Career
Number compositions by him survive, and his historical importance lies chiefly in his activities as a teacher. The first recorded reference to Bredemers is in a 1488 document which lists him as one of the singers of Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal), Antwerp. In 1491–1492 he served as organist of Saint James" Church (Sint-Jacobskerk) of the same city, and in 1493 he occupied a similar position at the Confraternity of Our Lady at Our Lady"s church.
On the latter occasion Bredemers must have met Arnolt Schlick, court organist to the Electoral Palatinate.
Philip"s eldest son, Charles, was too young to succeed his father, and so Margaret of Austria was appointed regent. He was also to instruct court entertainers and choirboys, as well as purchase and maintain instruments.
Bredemers" influence was spread far by Philip"s children. Before leaving, both sisters asked Bredemers to buy them clavichords to take with them.
Eleanor was known as a particularly fine performer.
Bredemers retired to Lier in 1518, but continued assisting at Margaret"s private chapel, and accompanied Charles during his visit to England in 1520-1521. He probably attended Charles" coronation in 1520. In May 1521 Bredemers was made provost at Street Aubin"s Cathedral, Namur.
However, he resigned this position after only a year, in April 1522.
He died the following month. Number compositions by Bredemers are known, although two were mentioned by Fétis in his Biographie universelle in the second half of the 19th century.
Bredemers" importance lies in the influence he must have exerted over European keyboard music during his voyages to Spain, England and Germany, as well as through his pupils.
