RISM, the Répertoire International des Sources Musicales, is a prominent organization founded in Paris in 1952. It stands as the largest and only global operation dedicated to documenting written musical sources. At the core of RISM is their central cataloging program, Muscat.

Developed as an open-source project, Muscat is a web-based platform that compiles an extensive range of musical sources, including manuscripts, printed music, libretti, and treatises. With over 1,528,000 musical sources, Muscat incorporates contributions from various RISM series, such as A/I, A/II, and B/I, as well as sources outside these series. Its multilingual interface, available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish, enables users worldwide to engage with the platform seamlessly.

Muscat offers numerous features to streamline the cataloging process, including built-in version control, comments capability, and intuitive digital object management. Users can explore the integrated online catalog search with geovisualizations and take advantage of additional functionalities like importing personal name authority records from VIAF and displaying incipits. As a platform-independent program, Muscat works on both Macs and PCs, accessible through a URL and an internet connection.

It is optimized for Firefox and Chrome and works best on screens with a minimum resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Each contributor receives their own Muscat login tied to their institution(s), with ample support provided by the RISM Editorial Center and the option for technical assistance from Rodolfo Zitellini. For those interested in contributing to RISM or learning more about the project, the Muscat Project website offers comprehensive information on its philosophy, history, and technical requirements.

Whether you are a researcher, librarian, or music enthusiast, Muscat by RISM is the go-to resource for exploring and cataloging the diverse world of written musical sources