ILM covers all types of publications in all media: journals, books, CD-ROMs, online databases, research-based sound recordings and films—anything relevant to investigating any kind of music—in 294 languages. Our listings come from 134 countries, from Albania to Zimbabwe, with much help from a growing number of national committees that send us citations and abstracts for publications issued in over 55 countries; editors at the International Center also add new materials to the database, and many submissions are received from individual authors. Currently we are growing at the rate of over 30,000 listings each year.
To search or browse journal titles and citations in RILM click here.
Principes de délimitation du RILM RILM Richtlinien
These guidelines describe what types of source documents are appropriate for inclusion in RILM-referred to in these guidelines as "RILM material".
RILM material falls into two broad categories: (1) writings and other resources that provide an analysis, show the results of systematic research, or give a critical opinion or interpretation; (2) writings and other resources that provide important source material (including but not limited to correspondence, interviews, obituaries, conference reports, and biographies). RILM material can be in any format, including print, electronic, microform, etc.
Many musical subdisciplines rely on publications that are traditionally scholarly in nature, while others—especially those related to current musical life—have come to rely on a broader range of publications for much of their source material. Inclusion decisions should take this into account, bearing in mind that publications relied upon by music scholars are appropriate for inclusion in the RILM bibliography.
RILM includes all writings and resources likely to be of value to music researchers, whether printed, electronic, or any other media. The first priority is to cover the most important and scholarly items from all subject areas. While RILM material appears in different publication types from one country to the next, in general, priority will be given to core journal articles, monographs, essay collections, conference proceedings and Festschriften, and dissertations and theses.
Periodical Coverage
All periodical articles on music and related disciplines are considered to be RILM material. However, given the vastness and variation of this literature, the following coverage priorities have been established, from most important to least.
Priority 1: Core journals. These are the most important journals devoted entirely to music research. Each RILM national committee establishes a list of such journals published in their countries. Once a journal has been deemed to be a core journal, the committee is obligated to provide abstracts for virtually every article (there may be rare exceptions) and a citation for every review, in a timely and thorough fashion.
Priority 2: Primary journals. These are periodicals in which many, but not all, items are considered essential RILM material. Primary journals entirely devoted to music may be only partially abstracted, with a citation representing all other articles. Primary journals also include non-music periodicals that sometimes include articles on music; these articles are often especially valuable to music researchers, and as such, every effort should be made to find and abstract them.
Priority 3: Other periodicals. These include periodicals that may be more journalistic in nature, but nevertheless contain articles on music that are valuable to researchers. Citations for these items—sometimes with brief, clarifying abstracts—should be provided as regularly as possible.
The three priorities described above are for periodical articles in any media. If the article is part of an electronic journal or website, the following criteria must be met: (1) there is a procedure in place for archiving the journal or site; (2) there is an editorial policy in place; (3) the journal is published regularly; (4) the journal has a publisher (that is, it is not self- or editor-published).
An abstract for an entire issue of a periodical is to be sent to the International Center (1) if it is a first issue, for which the abstract outlines the new periodical's scope and purpose as well as its contents; or (2) if it is a special issue devoted to a particular topic and is designated as a “thematic” issue in its title or on its title page or spine.
Collections (Festschriften, conference proceedings, collections of essays)
RILM material includes collections of essays, Festschriften, and conference proceedings. For such collections, a citation (with or without abstract) must be provided for the collection as a whole (a cover record), and each individual article must also receive a citation and (where possible) an abstract (analytic records). National committees must strive to include a record for every article when the collection is entirely devoted to music, ensuring the inclusion of complete collections in RILM. In cases where only some of the articles pertain to music, a cover record for the collection is required, as well as individual citations and (where possible) abstracts for each music-related item only. Collections of articles by a single author should include an abstract for each article separately.
Monographs and other books
Besides original monographs, RILM material includes facsimiles of literature on music (reproductions of early printed editions or manuscripts), reprints, new or revised editions, translations, and catalogues of exhibitions.
Dissertations and theses
RILM material includes doctoral level (or highest postgraduate degree level) dissertations in music and in other disciplines when they concern music. Master’s level or other student theses are included when they contain significant new information or a new interpretation, and are publicly available.
Electronic resources, such as research websites, databases, and CD-ROMs
RILM material includes electronic resources that are of value to researchers, including, but not limited to, websites, databases, CD-ROMs, and other media.
Reviews
RILM includes reviews of any material that falls within its scope. In general, reviews that describe or critically assess a given publication are included; those that merely mention a publication's existence are not. All reviews listed in core journals should be included without exception.
Technical drawings of historical instruments
Editions of music (including facsimiles) only when they include substantial written material (scholarly apparatus, source studies, notes on performance, etc.). Articles from daily newspapers only when they offer important information not available elsewhere, such as obituaries, or are major critical articles that include results of original research. Program notes, pamphlets, brochures, and other small separate publications only if they are of particular importance to music researchers and are publicly available. Recordings and films only when one or more of the following criteria are met: (1) when the recording or film is important source material for ethnomusicological, popular, or performance studies; (2) when the recording or film is accompanied by substantial written material; or (3) when the recording or film is the subject of a review. Feature films that claim biographical authority should be included. Reviews of concerts only when the review itself can be considered RILM material and is therefore of particular importance to music researchers.
Practical manuals and "how-to" books, unless they are modern editions of important historic texts, have received substantial reviews, or are otherwise of particular value to music researchers.
Rudimentary instructional manuals, with the same exceptions as above.
Outlines for classroom use.
Reviews that are merely publication announcements.
RILM includes writings and other resources on music and related disciplines, including the following:
Historical musicology
Ethnomusicology, including reviews of sound recordings and videos in RILM core periodicals
Popular music and jazz
Theory, analysis, and composition
Sound sources, instruments, their techniques, reprints of historical teaching methods and treatises, makers, technical drawings of historical instruments, etc.
Performance practice and notation
Pedagogy
Reference and research materials, including catalogues of temporary exhibitions and permanent museum collections, discographies, directories, encyclopedias, bibliographies, composers’ work lists issued by music publishers, and library catalogues. Research material available on websites should be included.
Music and other arts, including but not limited to dance, dramatic arts, poetry and literature (including novels about composers written with biographical authority, if reviewed in a music periodical covered by RILM), items on music iconography, and music and art
Music and related disciplines, including but not limited to philosophy, aesthetics, criticism, psychology, hearing, perception, physiology, therapy, medicine, archaeology, anthropology, engineering, sound recording, acoustics, architecture, computers, sociology, linguistics, semiotics, printing, engraving, publishing, economics, copyright and other legal matters
Music in liturgy and ritual