John Hothby facts for kids

John Hothby (around 1410–1487) was an English composer and music theorist from the Renaissance period. He was also known by his Latin names, Johannes Ottobi or Johannes de Londonis. Hothby traveled a lot across Europe and became famous for his musical work.

His Life and Travels

Not much is known about John Hothby's early life. He left England sometime after 1435. Most of what we know about him comes from the last 20 years of his life. By then, he had become a Carmelite friar. He said he traveled through Britain, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.

Later, he went to a religious house in Ferrara, Italy. In 1467, he started working in Lucca, Italy. He likely taught music at the city's main cathedral there. In 1486, the new king, Henry VII, asked him to come back to England. John Hothby seems to have died in northern England the next year.

His Music and Ideas

John Hothby wrote several musical pieces. These include six religious songs in Latin and three non-religious songs in Italian.

It's not always clear exactly which music theory books Hothby wrote. Some older works might have been wrongly linked to him. Also, some works often said to be by him might have been written by another person named Johannes de Anglia.

Works usually thought to be by Hothby include La Capiopea Legale and Proportiones Secundum. His writings show that he liked traditional music ideas. For example, he supported Pythagorean tuning and Guidonian pitch. These were older ways of understanding musical notes. He defended them against new ideas from another theorist, Bartolomé Ramos de Pareja.

Hothby is especially known for changing the musical pitch system. He made it easier to include sharp and flat notes. His work was well-known in Britain and across Europe. He might have been a very important person in sharing musical ideas, especially the "Contenance Angloise" style, between England and other European countries.