Zach, Jan

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Zach, Jan

Zach, Jan, Czech composer and organist; b. Czella-kowitz, Nov. 13, 1699; d. Ellwangen, May 24, 1773. He went to Prague in 1724, and became a violinist at St. Gallus and St. Martin; also studied organ and composition with B. Czernohorsky. He served as organist at St. Martin and later at the monastic church of the Merciful Brethren and the Minorite chapel of St. Ann. After serving as court Kapellmeister in Mainz (1745-56), he traveled widely as a performer. He composed both sacred and instrumental works, including a fine Requiem in C minor, a Stabat Mater, a Missa solemnis, sinfonías, partitas, concertos, and keyboard works.

Bibliography

K. Komma, Johann Z. und die tschechischen Musiker im deutschen Umbruch des 18. Jahrhundert (Kassel, 1938); A. Ollig, Die Orgelmusik Johann Z.s (diss., Univ. of Mainz, 1954).

—Nicholas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire