Research and preservation of the musical heritage – The Swiss Office of the “Repertoire International des Sources Musicales” (RISM)

Abstract

The Swiss RISM Office was founded in 1956. Since its foundation Swiss RISM Office contributes to all RISM-A Series projects - as would be single and collected prints and cataloguing music manuscripts. A short statistic of the titles recorded by Swiss RISM Office: · More then 15.000 prints before 1800 = RISM A/I · Collective prints of the 16th, 17th and 18th century = RISM B/I and B/II · More then 36.000 manuscripts after 1600 = RISM A/II · More then 17.000 prints of the 19th and 20th century = new project from Swiss RISM Office. The organisation of the Swiss RISM Office has changed several times. After a period of minimal activities between 1985 and 1995, since 1996 RISM Switzerland is organized as an independent association. Working in the style of a “private enterprise” with smallest financial support by the government until end of 2007 had consequences on the workflow as well on the organisation of the daily work. [Originally presented as a lecture during the 18th edition of the ANPPOM annual congress, in Salvador (Bahia - Brazil) - September 2008]