Re: Fwd: Public Domain Copy of a Performance of the ABC's Song

The music was immortalized by Mozart, and all he did was write a set of variations on a French melody created by someone else.

Check out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkle_Twinkle_Little_Star

It is the same tune, of course, as the ABC's song, and as Bah Bah Blacksheep.

Then check out The Alphabet Song entry in the Wikipedia -- it puts it back at 1835 for the lyrics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabet_song

So, record away. The music and lyrics are in the public domain.

Note that if you find a sound recording of someone performing it, there is probably a copyright in the performance, although not in the music or lyrics.

Steve

On Aug 30, 2006, at 2:55 PM, Marcia Keyser wrote:

>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: "Jean M. Johnson" <jj04[_at_]LEHIGH.EDU>
>> Date: August 30, 2006 10:53:30 AM CDT
>> To: EBSS-L[_at_]LISTSERV.UNCC.EDU
>> Subject: Public Domain Copy of a Performance of the ABC's Song
>> Reply-To: "Educ. & Behavior Science ALA Discussion List" <EBSS-
>> L[_at_]LISTSERV.UNCC.EDU>
>>
>> We are trying to locate a recorded performance of the ABC's song
>> ("ABCDEFG, now I know my ABC's...") in a child's voice that can be
>> legally used on the introductory screen to a web site for a
>> College of Education research project here at Lehigh University.
>> I admit this is a content type, a song performance, I am quite
>> inexperienced in exploring. My instructional technology colleague
>> has looked for copies in a variety of places and we both decided
>> that doing an original recording might be the best approach.
>> However, I know that the song itself is probably in copyright and
>> that there is a layer of rights -- the composer, if known, the
>> music publisher, etc. so finding a copy and getting permission
>> would probably be necessary additionally as would payment for any
>> permission.
>>
>> Using WorldCat, I located a copy available from Smithsonian
>> Folkways in a recording called Early, Early Childhood Songs.
>> Folkways has a License Request Form that is pretty comprehensive
>> and we will give it a try. But that would be for the recording
>> and not the publisher. We would then need to get permission from
>> the publisher via BMI, ASCAP or SESAC. And, even though Folkways
>> provides an audio clip of songs including this one, I don't know
>> for sure if it includes children's voices even though it seems
>> that Ella Jenkins is singing in a classroom with children.
>>
>> I will try the new service from ALA, the Copyright Advisory
>> Service (http://www.librarycopyright.net/) but at this point it's
>> more a matter of locating a copy that matches the need (ideally
>> public domain copy of child's voice singing ABC's song) and then
>> of course getting permission if necessary. Any advice from EBSS
>> list participants about where to look most welcome. Thanks, all.
>> --
>> Jean M. Johnson jean.johnson[_at_]lehigh.edu
>> Librarian for Education/Team Leader +1-610-758-4889
>>
>> Library & Technology Services
>> Lehigh University
>>
>> 296 FM CC 8B Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>

-- 
Prof. Steven D. Jamar                               vox:  202-806-8017
Howard University School of Law                     fax:  202-806-8567
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