So why steal someone else’s?
Like many in the choral community, I’ve been following the recent story about a college choir arranging the wonderful Dr. Rosephanye Powell’s The Word Was God without permission. Multiple times. Most recently, a derivative work clearly based on her work showed up, and this time it didn’t even credit her; instead it was called an original composition.
Now, say what you want about copyright law, and I can say plenty, but the law is pretty clear about who controls derivative works, and it is the creator. Dr. Powell’s copyright is being infringed by this.
But I’ll also say this: there are so many creative ideas. The air is swimming with ideas, and with time and effort you can work to find good ideas of your own. And if you don’t want to write your own melody, you can create derivative works (arrangements, adaptations, reimaginings) within bounds of what is permitted by law.
There is simply no reason except creative laziness to misuse another person’s creative work in defiance of her wishes.