What does series A/2 of the Repertoire International des Sources Musicales primarily consist of?

Series A/2 of the Repertoire International des Sources Musicales (RISM) focuses specifically on music manuscripts. This series is dedicated to collecting and cataloging primary sources of music, particularly handwritten scores from various time periods and geographical regions. The importance of this series lies in its function as a comprehensive database that enables musicologists, researchers, and performers to access and study original compositions, which can provide insights into the performance practices, notation styles, and cultural contexts of different eras in music history.

By concentrating on music manuscripts, this series distinguishes itself from other resources that may deal with printed scores, scholarly articles, or historical analyses, emphasizing the significance of original notated works in understanding the evolution of music.