Baroque · 1685–1759
Handel music for your video — 10 recordings, licensed once
Is Handel public domain? The compositions are — Handel died in 1759, more than 70 years ago. The recordings are not: every recording carries its own rights, held by its performers and producer. Using Handel in a video therefore needs a licence for the recording you use. Here are 10 Handel recordings that Artyfile licenses directly: €29.90 once per track, worldwide and for life, with a licence certificate as proof.
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759), born in Halle, spent most of his career in London and became a British subject in 1727. The Hallelujah chorus from Messiah, the Water Music and the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba are ceremonial music by design — written for kings, celebrations and big entrances.
Listen: Handel in Artyfile recordings
Every recording €29.90 once · worldwide, for life · instant WAV
Handel: Rinaldo, "Lascia ch'io pianga" (Instrumental Version)
Artyfile Orchestra
All 10 Handel recordings
Original work = the composition as written. New arrangement = a newly composed arrangement, a protected work of its own; the Artyfile licence covers both.
| Recording | Performed by | Version | Suited for | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Händel: Wassermusik Menuett | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Fashion & luxury, Film & TV, Wedding & love story | €29.90 |
| Handel: Apollo and Daphne | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Film & TV, Trailer & promo, Fashion & luxury | €29.90 |
| Handel: Rinaldo, "Lascia ch'io pianga" (Instrumental Version) | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Film & TV, Documentary, Meditation, yoga & spa | €29.90 |
| Handel: Queen of Sheba | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Trailer & promo, Fashion & luxury, Film & TV | €29.90 |
| Lascia ch'io pianga | Paul Lorenz | Original work | Film & TV, Wedding & love story | €29.90 |
| Handel: Foundling Hospital | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Documentary, Trailer & promo, Film & TV | €29.90 |
| Ombra mai fu | Don & Giovannis | Original work | Film & TV, Wedding & love story, Fashion & luxury | €29.90 |
| Handel: Violin Sonata No. 7 | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Film & TV, Documentary, Fashion & luxury | €29.90 |
| Handel: Hallelujah | Ensemble Zeitlos | Original work | Documentary, Trailer & promo, Corporate & presentations | €29.90 |
| Handel: Serse, Ombra mai fu (Instrumental Version) | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Fashion & luxury, Wedding & love story, Meditation, yoga & spa | €29.90 |
Is Handel’s music public domain?
- The composition
- Public domain — Handel died in 1759. Protection ends 70 years after the composer’s death; the works are free in the EU, the UK and the US. Anyone may perform, arrange and re-record them.
- The recording
- Protected in its own right — by the related rights of its performers and producer. A recording from Spotify, a CD or YouTube can’t simply be cut into your video, even though the composition is free. The Artyfile recordings you license directly: €29.90 once, or own a numbered 1% share of the master from €69.90.
Work by work with death years: public-domain classical rights table · for one specific piece: music copyright checker
Handel in video: which piece for which scene
- Big entrances and triumph: the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (weddings, openings, product reveals) and the Hallelujah (victory, Christmas, the finale).
- Royal and historical: the minuet from the Water Music and the Foundling Hospital Anthem — heritage brands, castles, historical documentaries.
- Emotion: “Ombra mai fu” (Serse) and “Lascia ch’io pianga” (Rinaldo), also as instrumental versions — love scenes, memorials, slow motion.
- Chamber intimacy: the Violin Sonata No. 7 and the cantata Apollo e Dafne — museums, interviews, quiet brand stories.
What the licence covers
- Basic, €29.90 once: worldwide, lifetime sync rights for videos, ads, social media, film and broadcast, client work included. Instant WAV, invoice and licence certificate as proof.
- Limited Edition, from €69.90: everything in Basic plus a numbered 1% share of the master in the Artyfile register — with a share of this recording’s revenue, which may be zero.
- YouTube: Artyfile uses YouTube Content ID with a monetization policy. A claim may appear; it is not a copyright strike. With Basic, ad revenue claimed for the music goes to Artyfile, not to your channel.
- Public playback: Sync and master rights cover embedding this recording in your audiovisual projects. Public playback may require separate permission or collection-society fees from the venue or operator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Handel’s music public domain?
The compositions are: Handel died in 1759, more than 70 years ago, so the works are public domain in the EU, the UK and the US. Recordings are a different matter — every recording is protected in its own right by the related rights of its performers and producer. To use Handel in a video you need a licence for the recording, for example one of the 10 Artyfile recordings from €29.90.
Can I use Handel in a YouTube video?
Yes, with a licensed recording. Artyfile uses YouTube Content ID with a monetization policy. A claim may appear; it is not a copyright strike. With Basic, ad revenue claimed for the music goes to Artyfile, not to your channel. With Limited Edition you share in it according to your master share. A recording taken from Spotify, a CD or another YouTube video is not licensed for your video, even though Handel’s composition is public domain.
How much does it cost to license a Handel recording?
€29.90 once per recording (Basic): worldwide, lifetime sync rights for videos, ads, social media, film and broadcast, with an invoice and a licence certificate. With Limited Edition you own a numbered 1% share of the master from €69.90.
Which Handel works can I license from Artyfile?
Currently 10 recordings, including the Hallelujah, the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, the minuet from the Water Music, “Ombra mai fu” and “Lascia ch’io pianga”. Each recording has its own page with a preview and the licence.
Can I play Handel in my shop, restaurant or at an event?
That is public performance, not sync. Sync and master rights cover embedding this recording in your audiovisual projects. Public playback may require separate permission or collection-society fees from the venue or operator. The Artyfile licence covers embedding the recording in your own videos.
Sources & note
- EU term of protection: life + 70 years (Directive 2006/116/EC)
- EU sound recordings and performers: 70 years from release (Directive 2011/77/EU)
- UK: Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, s. 12–13A
- US: Public Domain Day 2026 (Duke CSPD)
General information, not legal advice. As of October 2026.