Fantasy or reality? The vihuela in the Obras of Cabezón

Abstract

This article examines the place of the vihuela within Cabezón’s Obras para tecla arpa y vihuela. It examines the issue, firstly, in terms of musical style, the adaptability of Cabezón’s notation, and the extent of the modifications needed to adapt the music satisfactorily for a plucked instrument. Secondly, it examines the circumstances surrounding the publication of the Obras and the influence on its notation, style and contents that were derived from de Libro de cifra nueva of Venegas de Henestrosa. The study demonstrates that only a small proportion of Cabezón’s music is easily transferable to the vihuela, and the evidence tends towards the conclusion that the vihuela was of little interest to the keyboard composer, but that the inclusion of the vihuela in the title was appropriated from Venegas, perhaps with a mind to increasing the circulation of a book which otherwise would only have a restricted clientele.