Cabezón, Antonio de

Cabezón, Antonio de

(born c. 1510, Castrillo de Matajudíos, near Burgos, Spain—died March 26, 1566, Madrid) Spanish composer and organist. Of noble birth, he was blind from early childhood. In 1526 he became organist to Isabella, wife of Charles V. He remained a royal favourite, especially to Philip II, whom he accompanied on his travels. His works, which influenced the English virginalists and J.P. Sweelinck, are almost entirely for keyboard; they include numerous tientos (ricercars or fantasias) and diferencias (variations), a genre of which he was one of the first masters.