[HANASHIR:3277] Re: I was a cynical Brit.....

[Cantor Neil & Katie Schwartz <schwartz...>]

>
> Now, I'll pull myself together and ask a songleading question.
> We are producing a songbook, and I wondered if words (English
> & Hebrew) to songs are available to copy & paste on computer,
> and if so can they be emailed here? Otherwise, I'd better get
> typing!
>
> Thanks again,
> Gideon Lyons
>
> Director for Young People
> Union of Liberal & Progressive Synagogues
> gideon (at) ulps(dot)org
> 0044 171 631 0584
>

Dear Gideon,

A wonderful endeavor, but please be aware of this:

last time someone asked about sharing even text by e-mail
(except for a specific song or two), a vigorous discussion
ensued about copyright issues.

Clearing copyright for text is probably easier than doing
so for music, and if the ULPS is non-profit then it should
be even easier.  However, it should be done for two reasons:

1.  if institutions clear copyright, it sets the example
    for people recording (and selling) these songs,

2.  whether or not you arrange to give them royalties, it
    lets the composers know that their work is valued.

Now, a question for you.  The World Sephardic Federation
in London published a large but fairly thin book of music
for the Synagogue many years ago.  It was navy blue with
gold lettering on the cover.  Is this still available?

Also how about the "Blue Book" of congregational melodies
published by the United Synagogue of Great Britain?  I am
very eager to purchase both of these, and they are not
available in the US (as far as I know).

Thank you in advance, and good luck with the copyrights.

                                      Cantor Neil Schwartz


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