Odington, Walter de

Monk of Evesham Abbey, often wrongly identified with Walter Einesham who was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury in 1228, but rejected by the Pope. He was probably born during the reign of Henry III. (1216-1272), and is thought to have written his treatise on music during the early part of his life, about 1280, devoting his later years to astronomy and science. De Speculatione Musicae, which is preserved in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, is of great importance in musical history since the sixth part is devoted to an elaborate study of mensurable music and the harmony of the Thirteenth Century. The first three parts treat of the monochord and its intervals, and the ratio and length of stretched strings, organ-pipes, and bells. The fourth and fifth parts are on musical notation and ecclesiastical plain-song, giving many interesting definitions and rules for writing certain forms, with illustrations from his own music.