RÉPERTOIRE INTERNATIONAL DES SOURCES MUSICALES

INTERNATIONAL INVENTORY OF MUSICAL SOURCES

INTERNATIONALES QUELLENLEXIKON DER MUSIK

sources

RÉPERTOIRE INTERNATIONAL DE LA PRESSE MUSICALE

RETROSPECTIVE INDEX TO MUSIC PERIODICALS

INTERNATIONALES REPERTORIUM DER MUSIKZEITUNGEN

periodicals

RÉPERTOIRE INTERNATIONAL DE LITTÉRATURE MUSICALE

INTERNATIONAL REPERTORY OF MUSIC LITERATURE

INTERNATIONALES REPERTORIUM DER MUSIKLITERATUR

literature

RÉPERTOIRE INTERNATIONAL D'ICONOGRAPHIE MUSICALE

INTERNATIONAL REPERTORY OF MUSICAL ICONOGRAPHY

INTERNATIONALES REPERTORIUM DER MUSIK-IKONOGRAPHIE

iconography

“without doubt, the most important current bibliographic documentation projects in the field of music research”

Notes. Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association (December 1983)

The four R-projects were born from the desire of scholars, archivists, librarians and musicians to develop research resources that provide access to documents of our musical heritage and cultures, namely, the music itself in manuscript and print; writings on music, both historic and contemporary; and depictions of music and music-making. The International Musicological Society (IMS) and the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML) jointly sponsor the creation of "R" when a monumental body of music and related literature and iconography remains in large part unexplored.

The principal function of the Rs is to create the necessary bibliographical research tools that identify and facilitate access to this extensive body of primary sources.

One R (RISM) deals primarily with music published or produced before 1900, two deal with literature about music (RILM and RIPM) and one with musical iconography (RIdIM). Three Rs (RISM, RILM and RIPM) produce extensive ongoing electronic publications, one (RIdIM) is preparing to do so. The Rs function on an international scale with the contributions of many scholars, librarians, archivists and institutions, present annual reports to the general assembly of IAML and every five years to the general assembly of the IMS, and organize various manifestations that encourage cooperation with and contributions to their respective publications.

RISM was founded by a committee chaired by Friedrich Blume; RILM and RIdIM by Barry S. Brook, and RIPM by H. Robert Cohen. Today, RISM's headquarters in Frankfurt am Main is directed by Balázs Mikusi, President of the association is Klaus Pietschmann and Vice President is Andrea Lindmayr-Brandl. RILM, headquartered in New York, is directed by Tina Frühauf. RIPM, with an International Center in Baltimore, is directed by H. Robert Cohen. RIdIM's International Centre is located in Zurich. Association RIdIM's president is Antonio Baldassarre.