While the compositions of classical music may be in the public domain, the specific recordings of those compositions can still be subject to copyright. This is because copyright law distinguishes between the underlying musical composition and a particular performance or recording of that composition.

1. Musical Composition: The composition itself, including the sheet music and the musical notes, is often in the public domain once a certain amount of time has passed since the death of the composer. This can vary depending on the copyright laws of different countries.

2. Performance/Recording: However, when a musician or an orchestra performs a classical piece and records that performance, a new copyright is created for that specific recording. The copyright applies to the particular arrangement, interpretation, and recording techniques used in that performance.

So, even though the original composition might be in the public domain, a new copyright can be established for a specific recording. This copyright covers the rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, and display that particular recording. It's important to check the copyright status of specific recordings to determine whether they are freely available or if permission is needed for use.

// The tracks on Classicals.de are all new recordings, and subject to licensing terms // For licensing informations, please visit: https://www.classicals.de/licensing

All sheet notes used are either in the public domain, or available through Creative Commons licenses, attributed on the individual track page.

Public domain sheet music is available for free on these websites:

International Music Score Library Project: https://imslp.org

Musopen: https://musopen.org

The Mutopia Project: https://www.mutopiaproject.org

Sheet Music International: https://sheetmusicinternational.com

MuseScore: https://musescore.com/

Sheet Music Editor, Notation & Transcription Software:

MuseScore: https://musescore.org/

LilyPond: https://lilypond.org/