Mark Speltz wrote:

>I am interested in reprinting the first page of the score to "The Swan" by
>Saint Saens in a non-profit museum, can anyone suggest where I might go to
>get permission?

You have an interesting question, involving at least two copyrights.

The music, in Europe at least, is now out of copyright.  Saint-Saens died
in 1921, so the copyright on his music, in the most absolute terms, has
now expired (70 years from death of composer).  However, the typographical
arrangement of the notes on the printed page has its own copyright, and you
would need to check with the publisher that it had expired (often, 70 years
from publication).

If you were to make your own printed version (either traditionally or by
using a computer typesetting program), there wouldn't be a problem.

That's as far as I know; certain pieces may have their own rules
(see the UK's "Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988", on-line at
http://www.five-new-square.demon.co.uk, for the unique British law
involving "Peter Pan").

JHW
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