Antonio de Cabézon

About the composer

Antonio de Cabezón was born in Spain, in 1510. He became blind in early childhood, and he may have been educated at the Palencia Cathedral by the organist there, García de Baeza. In 1525, Charles V married Isabella of Portugal and it was Isabella who employed Cabezón into her service in 1526. His duties included playing the clavichord and the organ, and he also assumed the position of organist at the chapel Isabella organized soon after her wedding. The composer remained with the royal family for the rest of his life.
In 1538, Cabezón was made músico de la cámara (chamber musician) to Charles V. After Isabella’s death in 1539, Cabezón was appointed music teacher to her children: Prince Felipe and his sisters Maria and Joan. In 1543 Felipe became Regent of Spain, and he made Cabezón his court organist. Cabezón’s duties included playing a portative organ for Felipe on his journeys. On 19 July 1546 Cabezón’s brother Juan, also an organist and composer, was appointed musician in the royal chapel of Prince Felipe. Since the late 1540s Antonio and Juan both accompanied Felipe on his various trips, and visited Italy, the Netherlands, Germany (in 1548–49), and England (in 1554–56).  Cabezón died in Madrid on 26 March 1566. One of Antonio’s sons, Hernando de Cabezón (1541–1602) became a composer, and it was through his efforts that the bulk of Antonio’s oeuvre was preserved.