IMSLP Forums

Hi, I'm new here and am trying to find the full score of Benjamin Britten's simple symphony. I do not really want the quartet version, string orchestra version will be fine. Thanks!

Saxovocal

Check out public domain in the FAQ!
Benjamin Britten lived 1913-1976, so his works are not legal to copy until 2027 (Canada) - 2047 (EU)
Simple symphony, first published 1934, is not public domain until 2030 (US).

But you should find the score in many public libraries, check out http://www.worldcat.org/advancedsearch

Thanks Kalliwoda, I'm new here so I don't quite understand the public domain thing, although I've seen that it is the same case with Stravinsky's later works.

saxovocal wrote:Stravinsky's later works.

That's true for the US, but no Stravinsky can be hosted here because he died in 1971 (i.e. less than 50 years ago). Due to the location of the IMSLP servers, Canadian law must be followed.

Does that mean if I host a server in China, then a lot more can be uploaded?
[I'm not sure about the Chinese Law but I buy a lot of manuscripts from China because they are a lot cheaper and I was told the copyright is either free or cheaper.]

China's copyright term is officially life-plus-50, just as Canada's is.

@Saxovocal: just to clarify, the legality of anything you use doesn't depend on the country where the server you downloaded it from is, but rather what country you are using the music in. An example: I live in a country that has a life+50 law, but if I tour a country whose law is life+70, and I take photocopies of music with me that are legal where I live, they won't be legal in the country where I am playing concerts if the composer died 60 years ago. For these concerts, I would need to use originals.

Any idea whether Hong Kong is life +50 or +70?