Free camÂpaign here. And, of course, we’ll let you know when this project is comÂplete and the pubÂlic domain recordÂings are online.
Note: If you want to savor the fruits of anothÂer KickÂstarter camÂpaign, please visÂit our preÂviÂous post: The Open GoldÂberg VariÂaÂtions: J.S. Bach’s MasÂterÂpiece Free to DownÂload
via BoingÂBoÂing
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
The Genius of J.S. Bach’s “Crab Canon” VisuÂalÂized on a Möbius Strip
A Big Bach DownÂload: All of Bach’s Organ Works for Free
Glenn Gould Explains the Genius of Johann SebasÂtÂian Bach (1962)
I am havÂing trouÂble underÂstandÂing this. HasÂn’t Chopin’s music already been “preserve[d] indefÂiÂniteÂly and withÂout quesÂtion”? Also, a major reaÂson peoÂple buy copyÂrightÂed recordÂings is because of a prefÂerÂence for a parÂticÂuÂlar perÂformer or perÂforÂmance. Why conÂtribute to a recordÂing project before knowÂing the qualÂiÂty of the perÂforÂmances?
His music — as in the origÂiÂnal comÂpoÂsiÂtions — are unquesÂtionÂably preÂserved. And there are some recordÂings availÂable in the pubÂlic domain. The idea here is to creÂate a sinÂgle masÂter colÂlecÂtion of comÂpleteÂly free recordÂings that will be known to have no rights issues from the first day they are comÂpletÂed. Yes, some peoÂple will still choose to purÂchase othÂer selectÂed recordÂings for speÂcifÂic perÂforÂmances, but givÂen the horÂriÂble ongoÂing degraÂdaÂtion of pubÂlic domain rights (in favor of near-infiÂnite corÂpoÂrate copyÂright) both here in the US and around the world, I applaud this effort.
Me too, but I don’t mind the curÂrent sitÂuÂaÂtion that much since I’m a pirate. Arr.
For once I agree with Hanoch. Chopin’s comÂpoÂsiÂtions are out of copyÂright and there is a plethoÂra of free recordÂed mateÂrÂiÂal availÂable online and through libraries. There’s nothÂing evil about payÂing royÂalÂties to musiÂcians, or the orchesÂtras that hire them, for the pleaÂsure of hearÂing a great perÂforÂmance. And there’s nothÂing wrong with havÂing a sysÂtem that gives musiÂcians a chance of livÂing a midÂdle-class life.
Only once?
Just for reference/relevance, I trained as a musiÂcian before changÂing proÂfesÂsions. Many of my friends endÂed up stayÂing in music, and work in orchesÂtras or in relatÂed fields. So I am entireÂly symÂpaÂthetÂic to the idea that musiÂcians should be able to surÂvive & make a livÂing, espeÂcialÂly in the tryÂing times for clasÂsiÂcal music of today (major orchesÂtra strikes, shut downs, etc.).nnnThat does not change the imporÂtance or valÂue of what this KickÂstarter is attemptÂing to do — I am not, nor do I believe are they, encourÂagÂing peoÂple to abanÂdon the supÂport of proÂfesÂsionÂal musiÂcians. Instead, they are attemptÂing to address a major flaw in our curÂrent sysÂtem: peoÂple who want to use creÂative works in their own projects, but do so legalÂly and with the propÂer respect to the origÂiÂnal creÂator *and* the performer(s).nnnAs I menÂtioned before, the near-perÂpetÂuÂal copyÂright world we are livÂing in is makÂing this incredÂiÂbly difÂfiÂcult: findÂing easÂiÂly accesÂsiÂble, high-qualÂiÂty (both in perÂforÂmance and in recordÂing) sources that will not result in a DMCA takeÂdown once you have proÂduced your own derivÂaÂtive work is increasÂingÂly a probÂlem. nnnnHavÂing a sinÂgle source of known qualÂiÂty that also has a known legal staÂtus is exactÂly what conÂtent creÂators desÂperÂateÂly need. That othÂers may also use it for their own pleaÂsure is a secÂondary bonus — but I think the real core here is getÂting us out from under the perÂpetÂuÂal copyÂright shadÂow of these huge mega-corÂpoÂraÂtions that keep pushÂing back when our comÂmon herÂitage will finalÂly return to us, free and clear.
Hi David,nI guess it realÂly comes down to what you mean in the secÂond paraÂgraph by “propÂer respect.” To me, propÂer respect begins with a clear recogÂniÂtion of the funÂdaÂmenÂtal need of the creÂator (and in the case of a conÂtemÂpoÂrary Chopin recordÂing the term would apply not just to the long-dead comÂposÂer, but also to the perÂformer) to live a life outÂside of poverÂty. If you’re tryÂing to build a sysÂtem that welÂcomes more and more skilled peoÂple into an interÂnaÂtionÂal fraÂterÂniÂty of unpaid amaÂteurs, you may want to re-examÂine your defÂiÂnÂiÂtion of the word “respect.”
