iguel de Fuenllana
Miguel de Fuenllana (ca. 1525 - 1585/1605) is considered to be one of the most important vihuelists who published books during the 16th century in Spain. The well known author of Libro de música para vihuela, intitulado Orphénica Lyra was born in the Spanish city of Navalcarnero around the year 1525. Unfortunately, he was blind since then,51 as we can deduce from remarks in the preface of Orphénica Lyra, in which he speaks of God having deprived him of “corporeal light” from his infancy and, in the Prologue to the Reader, of work in “corporeal darkness”.52 More recently found documents confirm that he was blind from birth. He was unable to sign his name to documents. Klaus Wagner was the first to publish these documents in his book on Martín de Montesdoca. Fuenllana spent a significant part of his life in the service of the Spanish royal family. This position was definitely important for his musical development and reputation. There is no evidence suggesting Fuenllana was ever employed by King Philip II. Despite the uncertainty of their relationship, Fuenllana dedicated his Orphénica Lyra to King Phillip II. It is important to mention that this vihuela book was written before Fuenllana’s service in the royal family. Therefore, Orphénica Lyra is more reflective of the musical situation in Sevilla and the house of the Marquesa de Tarifa and her husband, the Duque de Alcalá Pedro Afán de Ribera, where he was employed. Fuenllana's name is mentioned in Bermudo’s Declaración (1555), where he is described as being in the service of this important noble family.53 One of the most precise documented indications of Miguel Fuenllana's career is from the 11th of August in 1553, when he received permission from Philip II to print his vihuela book.54 The print of Orphénica Lyra was possible given the substantial financial support of Fuenllana’s father-in-law Juan de Salazar, a famous Sevillian doctor.
After the year 1559, Fuenllana was “chamber musician” to Philip’s third wife, Isabel de Valois, until the time of her death in 1568. Between the years of 1574 and 1578, Fuenllana served in the Portuguese court where, according to surviving sources, he was highly paid. This reflects the prestige and respect of Fuenllana during his lifetime. The final months of his life he spend back in Madrid in the Royal Court, where he remained until his death. His exact date of his decease is still under speculation, although it most likely occurred between the years of 1585 and 1605.55
With the publication of such an extensive vihuela book, an important question arose: how could a blind vihuelist have intabulated such a substantial quantity of vocal pieces? He likely relied heavily on his memory, alongside the aid of his musically educated servant Juan Ruize.56 Orphénica Lyra remains an important example of the nuances of music in 16th-century Spain.
