Comments on: Before the Throne of God Above music by Vikki Cook http://www.rockworship.com/new-music/before-the-throne-of-god-above-music-by-vikki-cook/ Creating music to lead people into God's presence. Music Ministry Production, Performance, Gear, and Theology Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:39:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: John E. Taylor http://www.rockworship.com/new-music/before-the-throne-of-god-above-music-by-vikki-cook/#comment-16204 John E. Taylor Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:32:34 +0000 http://www.rockworship.com/new-music/before-the-throne-of-god-above-music-by-vikki-cook/#comment-16204 I first played piano in public worship 40 years ago, so I've given some thought to what is "decent and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40). One reason I suspect there is copyright confusion, leading to Mrs. Cook's music appearing on someone else's CD without attribution, is that online information is unclear. For example, I downloaded "Before the Throne of God Above" from an online music store (which I won't name), and it says "Words and music by Vikki Cook and Charitie Bancroft". If I didn't know better, I would suppose that Cook wrote the words and Bancroft wrote the music, when the opposite is true. It also says "Copywrite 1997...Used by Permission", which obviously does not include Bancroft's lyrics, which she composed in 1863 during the Civil War). Nor do I understand what's so hard about imitating good hymnbooks, and clearly stating who composed the words, and who composed the music, and adding a tune name. Dates of composition, both of lyrics and music, would also be helpful, so we could easily tell what is in the public domain when a copyright is claimed. I first played piano in public worship 40 years ago, so I’ve given some thought to what is “decent and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). One reason I suspect there is copyright confusion, leading to Mrs. Cook’s music appearing on someone else’s CD without attribution, is that online information is unclear. For example, I downloaded “Before the Throne of God Above” from an online music store (which I won’t name), and it says “Words and music by Vikki Cook and Charitie Bancroft”. If I didn’t know better, I would suppose that Cook wrote the words and Bancroft wrote the music, when the opposite is true.

It also says “Copywrite 1997…Used by Permission”, which obviously does not include Bancroft’s lyrics, which she composed in 1863 during the Civil War).

Nor do I understand what’s so hard about imitating good hymnbooks, and clearly stating who composed the words, and who composed the music, and adding a tune name. Dates of composition, both of lyrics and music, would also be helpful, so we could easily tell what is in the public domain when a copyright is claimed.

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