Antonio de Cabezón

Antonio de Cabezón (ca. 1510-1566) was the first "mystic" Spanish organist and one of the first prolific composers of music for keyboard instruments. Blind from an early age, from 1525 Cabezón was the resident organist in Queen Isabella's private chapel and after her death in 1539 became part of the retinue belonging to the Spanish royal family. Cabezón traveled with the court throughout Europe in the 1540s and 1550s, and he had contact with continental composers; influenced himself by Josquin, Cabezón had an impact on English composer William Byrd. Cabezón's works were published mostly posthumously by his son, Hernando de Cabezón.