RISM for Musicians
Although at the time of its founding RISM was designed for libraries and scholars, there are of course many cases where our database can be a particularly valuable resource for musicians. Those who simply want to play from the latest commercial edition of a work will not find what they are looking for in RISM, which focuses on historical sources. But for those who search more ambitiously for rarities, RISM will prove to be a unique resource for new discoveries.
Our database can help you discover new repertoire or put together exciting concert programs. Sometimes professional musicians also need to consult the original autograph manuscript or other historical sources, such as if there is no critical edition available or if they want to check ambiguities for themselves in a modern edition. Another interesting aspect is that handwritten annotations on a source can provide valuable information on performance practice.
On this page we have listed some search strategies that can serve as a starting point for your own research. First, please read “A Word about RISM” by gambaist and musicologist Bettina Hoffmann.
Carminum pro Testudine (Louvain:, Pierre Phalèse, 1546), RISM ID no. 993104483 (RISM Catalog | RISM Online). Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (A-Wn). Public domain.
Searching by instrument
Musical anniversaries for various years
Women composers
- 2017 and an update and another update
- 2021
- 2025
Women pianists
Composers in the public domain
Liturgical festivals
- Maundy Thursday with an update
- Pentecost
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Archangel Michael
- Advent
- The Christmas season
- Music for mourning
Other topics
Send us your feedback
If you have feedback about any records in the RISM database, please let us know by sending an email to contact@rism.info or through any record in the RISM Catalog (“Send a comment on this record” on the left-hand side of the record) or RISM Online (“Report an issue” at the bottom of the record).