1. Aims and Scope
The Journal of the Iranian Society for Musicology publishes high-quality work on:
- music in / of Iran;
- music and Iran in broader cultural, social, or historical perspectives;
- musical analysis;
- historical musicology;
- music education;
- interdisciplinary studies (music and politics, gender, nature/environment, etc.);
- popular and vernacular/traditional music.
Articles may be submitted in Persian or English.
2. Article Types
The journal accepts:
- Research Articles (primary scholarly studies)
- Review Articles (state-of-the-field / thematic)
- Book Reviews
- Media Reviews (albums, documentaries, digital platforms, etc.)
- Occasional content at the editor’s discretion: roundtables, interviews, forum essays, and conference presentations — especially suitable because the journal also publishes audio/video online.
3. Originality
Submissions must be original, not previously published, and not under review elsewhere.
4. Peer Review
All submissions are first screened by the editor. Eligible manuscripts are sent for double-blind peer review to at least two referees.
5. Structure and Length (Research Articles)
- Length: 7,000–12,000 words (including notes and references).
- Order:
- Title
- Abstract (max. 300 words)
- Keywords (5–7)
- Introduction (problem, aim, significance)
- Theoretical framework and methodology
- Literature review and/or findings
- Main discussion
- Conclusion
- Notes
- References
- English abstract (if the main text is in Persian)
- Title page (submitted separately): full name(s), affiliation(s), email(s); indication of funding or thesis origin where relevant.
6. Book and Media Reviews
- Aim: critical, analytical engagement with recent scholarship or significant media on music.
- Include: full bibliographic details; 150-word abstract; 3–5 keywords; descriptive overview; analytical section (method, originality, contribution); conclusion; references (Chicago) where used.
- Preferred length: 2,000–4,000 words for extended, research-level reviews.
7. Style, References, Transliteration
- Citation style: Chicago. Use author–date in the text (Surname Year, page) and a full alphabetical list at the end.
- Transliteration: for Persian/Arabic terms, names, and titles, use the journal’s standard system to ensure consistency.
Consonants
| ب | b | ج | j | د | d | س | s | ع | ‘ | ل | l |
| پ | p | چ | ch | ذ | z | ش | sh | غ | gh | م | m |
| ت | t | ح | h | ر | r | ص | s | ف | f | ن | n |
| ث | s | خ | kh | ز | z | ض | z | ق | q | و | v |
| ژ | zh | ط | t | ک | k | ه | h | ||||
| ظ | z | گ | g | ی | y | ||||||
| ء | ’ |
Vowels and diphthongs
| a (dast) دست | ā (kār) کار | ay (hay) حَی | āy (āy) آی |
| e (gereft) گرفت | i (did) دید | ey (pey) پِی | ow (rowshan) روشن |
| o (shod) شد | u (bud) بود | uy (guy) گوی | oy (khoy) خوی |
The journal uses the Iranian Studies transliteration system. (Further information)
- Quotations from Persian sources should be translated into English; the original may appear in a note if necessary.
8. Figures, Musical Examples, Audio/Video
- Because the journal is published online first, authors may submit audio files, video files, or notated musical examples.
- Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission for any copyrighted score, image, or audio that is not their own.
- In the annual print volume, only abstracts of audio- or video-based pieces will appear (the full media remains online).
9. Open Access and License
The journal is Open Access and publishes under CC BY 4.0. Articles are freely available and no fees are charged to authors. Reuse must credit the original publication.
10. Use of AI Tools
Use of AI/LLM tools—for example, to improve language and grammar—is allowed, but every tool used must be clearly identified at the time of submission.
