Rastrum
Encyclopedia
A rastrum is a five-pointed writing implement
used in music manuscripts to draw parallel staff
lines. The word "raster" is derived from the Latin for "rake". Rastra were used to draw lines on paper
that had not been pre-ruled, and were widely used in Europe until printed staff paper became cheap and common in the nineteenth century. Some rastra are able to draw more than one staff at a time. Rastrology, the study of the use of the rastrum, is a branch of music manuscript
studies that uses information about the rastrum to help find the date and provenance of musical materials.
Single staff rastrum.
s have been marketed to students and composers.
It was common in primary and secondary schools to use rastra that use chalk on a chalk board for music education. They may be called staff liners. An alternative is to use a chalk board with staff lines etched in.
Some rastra hold markers for use on whiteboards.
Another variant is the so called "Stravigor", a wheeled instrument that Stravinsky attempted to patent around 1911. He used them extensively in his compositional sketchbooks.
Roller type rastrum which can draw two staff sizes.
Writing implement
A writing implement or writing instrument is an object used to produce writing. Most of these items can be also used for other functions such as painting, drawing and technical drawing, but writing instruments generally have the unique requirement to create a smooth, controllable line.Another...
used in music manuscripts to draw parallel staff
Staff (music)
In standard Western musical notation, the staff, or stave, is a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces that each represent a different musical pitch—or, in the case of a percussion staff, different percussion instruments. Appropriate music symbols, depending upon the intended effect,...
lines. The word "raster" is derived from the Latin for "rake". Rastra were used to draw lines on paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
that had not been pre-ruled, and were widely used in Europe until printed staff paper became cheap and common in the nineteenth century. Some rastra are able to draw more than one staff at a time. Rastrology, the study of the use of the rastrum, is a branch of music manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
studies that uses information about the rastrum to help find the date and provenance of musical materials.
Single staff rastrum.
Modern variants
In recent years, rastra made of five ballpoint penPen
A pen is a device used to apply ink to a surface, usually paper, for writing or drawing. Historically, reed pens, quill pens, and dip pens were used, with a nib of some sort to be dipped in the ink. Ruling pens allow precise adjustment of line width, and still find a few specialized uses, but...
s have been marketed to students and composers.
It was common in primary and secondary schools to use rastra that use chalk on a chalk board for music education. They may be called staff liners. An alternative is to use a chalk board with staff lines etched in.
Some rastra hold markers for use on whiteboards.
Another variant is the so called "Stravigor", a wheeled instrument that Stravinsky attempted to patent around 1911. He used them extensively in his compositional sketchbooks.
Roller type rastrum which can draw two staff sizes.