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Music Research Tools: RILM

RILM Abstracts of Music Literature

Search RILM Abstracts of Music Literature

RILM is a database that contains abstracts, index information, and some links to full-text articles for music scholarship around the world, 1967-present.

RILM Profile

It's International

RILM indexes music scholarship & publishing from around the globe (that includes 151 countries, and writings penned in 214 languages).

Most indexed information is available in English, including the abstract. However, RILM is working to add abstracts written in the item's native language.

A is for Abstracts

Each RILM record contains an abstract* of around 200 words that provides you with a summary of an item's content.

Abstracts are an excellent tool for quick evaluation of an item's relevancy to your research need.

All the Source Types

backpack iconRILM indexes:

  • journals
  • articles
  • books
  • book chapters
  • conference & symposium proceedings
  • festschriften
  • dissertations
  • critical editions of music
  • reference works
  • ...and more.

Made by and for Scholars

When you need to search reliable, in-depth, scrupulously edited information about music, RILM is a great starting point.

Not only are the items within RILM created by the music scholars around the world, the index itself is built and maintained by music scholars, too.

Ask a Librarian

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Katie Buehner
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Contact: Website
Subjects: Dance, Music, Theatre Arts