| Hi James - its very sad that you feel this way, I am sorry too. It's true that you can do whatever you like with your files/CDs - if you don't mind breaking the law and facing the possible consequences. Not only the legal implications for yourself - which let's face it are pretty negligable - but also the moral implications if you can take the broader view (which seems to be something you are struggling with).
To be honest, I am very glad that you have amassed a large collection of recorded music over the years and I am sure you take great pride in your collection. Hopefully it will be a source of pleasure and inspiration to you and everybody you share it with for many years to come. It would be reassuring to think that at least a proportion of the money you have spent has found its way into the hands of the hard working, creative and talented musicians that have brought you such enjoyment through their efforts - rather than mainly going to line the pockets of the criminal 'bootleggers' who are motivated only by greed.
Wherever you happen to live it is simply wrong to say that everything is bootleg. You do have a choice as a consumer to do the right thing and obtain your music from legitimate sources even if that means paying a little more. If evrybody takes the narrow view ie. "whats mine is mine" and "I don't want to know where it came from or who I am hurting to get it" - then Seinman is right - there will be no more recorded music.
Fast forward 50 years from now and we'll be saying -"Say do you remember a time when people used to earn a living from playing the trumpet. People loved music SO much that they were actually prepared to pay good money to listen to it! Crazy times."
OK moving on. Guys you do not need to worry about photocopying music from a book to facilitate easier practice because of poor page turns. Copyright laws permit photocopying of segments of pieces for study purposes.
You also do not need to worry about public performances of pieces to raise money for charity with your community bands.
If you play at a venue where tickets are sold then that venue must have a live music license. Depending on the audience capacity of the venue the collection agencies will charge more or less money for the license. All this money goes into one big pot and is then distributed to the composers in proportion to the number of performances their works have received. It is the responsibility of the venue to log which pieces are played throughout the year. That's how it is over here anyway.
As far as photocopying whole arrangements goes - please don't do it. Not because of the legal reasons but simply because you are depriving musicians of their income. If people stop buying arrangements then publishing companies will stop commissioning new works by young composers and arrangers - some of whom are my talented and struggling companions.
For example Chappels of London (in association with Boosey and Hawkes I think) have published all the arrangements off the album 'Soho Stories' by The Dean Street Underground Orchestra written by my friend and colleague Tim Garland. The royalties that Tim receives and the success of that series of charts for the company - will prove to be a great inspiration to Tim to write more music for the band - which will lead to him booking me on some more recording sessions and live dates to promote the new album - which means that I can continue to support myself as a trumpet player and have the time to continue to practice and learn more about how to play the trumpet and be free to sit at my computer and help answer some of the questions you guys put my way from time to time - like Ed says - it can enable performing musicians to have a viable position in society.
All the best, Noel.
__________________ Noel Langley - Eclipse Artist noel@eclipsetrumpets.com
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