Antonio de Cabezón

Antonio de Cabezon ( born March 30 1510 Castrillo de Matajudíos at Castrojeriz, † May 26, 1566 in Madrid) was a Spanish composer and organist. He is considered the greatest Spanish composer of keyboard music of his time.

Cabezon was blind since childhood. He was trained in Palencia by the organist García de Baeza. As court organist Charles V and Philip II later he made two trips across Europe ( 1548-1551 and 1554-1556 ) and learned important musicians of other courts know. There were obviously mutual influences, so that Cabezon could make a significant contribution of Spain to the development of keyboard music. After his marriage in the year 1538 he moved to Avila, the birthplace of his wife. His five children were later given high positions at the Spanish court under Philip II as Madrid headquarters of the Royal Court and Spanish capital was, he moved there and remained there until his death.

Among his works are numerous intabulations, ie arrangements of polyphonic vocal music for keyboard instruments (especially of works by Josquin Desprez '), several Tientos that follow this style, and also variations ( diferencias ) on popular dance pieces. In his music, an advanced polyphony and its own style of writing for keyboard instruments can be identified, although the pieces could also serve for the match on harp or vihuela.

His collected works were published in 1578 by his son Hernando, so that they could serve the following organist generations as a model. 1557 Luis Venegas de Henestrosa had published in a collection already 40 works of Cabezon.