(b Čelákovice, Bohemia, bap. 13 Nov 1699; d Ellwangen, 24 May 1773). Czech composer. He worked first as a violinist and organist in Prague churches. Leaving Bohemia, he became Kapellmeister at the Mainz court in 1745 but was dismissed in 1756. Afterwards he visited many courts and monasteries and spent time in Italy. His large output is varied in mood and reflects a transition from late Baroque style to pre-Classical; it includes masses, other sacred pieces, sinfonias and partitas (some in three movements), concertos, and chamber and keyboard music.
As a violinist and an organist this Czech composer served in Prague and Augsburg. In Prague Zach was a violinist at St. Gallus and St. Martin and later served as an organist for St. Martin. He became the Kapellmeister in Augsburg for the Prince-Elector of Mainz in 1745. One of Zach's masses was performed at the coronation of the Emperor Franz I. He traveled for a brief period in Italy the influence of which appears in his music particularly the instrumental sinfonias and concertos which were set in three movements employing parallel sixths and thirds, Alberti bass, and occasionally heavy ornamentation. For various conflicts in personality Zach was dismissed in 1756.
From that time until the end of his life he traveled, performed, sold copies of his music and taught. The exceptional range in his music is probably indicative of his own complicated personality. Resulting musical compositions range from the melancholy to the vital. Zach wrote instrumental and sacred compositions which included characteristics of Czech dance rhythms, homophony, and polyphony. The "Requiem in C minor" employed considerable use of chromaticism. Zach's instrumental sinfonias and concertos were often scored for strings and wind instruments alike in which he set the works with the aforementioned Italian characteristics. ~ Keith Johnson, All Music Guide
In 1737 Zach applied for the position of music director at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. He was not accepted for this position, and in 1745[1] he left Prague to become kapellmeister for Mainz's Prince Elector. He was suspended from this position in 1750[1], though he still had employment with the court for six years.
From 1756 onwards, Zach did not have steady employment, and supported himself by traveling through Europe, particularly Italy, Germany, and Austria, selling his compositions.
Zach's early compositions were written in the Baroque style. Later, however, Zach's preference tended toward the style of the emerging Classical music era.
