University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

The items in the Digital Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library contain materials which represent or depict sensitive topics or were written from perspectives using outdated or biased language. The Library condemns discrimination and hatred on any grounds. As a research library that supports the mission and values of this land grant institution, it is incumbent upon the University Library to preserve, describe, and provide access to materials to accurately document our past, support learning about it, and effect change in the present. In accordance with the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement, we do not censor our materials or prevent patrons from accessing them.

If you have questions regarding this statement or any content in the Library’s digital collections, please contact digitalcollections@lists.illinois.edu

American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at the University Library
Browse Collection  JSON  IIIF Representation   Admin View

Early Printed Editions and Manuscripts of Music

1 Item

The music scores in this collection include manuscripts and first or early published editions of works from the late 18th and early 19th centuries held in the Music and Performing Arts Library Special Collections. These manuscripts and first/early editions are important resources for scholars researching the origins of musical works. In many cases, there is no extant autograph manuscript and the first printed and published edition serve as the primary source for the work.

These materials are indexed in the Répertoire International des Sources Musicales (RISM) catalog (https://rism.info/), which is a tool that aims to comprehensively document extant musical sources worldwide. The University of Illinois was one of the initial contributors to RISM from its formation in 1952. We now have over 1,700 records in RISM, over 300 of which are unica or unique items. The first phase of this digital collection will include these unique items. Note that the majority of University of Illinois Items described in RISM dating from 1800 and earlier are held in the University's Rare Book and Manuscript Library.