Life
Until the 1960s he was confused with another somewhat older composer named Barbingant; sources of the period often use variant spellings or omit first names of composers, making such confusion common. Barbireau was probably born in Antwerp, and both of his parents were citizens there. By 1482 he had attained the title of Master of Arts, so he likely went to university in the 1470s. He wanted to study with the famous humanist and musician Rodolphus Agricola, who was active at Ferrara in the 1470s and later Heidelberg, and several letters written by Agricola to Barbireau have survived; one of them gives useful clues about Barbireau's life. According to it, Barbireau was already active as a composer by 1484, and implies that his fame had not yet spread outside of his native Antwerp.
In 1484 Barbireau acquired the post of choirmaster at the cathedral in Antwerp, a position he was to keep until his death. Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, evidently held him in high regard, and when Barbireau went to Buda in Hungary in 1490, Queen Beatrix also spoke highly of him. Evidently his health was weak for about the last nine years of his life. He died in Antwerp, not long after returning from Hungary.
Read more about this topic: Jacobus Barbireau
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