Is classical music such as O Fortuna and Moonlight sonata free to use in movies?!

Is classical music such as O Fortuna and Moonlight sonata free to use in movies?

I want to enter my schools film festival and im wondering if songs like O fortuna and moonlight sonata are copyright free to use in movies

In the US anything published and copyrighted before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain and may be used in whatever manner one wishes. Anything published from that date on is still covered by copyright.

The Beethoven is fair game. Since the O Fortuna (from Carmina Burana) dates from 1937 it is still protected by copyright.

The above is true for printed music only. If you are thinking of using recorded versions of the music you will need to check those rights separately. Recording rights (mechanicals) are different from print rights.

Do check before using. Publishers and record companies take a dim view of illegal use of property rights and some prosecute vigorously.

Hope this helps in your quest.

EDIT- Don't be misled by some answers. For print music you check with the copyright holder at the bottom of the page and to use a recording check with the recording label to see who has mechanical rights.

AND LET ME ADD THIS-if you are using this music just for a school project and its not going to go to higher competition levels then you are probably OK in using it for this purpose. For educational purposes there is some fair use leeway. It is usually only when someone starts making money from protected property rights that people get really cranky!!

Musician, composer, teacher.