I recently had an encounter with a publishing company that I feel I should share with you all. Here is our correspondence:
Greetings,
I recently reset the text to “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and would like the score to be available to the public (I do not plan to sell it). I have only used the text and not the music. Would it be acceptable to put the score on my website providing that I give credit to Thomas Chisholm for writing the text and specify that your company holds the copyright?
Thank you,
-caleb
Hello, Caleb ~
Thanks for your note. Unfortunately, what you propose is not allowed. The text to this tune is permanently and exclusively paired with the William Runyan tune, FAITHFULNESS, and that’s the only way we allow it to be used. So sorry we can’t be more accommodating in this instance.
Jane
Jane,
I see and understand.
Are there any possibilities of using the piece through your company? I can send a score and a recording for consideration.
-caleb
Caleb,
Our vice president advises that, in a very few instances, he has allowed new music to be used with the original text, but in each instance the copyright for the music was assigned to us. If you’d like to send that in for our consideration, that’d be fine. Just address your package to the attention of our editorial dept.
Jane
Jane,
I will discuss the possibility with my professor. Thank you very much for your time.
-caleb
I have since officially decided that I am never going to sell any of my copyrights. Please share your thoughts on this.