Copyists

The Copyist Identifier is a tool that allows identifying the handwriting in Viennese manuscripts from the 1760s and 70s by locating the characteristics of a copyist.

How to use the Copyist Identifier

In each of the four categories, please select the corresponding character type of the handwriting you would like to identify. ...

G-clef: Type 1 comprises all treble clefs with a vertical line long enough to cross the bottom line; type 2 those with a shortened vertical line.

C-clef: C-clef types differ in the number of vertical lines (4, 3, 2), regardless of their overall design.

F-clef
: Bass clefs are divided into two-part clefs open to the left with (type 1) and without (type 2) vertical line(s), and clefs drawn in one continuous counterclockwise line forming a round curve (type 3).

Final bar line
: The final bar lines are distinguished according to the sort of addition to the double bar, depending on whether there is a straight and curved (type 1) or ornate (type 2) line emerging from the bottom of the double bar, an element starting in the middle of the double bar (type 3), or a line crossing the double bar (type 4). Simple double final bar lines without additional line as well as Dal Segno signs are disregarded. If the present character looks different and does not correspond to any of the suggested types, please select “other.”

If you do not have a comparison character in a category, please select “not applicable.”

G-CLEF
C-CLEF
F-CLEF
FINAL BAR LINE