Alberich Mazak

Alberich Mazak (1609 - May 9 1661) was an Austrian 17th century composer.

Background

He was born in Ratibor. After studying Music and Philosophy, he entered Heiligenkreuz Abbey in 1631.

His music

He created more than 250 compositions. He wrote masses, litanies, offertories, antiphons, psalms and sacred cantatas.

The instruments he used most were the violin, the trumpet, the bassoon, the viola da gamba, the cornet and the sackbut.

Cultus harmonicus

His compositions, collected under the titled "Cultus harmonicus", were published by him in Vienna in three parts:

Opus I

Opus I published in 1649.

Opus II

Opus II published in 1650.

Opus III

Opus III published in 1653.

Opus III is missing today.

Trivia

A baroque lute built in 1631, which had been played at Mazak's ordination, was used in the recording of Wolf Erichson's "Stift Heiligenkreuz Geistliche Musik" (Sacred Music from Holy Cross Monastery), directed by Niederaltaicher Scholaren and Dr. Konrad Ruhland and published by Sony Music under the SEON label (1970 - 1980).