Henricus Grammateus

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Henricus Grammateus (also known as Henricus Scriptor, Heinrich Schreyber or Heinrich Schreiber) (1495 - 1525 or 1526[1]) was a German mathematician. In 1518 he published details of a new musical temperament [2], which is now named after him, for the harpsichord. It was a precursor of the equal temperament.

[edit] Biography

Henricus Grammateus was born in Erfurt, Germany, studied in Vienna and Cracow, and died in Vienna.

[edit] Works

  • Algorithmus proportionum una cum monochordi generalis dyatonici compositione, pub. Volfgangvm De Argentina, Cracow, 1514
  • Libellus de compositione regularum pro vasorum mensuratione. Deque arte ista tota theoreticae et practicae, Vienna, 1518
  • Ayn new Kunstlich Buech (A New Skill Book), Vienna 1518, Nuremberg 1521 - contains the earliest-known use of the plus and minus signs for addition and subtraction [3] and is the earliest German text on bookkeeping [4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Schreyber, Heinrich", short biography at erfurt-web.de
  2. ^ "Temperaments III: Grammateus", Technical Library, Carey Beebe Harpsichords
  3. ^ Miller, J. et al. "Earliest Uses of Symbols of Operation" after Cajori, F. A History of Mathematical Notations
  4. ^ Inoue, K. "The Neglected Contribution of Grammateus to Bookkeeping History"
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