Antonio de Cabezón and the Beginning of the Didactical Keyboard Music with an Artistic Value

Abstract

Obras de música para tecla, arpa y vihuela by Antonio and Hernando de Cabezón represents one of the earliest examples of an instrumental method that combines didactic logic and a high level of artistry. In addition, these compositions “for beginners”, do not follow the principle “from the simple to the difficult” in a mechanical way. Instead, Cabezón provides alternatives, outlines experimental possibilities, and leaves room for liberties, instead of simply striding systematically through material that is limited by rules. The discrepancy in quality between his method and keyboard methods of his contemporaries, justifies the appraisal that this method is first example of didactic music for keyboard instruments with artistic value – 150 years before the corresponding works of Johann Sebastian Bach and 250 years before Robert Schumann’s Album für die Jugend.