Very little is known of the life of Enríquez de Valderrábano. The most recent work by Gracia Gil (gil2017) draws together the existing information and provides some new evidence that seems to confirm him as a resident at the court of the Conde de Miranda in Peñaranda del Duero. The count also had extensive property in Valladolid and lived there several months of each year. It is possible that Valderrábano also accompanied the family between residences.
These are the known facts:
• 1542 AGDV Parroquia de San Miguel, Bautizados, lib. 1º, fol 77v. 28 Feb 1542. A don Anrriquez de Valderrábano is among the godparents of Ana de Segovia, daughter of the weaver Mateo de Segovia. The documet reads [in the margin]: anna de Segobia. [Text]: en xxviii del dicho mes [= febrero] se xpañó [= cristianó] ana yja [=hija] de mateo de segobia, tejedor / los compadres y comadres / don anrriquez de valderrabano diego gonzaled de santiago[?] / escrivano maria de guzman muger de hernando de logroño / carpintero y Joana de Villegas muger de diego lopez de go. escribano
• 1547 Silva de sirenas (Valladolid: Fernández de Córdoba, 1547)
• 1555 cited by Bermudo (bermudo1555, 29v).
• 1587 AHPV/prot/leg/409/894 “Inventario de los bienes de Diego de Tovar”, 1587.03.13: fol 903 has a list of his books which includes “libro de música de Anriquez -quatro reales”
• 1590 AHPV 1590.07.30 contains a document pertaining to “Fray Francisco de Valderrábano, hijo legítimo y natural del comendador Antonio de Valderrábano del horden y caballería de Santiago, morador en el convento de Nuestra Señora de la Victoria desta villa [=Valladolid], del orden de los Mínimos.” His father was also deceased, also from Valladolid, and his mother had remarried. This is the reason for the document. There is no indication of any family connection with the vihuelist at this stage.
• 1615 Cristóbal Suárez de Figeroa, Plaza universal (Madrid, 1615) praises Valderrábano (cited in robledoBLAS)
• Saldoni cites him as "natural de Peñacerrada (León)" - erroneous reading of Peñaranda? f/193v
• Most modern authors continue to claim Enríquez to have been in the service of the Conde de Miranda, even as recently as schönerV. This is on the basis of the dedication of Silva de Sirenas, and Bermudo’s assumption from this that he was in his service. Bermudo is only reiterating his interpretation of Silva, and is probably not based on first-hand personal knowledge of any kind.
• Barbieri, Vol 2, doc 2838. Letter reports a 7th copy of Valderrábano, 20,000 reales (barbieri?)
• Pedrell published songs by Valderrábano (pedrellC III, nºs 57-60)