Walter Odington (also known asWalter of Evesham) was a 14th-century EnglishBenedictine scientific author, most prominent for his work onmusical theory.
During the first part of his religious life he was stationed atEvesham and later removed toOxford, where he was engaged in astronomical and mathematical work as early as 1316.
Odington wrote chiefly on scientific subjects, with most of his works existing only in manuscript form. His major treatise,De speculatione musice, whichHugo Riemann says was written before 1300, was first published in complete form inEdmond de Coussemaker'sScriptores. In this work, he compiles most of the existing musical theory of his day, as well as some additions of his own.
Among Odington's own additions is his theory that, in practice, musicians often favour simple,just tuning of imperfect consonances, such as themajor third, over the traditionally heldPythagorean tuning, which was the predominant theoretical framework.[1] For example, he writes:[2]
Riemann credits Odington with theoretically establishing the consonance of minor and major thirds before the end of the thirteenth century.
Henry Davey, in hisHistory of English Music, enumerates the following works:
Elina G. Hamilton, however, has argued that the music theorist and alchemist were two different men, the latter coming fromEynsham abbey.[3]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Walter Odington".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
