Balint (Valentinus) Bakfark

   Balint Bakfark was born in Hungary, where he was educated in Buda at the royal court of Janos Zapolya and spent some time of his life in the late 154os in Paris/France as well. He was appointed as a court musician (lutenist) at the court of Krak˘w in 1549; he was famous for his virtuosity on the instrument as well as also for his compositions of which there exist several printed collections that are attributed to his name. Bakfark fled Poland in 1565 after his house in Vilnius had been plundered by soldiers then. He died in 1576.

Information supplied by Monika Fahrnberger

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