Romantic · 1840–1893
Tchaikovsky music for your video — 8 recordings, licensed once
Is Tchaikovsky public domain? The compositions are — Tchaikovsky died in 1893, more than 70 years ago. The recordings are not: every recording carries its own rights, held by its performers and producer. Using Tchaikovsky in a video therefore needs a licence for the recording you use. Here are 8 Tchaikovsky recordings that Artyfile licenses directly: €29.90 once per track, worldwide and for life, with a licence certificate as proof.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893, born in Votkinsk, died in Saint Petersburg) wrote the best-known ballets of the repertoire — Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker — and the opening of his Piano Concerto No. 1 is one of the grandest minutes in classical music. The Artyfile catalogue currently holds his concert and orchestral works, not the ballets.
Listen: Tchaikovsky in Artyfile recordings
Every recording €29.90 once · worldwide, for life · instant WAV
Tchaikovsky: Cello Concerto No. 1, 3rd Movement
Artyfile Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1, 1st Movement
Artyfile Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto 1, 2nd Movement
Artyfile Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Scherzo
Artyfile Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Waltz Serenade for Strings
Artyfile Orchestra
All 8 Tchaikovsky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tchaikovsky: Serenade Elegie | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Film & TV, Documentary, Trailer & promo | €29.90 |
| Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Film & TV, Documentary, Fashion & luxury | €29.90 |
| Tchaikovsky: Romeo und Juliet | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Film & TV, Trailer & promo, Wedding & love story | €29.90 |
| Tchaikovsky: Cello Concerto No. 1, 3rd Movement | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Film & TV, Documentary, Trailer & promo | €29.90 |
| Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1, 1st Movement | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Trailer & promo, Travel & nature, Sports & fitness | €29.90 |
| Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto 1, 2nd Movement | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Wedding & love story, Fashion & luxury, Travel & nature | €29.90 |
| Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Scherzo | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Trailer & promo, Sports & fitness, Video games | €29.90 |
| Tchaikovsky: Waltz Serenade for Strings | Artyfile Orchestra | Original work | Wedding & love story, Fashion & luxury, Party & celebration | €29.90 |
Is Tchaikovsky’s music public domain?
- The composition
- Public domain — Tchaikovsky died in 1893. 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
Tchaikovsky in video: which piece for which scene
- Grand openings: the first movement of the Piano Concerto No. 1 — launches, galas, sports intros.
- Romance and drama: the Romeo and Juliet fantasy overture and the Élégie from the Serenade for Strings — love scenes, weddings, emotional turning points.
- Ballroom elegance: the waltz from the Serenade for Strings and the Rococo Variations — luxury, fashion, period pieces.
- Light and quick: the pizzicato Scherzo of the Symphony No. 4 — playful cuts, explainers, comedy.
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.
More composers
MozartBeethovenBachHandelGriegMussorgskyVivaldi
Related collections
Classical music for videos →Waltz music for video →Romantic music for video →
Frequently asked questions
Is Tchaikovsky’s music public domain?
The compositions are: Tchaikovsky died in 1893, 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 Tchaikovsky in a video you need a licence for the recording, for example one of the 8 Artyfile recordings from €29.90.
Can I use Tchaikovsky 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 Tchaikovsky’s composition is public domain.
How much does it cost to license a Tchaikovsky 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 Tchaikovsky works can I license from Artyfile?
Currently 8 recordings, including the Piano Concerto No. 1, the Serenade for Strings (waltz and Élégie), Romeo and Juliet, the Rococo Variations and the Symphony No. 4. Each recording has its own page with a preview and the licence.
Can I play Tchaikovsky 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.