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Répertoire International des Sources Musicales
RISM documents written musical sources, including manuscripts and printed music, in a global catalog.
About Répertoire International des Sources Musicales
RISM (Répertoire International des Sources Musicales) is an international, non-profit organization founded in Paris in 1952 that documents written musical sources worldwide. Its records cover manuscripts, printed music editions, writings on music theory, and libretti held in libraries, archives, churches, schools, and private collections. The catalog describes what exists and where it can be found.
More than 1.5 million records can be searched at no cost through the RISM Catalog and RISM Online, with advanced search available. Separate resources support cataloging work, including the Muscat program for describing musical sources, cataloging guidelines, and a searchable list of library sigla for institutions with historical music holdings.
Key features
- Searches over 1.5 million records of written musical sources
- Covers manuscripts, printed music, music theory writings and libretti
- Free access via the RISM Catalog and RISM Online
- Advanced search options across the catalog
- Library sigla lookup for archives and collections with music holdings
- Muscat program for cataloging musical sources
Best for: Musicologists, librarians, archivists, and researchers who need to locate historical written musical sources and the institutions that hold them.
Good for
- Free searching of more than 1.5 million documented records
- International scope covering sources held in libraries, archives, churches, schools and private collections
- Additional tools for libraries and catalogers, including Muscat and library sigla
Watch out for
- The catalog records what exists and where it is found rather than supplying the contents of the sources
Répertoire International des Sources Musicales at a glance
- Website
- rism.info
- Category
- Research & Data › Academic Search
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Free
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Répertoire International des Sources Musicales FAQ
Does it cost anything to search RISM?
No. RISM's over 1.5 million records can be searched at no cost through the RISM Catalog and RISM Online.
What kinds of material does RISM document?
Manuscripts, printed music editions, writings on music theory, and libretti held in libraries, archives, churches, schools, and private collections.
What is Muscat?
Muscat is RISM's specialized program for cataloging musical sources.
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