Franco-Flemish composer. From 1448 onwards Barbireau was master of the boys' choir at the church of Notre Dame, Antwerp, where he was succeeded by Obrecht. The choir there grew in his time from thirty-eight to as many as sixty-nine singers. By 1490, when the Emperor Maximilian sent him to Buda on a diplomatic mission, he had achieved a wide reputation. His small output includes two Masses and three chansons, one of which (Een vroylic wesen) became a 'hit' of the period round 1500, surviving in many versions, both vocal and instrumental, especially in Germany; Isaac wrote a Mass on it, while Obrecht wrote one on another of Barbireau's songs. Despite many assertions to the contrary, he is not identical with Barbingant, who composed some of the music ascribed to Barbireau and is mentioned by Tinctoris.