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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