Hello ladies and gentlemen,

Just wondering if anyone had played this and whether or not it's worth buying for my standard (about grade 5). I have the first page (sort of a free preview thing before you buy it off the internet) and I could get through that ok.

Could someone please tell me approximate grade, length etc. and if there are any horrible key changes in it! Anything up to 5 flat/sharps I can cope with! No higher!

Thanks very much.

ooo this is a fantastic piece which i want to play someday!

I have the sheet music in my computer...if you want...the whole 18th variation...

PM me if you want it

QUOTE (missfabflute @ Nov 8 2004, 06:56 AM)

ooo this is a fantastic piece which i want to play someday!  B) I have the sheet music in my computer...if you want...the whole 18th variation... PM me if you want it

Rachmaninov died in 1943, so his music is in copyright until 1 January 2014 (in the UK and many, but not all, other countries). After that you are free to make your own arrangements of his music, but copyright in existing arrangements remains with the arranger (for a similar period, IIRC). What you are proposing sounds to me like something that would be illegal in the UK, unless the arranger has specifically released the file with permission for free reuse, and for that (s)he would have had to get permission from the present holder of Rachmaninov's copyright.

just buy the music...if you want to....worth a practise

Hmmm maybe but is it really worth learning by rote?

i think it does

QUOTE (kenm @ Nov 8 2004, 09:35 AM)

QUOTE (missfabflute @ Nov 8 2004, 06:56 AM) ooo this is a fantastic piece which i want to play someday!  B) I have the sheet music in my computer...if you want...the whole 18th variation... PM me if you want it Rachmaninov died in 1943, so his music is in copyright until 1 January 2014 (in the UK and many, but not all, other countries). After that you are free to make your own arrangements of his music, but copyright in existing arrangements remains with the arranger (for a similar period, IIRC). What you are proposing sounds to me like something that would be illegal in the UK, unless the arranger has specifically released the file with permission for free reuse, and for that (s)he would have had to get permission from the present holder of Rachmaninov's copyright.

I thought copyright was only 50 years?

Nope 70

I thaught it was 100! the British library wouldn't let me borrow a score for Pulcinella because it is within 100 yrs of it being written and its still in copyright.

My Dad said Cliff Richard's songs were going out of copyright because they were over 50 years old...

Okay it's more complicated and you're all right in a way, this is the UK law (or at least my understanding of it) by the way it varies in different countries:

The composer of a piece of music holds the copyright to that piece (or at least his relatives do) until the end of the 70th year after their death: this means that one cannot play (in public), write down or alter their music without their permission.

The arranger or editor of a piece of sheet music owns the copyright to their arrangement of a piece of music for 25 years, so you cannot photocopy written music that contains an editor's alterations for 25 years from publication without their permission. So it's legal to copy, say, Beethoven Sonata editions that were transcribed more than 25 years ago (there are some at The Sheet Music Archive) but you can't copy the latest ABRSM ones.

The performer of any recorded music maintains copyright to that recording for 50 years from the date of the recording. So you can copy freely recordings that were made over 50 years ago (provided the composer of the pieces has been dead at least 70 years).

Often performers sign away their copyright rights to record labels, and editors to pulishers so they're usually the people who technically have the copyright.

QUOTE (david_t @ Nov 11 2004, 04:04 PM)

QUOTE (kenm @ Nov 8 2004, 09:35 AM) QUOTE (missfabflute @ Nov 8 2004, 06:56 AM) ooo this is a fantastic piece which i want to play someday!   I have the sheet music in my computer...if you want...the whole 18th variation... PM me if you want it Rachmaninov died in 1943, so his music is in copyright until 1 January 2014 (in the UK and many, but not all, other countries). After that you are free to make your own arrangements of his music, but copyright in existing arrangements remains with the arranger (for a similar period, IIRC). What you are proposing sounds to me like something that would be illegal in the UK, unless the arranger has specifically released the file with permission for free reuse, and for that (s)he would have had to get permission from the present holder of Rachmaninov's copyright. I thought copyright was only 50 years?

hmmm okay i did not know that

someone gave it to me so i thought it was okay?

dont worry i wont give it to anyone...

im not that kinda person

i use the racnmaninov for personal home use

QUOTE (AnotherPianist @ Nov 13 2004, 06:58 PM)

The arranger or editor of a piece of sheet music owns the copyright to their arrangement of a piece of music for 25 years, so you cannot photocopy written music that contains an editor's alterations for 25 years from publication without their permission. So it's legal to copy, say, Beethoven Sonata editions that were transcribed more than 25 years ago (there are some at The Sheet Music Archive) but you can't copy the latest ABRSM ones.

So can the Editions at the Sheet Music Archive be used for Diploma examinations?

Yes, however they do state that they're out of copyright in the U.S. so you would need to check for whatever country you're in. Do remember, however, that the board say preferably the same edition (it doesn't have to be) that you're using to play from (presumably so that there are no differences between what you're playing and they're reading). If you choose to play from that edition too then you'll need a better reason than it was free! It would also be worth explaining in the exam why the editions are copied, i.e. that they are out of copyright, so that the examiners don't think you're breaking the law (I'm sure they'd ask).

I memorized the Piano part of the 18th Variation at one time and did a midi sequence of the Orchestral part. I performed it to a few of my pupils and they were suitably impressed. Hopefully it inspired them in some way.
I cant remember a note of it now but I do know that its a difficult piece (what Rachmaninov Piano music isn't?) not just technically but artistically too. Good Luck!

Gae