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Research Guides

Sources for printed music materials

RISM A/I: Einzeldrucke vor 1800.  Printed Music before 1800 (first editions). 9 volumes and 5 volumes of supplements.  Arranged alphabetically by composer.  Ref Is. M113 .I6 Ser. A v.1. pts. 1-15.

RISM B/I: Recueils Imprimés XVIe - XVIIe Siecles. First editions of collections between 16th and 17th centuries.  Arranged chronologically by year.  Ref Is. M113 .I6 Ser. B v.1.
Years 1500-1550 are available online at the above link.

 RISM B/II: Recueils Imprimés XVIIIe Siecle. First editions of collections in the 18th century.  Arranged alphabetically by collection title.  Ref Is. M113 .I6 Ser. B v.1.

Finding Rare Printed Music

There is no single source for finding ALL early printed music.

  • RISM series A/I, B/I, and B/II include early printed music titles, from 16th to the 18th centuries.  See box on left for specifics.
  • OCLC database: Includes are printed music materials that have been cataloged in the OCLC database.  Not all printed materials in RISM volumes are included, especially those from European libraries.

Digital Manuscripts