Antonio de Cabezón

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Antonio de Cabezón (1510 – 26 March 1566) was a Spanish Renaissance composer and organist. He was among the most important keyboard composers of his time, and the first major Iberian keyboard composer.

Cabezón was born in Castrillo Matajudíos, near Burgos. He was blind from early childhood. Little is known about his early life; he may have been educated at the Palencia Cathedral. By 1526 Cabezón was sufficiently well-known to be employed by Isabella of Portugal; he remained with the royal family for the rest of his life. In 1538 he was made músico de la cámara to Charles V. After Isabella's death in 1539 he was appointed music teacher to the young Prince Felipe and his sisters. Since the late 1540s Cabezón accompanied Charles V on his various trips, and visited Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and England. Little is known about Cabezón's private life. He married one Luisa Nuñez de Mocos of Avila, and the couple produced five children. One of his sons, Hernando de Cabezón (1541-1602) became a composer; another, Agustín de Cabezón (died before 1564), became a chorister of the royal chapel. Juan de Cabezón, Antonio's brother, was also a composer and court musician, although only a single work survives by him.

Most of Cabezón's compositions were published posthumously by his son Hernando in a volume titled Obras de música para tecla, arpa y vihuela (Madrid, 1578). The music, which includes both liturgical and free pieces, was an important contribution to the development of all major genres of the era, and influenced musicians throughout Europe.