What is the purpose of Repertoire International des Sources Musicales Online (RISM)?

• A. To document musical sources from around the world
• B. To publish new scores
• C. To archive concert programs in Paris only
• D. To index recording labels

Answer: (A)

RISM Online is built to document and standardize information about musical sources from libraries and archives around the world. It creates bibliographic records for manuscripts, printed music, and early editions, describing what a source is and where copies can be found. This supports researchers in tracking the existence and location of original materials, which is essential for study, citation, and informed performance practice. The database is global in scope and focused on sources themselves, not on publishing new music, archiving programs in a single city, or indexing commercial recordings.