Public domain?? - caimarusa

Subject: Public domain Caimarusa
From: AnnieK
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 06:06 PM

Hello Everyone. This is my first posting. I just discovered Mudcat. Hope someone can help me.

How can I find out if this music is in public domain or copyright protected?

Title is "Caimarusa." There is a simple dance of this name for children published in a book, along with the written music, but the author cannot give me sources proving that it is in public domain. I want to record it myself. It may be a Mexican or Latin folk tune.

Subject: RE: Public domain?? - caimarusa
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 06:25 PM

Hi, Annie - Copyright law gets complicated, expecially with recent music. In the US, almost everything published before 1923 is in public domain (although I take it "Caimarusa" may be Canadian). So if you can find it in a book or sheet music published before 1923, you're home free. I'd like to know more about "Camarusa." I see that Carl Orff (click) used it in a music education program (although I suppose it can't be as exciting as Carmina Burana.
Marian Rose (click) of Vancouber, BC, uses it as part of a music education program called Step Lively. There's a contact address for Marian. I'll be she can tell you maore about the music and dance. Her books and recording look quite interesting.
Good luck - come back to this thread and let us know what you find out.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Public domain?? - caimarusa
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 06:42 PM

Caimarusa is one of the tunes used in teaching music to children using the Carl Orff method. See "Discovering Orff" by Frazee and Kreuter, published by Schorr. Sources for all music used in the program are listed in the notes. You may find it in your library. Orff Method
Sorry I couldn't find the tune or dance with any details about authorship or provenance, but I think it may have something to do with a crocodile.

Subject: RE: Public domain?? - caimarusa
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 06:45 PM

Duplicated Joe (just call me slow) but the site does mention that details are listed in the notes. You guessed Canadian, I guessed Latin American (south of Mexico).

Subject: RE: Public domain?? - caimarusa
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 10:27 AM

According to the notes of Marian Rose, the story goes that Caimarusa was a young girl who left her village in Colombia, and when she returned, the villagers had a party for her and did this dance. Ms. Rose says the figure is common in the Anglo tradition. Her notes and CD are to be found in "Step Lively".

Sheila

Subject: RE: Public domain?? - caimarusa
From: GUEST,Dorothy
Date: 21 May 11 - 10:39 PM

Caimarusa was published in a songbook by the Girl Guides of the UK. It was called "Musical Fun with the Brownie Pack." Unfortunately, this book has been out of print for quite a few years.

According to this book, the singing game is from Colombia. The story is as Sheila says: that after a long absence from her village the much-loved Caimarusa returned, and in her honour the villagers performed this dance.

It's possible that the UK Girl Guides could tell you something about the copyright, since they published it in a book.