I think this is threatÂenÂing to turn into a descendÂing loop of madÂness, so I’ll try to make this speÂcifÂic. I think each of us is addressÂing this from a funÂdaÂmenÂtalÂly difÂferÂent vanÂtage point: you are priÂmarÂiÂly focused on the potenÂtial impact this will have on curÂrent and future perÂformÂers, and I am priÂmarÂiÂly focused on what this will give to curÂrent and future creÂative develÂopÂers. HowÂevÂer, I do not believe the purÂpose or outÂcome of a sucÂcessÂful KS project will be to disÂcourÂage peoÂple from arts patronÂage — if anyÂthing, the more peoÂple who have ready access to high-qualÂiÂty mateÂriÂals would tend to increase the overÂall audiÂence base rather than supÂpress it. PeoÂple need to get that iniÂtial expoÂsure, and resources like this are a great gateway.nnnnBottom line: I want to see audiÂences grow, and havÂing a resource like this — regardÂless of if it serves YouTube creÂators or curiÂous clasÂsiÂcal music novices — seems like a win-win.
I think this is threatÂenÂing to turn into a descendÂing loop of madÂness, so I’ll try to make this speÂcifÂic. I think each of us is addressÂing this from a funÂdaÂmenÂtalÂly difÂferÂent vanÂtage point: you are priÂmarÂiÂly focused on the potenÂtial impact this will have on curÂrent and future perÂformÂers, and I am priÂmarÂiÂly focused on what this will give to curÂrent and future creÂative develÂopÂers. HowÂevÂer, I do not believe the purÂpose or outÂcome of a sucÂcessÂful KS project will be to disÂcourÂage peoÂple from arts patronÂage — if anyÂthing, the more peoÂple who have ready access to high-qualÂiÂty mateÂriÂals would tend to increase the overÂall audiÂence base rather than supÂpress it. PeoÂple need to get that iniÂtial expoÂsure, and resources like this are a great gateway.nnnnBottom line: I want to see audiÂences grow, and havÂing a resource like this — regardÂless of if it serves YouTube creÂators or curiÂous clasÂsiÂcal music novices — seems like a win-win.
I totalÂly don’t underÂstand this. “It is 164 years after Chopin’s death. His music is well into the pubÂlic domain,
^ That is corÂrect. Chopin’s music is in the pubÂlic domain. Why will your recordÂing “preÂserve indefÂiÂniteÂly and withÂout quesÂtion everyÂthing Chopin creÂatÂed.”? If his music is in the pubÂlic domain, the pubÂlishÂing rights are already “preÂserved indefÂiÂniteÂly and withÂout quesÂtion.”
PeoÂple have copyÂrightÂed their mechanÂiÂcal rights to their perÂforÂmances of Chopin — this enables musiÂcians who record his music to make income from so doing.
It seems to me, this project furÂther devalÂues Chopin and every perÂformer who plays his music — now and in perÂpeÂtuÂity. If you proÂvide these recordÂings for free, peoÂple might believe it doesÂn’t have any finanÂcial valÂue whatÂsoÂevÂer. MoreÂover, peoÂple may well choose to excluÂsiveÂly lisÂten to these free recordÂings. Why pay to hear anyÂone else?
I think you are a bunch of comÂmuÂnists — try livÂing under StalÂin and see how that works out for you.
By the way, I just released my recordÂing of Chopin. Thanks to this camÂpaign, the chances of me getÂting paid for my interÂpreÂtaÂtion are now sigÂnifÂiÂcantÂly diminÂished.
It’s also incredÂiÂbly grandiose and arroÂgant of you to think that your parÂticÂuÂlar recordÂings will “preÂserve indefÂiÂniteÂly and withÂout quesÂtion everyÂthing Chopin creÂatÂed.” Who do you think you are? Chopin? What if your interÂpreÂtaÂtions of Chopin’s music are bad? You’re just an authorÂiÂtarÂiÂan, egoÂtisÂtiÂcal bunch of peoÂple who are tryÂing to make Art objecÂtive and gain execÂuÂtive conÂtrol over Chopin’s music. As an interÂpreter, I find your ideas both sancÂtiÂmoÂnious and sacÂriÂleÂgious.
I hope this wrongÂheadÂed camÂpaign fails. It will make things worse for everyÂone accept the peoÂple who are on the project.
Regards,
Sean HenÂnessy-Brose
PS
I just paid $5.00 a month to get access to 25,000,000 recordÂings on Apple music. Do you realÂly think that it is too much to ask peoÂple to pay as litÂtle as I did to have access to thouÂsands of great recordÂings of Chopin? I don’t.