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An important treatise on medieval music theory was written in the 13th century. His or her name was lost to history, and a 19th-century French historian later dubbed him/her "Anonymous IV". This styling implies that there were at least three other Anonymouses (Anonymi?) discussed in the same work, but I have been unable to find any information about them. Who were they, and what contributions did they make to music theory & history?

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  • Wouldn't that make the current anonymous "Anonymous V"? I don't know if anything could make them happier. :P
    – Dedwards
    Jul 21, 2016 at 15:20
  • Are you talking about de Coussemaker's books? I think they're only in French, but quite a few seem to be on the internet archive. (My apologies if I'm referring to completely the wrong person.)
    – Andy
    Jul 21, 2016 at 15:30

1 Answer 1

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There were others. Some one (or some authors) called the authors of several treatises "Anonymous #" for various numbers (#).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_music_theorists lists quite a few and assigns each a work, that one wrote. THere are also some not having a number but a location instead.

Anonymous 4 seems to be the most commonly referenced.

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