They encourage all to perform PD music and DEMAND that WE ENSURE that anything we do is NOT copyrighted. If we desire to perform copyrighted material THEN it is our responsibility to obtain permission. We have some songs that REALLY work for us but are copyrighted. I want to find out what the cost is before I discard them from the set lists.

Good King Wenceslas is a great example. The melody is safe the lyrics are not. Our arrangement was spontaneous and really works for us. We would like to perform this song so I need to pursue permission if it is not cost prohibitive. Mummers Dance fits in this category as well. I just need to check our entire set list. Ballybay is an example of one that I had NO ideas was copyrighted until I began this research.

In our defense, a lot of the music we hear is from other performers and their CDs. Ballybay is listed as traditional on the one I listened to. In gathering printed lyrics I have found a writers name!

I will take time this weekend to go through our "safe" list and check it against the links. Thanks again.