Barbieri, Francisco Asenjo (1823–1894)

Spanish composer and musicologist who conducted important research into archaic musical styles and instruments. As a composer, he wrote highly successful comic operas (for example El Barberillo de Lavapies and Pan y Toros), drawing on a wealth of folk-song rhythms and melodies.

Barbieri was born in Madrid. His studies of long-forgotten musical documents, especially the books of the players of the old Spanish instrument, the vihuela, and the cancioneros (collections of songs of the 15th and 16th centuries), rescued this distinctive national musical heritage from oblivion.