A late comer to the witch hysteria picnic, Archbishop Max Gandolph hosted the
Zauberjäeckl trials in Salzburg from 1675 to 1681, in which he punished people
who were actually felons as witches. The Magic Jacket Society prosecuted in
those trials had recruited orphans using "black magic, sodomy and conjurations
with mice" to control them. Only those under 12 years old escaped death, but 200
others were executed. A cozy B&B (Burning and Beheading) called the Salzburg
Hexenturm was constructed which would hold 100 persons from ages 12 to 80
for torture, strangulation and the two Bs noted above.
Zauberjäeckl trials in Salzburg from 1675 to 1681, in which he punished people
who were actually felons as witches. The Magic Jacket Society prosecuted in
those trials had recruited orphans using "black magic, sodomy and conjurations
with mice" to control them. Only those under 12 years old escaped death, but 200
others were executed. A cozy B&B (Burning and Beheading) called the Salzburg
Hexenturm was constructed which would hold 100 persons from ages 12 to 80
for torture, strangulation and the two Bs noted above.
The "Jackl" was supposedly a Devil who helped beggars by teaching them curses, giving them
potions with which to earn alms and by making them invisible when they stole. Most were killed after
induced confessions. The trials came with the age of workhouses for the indigent, and at a time when
the church viewed vagabonds as a sign of weakness and social policy failure at a time when
conversion back to Catholicism was being strongly enforced.
potions with which to earn alms and by making them invisible when they stole. Most were killed after
induced confessions. The trials came with the age of workhouses for the indigent, and at a time when
the church viewed vagabonds as a sign of weakness and social policy failure at a time when
conversion back to Catholicism was being strongly enforced.
| The Zauberjäeckl Trials |
“Zauberer Jackl" was Jakob Koller, son of a farmhand from Mauterndorf. It was claimed that his
mother had taught him the “handicraft” of fraud and stealing. She was accused of theft and magic,
and she implicated one Paul Kaltenpacher and they were both executed in late August of 1675.
During the violent interrogation process, both accused "Jackl" of complicity. Subsequently, a warrant
of arrest was issued against Jackl and the search began. In 1677, the authorities received a message
that Jackl was dead, but this not only proved untrue, it turned out that Jackl had recruited a whole
group of followers, mostly young, poor people, including a Matthias Thomas Hasendorfer as an
accomplice. It reported that Zauberer Jackl taught him magic. The authorities consequently began a
search and destroy mission for both the Jackl and all of his witch accomplices who used charms and
magic. A fundamental goal was to stop the propagation of the sorcery among young people.
mother had taught him the “handicraft” of fraud and stealing. She was accused of theft and magic,
and she implicated one Paul Kaltenpacher and they were both executed in late August of 1675.
During the violent interrogation process, both accused "Jackl" of complicity. Subsequently, a warrant
of arrest was issued against Jackl and the search began. In 1677, the authorities received a message
that Jackl was dead, but this not only proved untrue, it turned out that Jackl had recruited a whole
group of followers, mostly young, poor people, including a Matthias Thomas Hasendorfer as an
accomplice. It reported that Zauberer Jackl taught him magic. The authorities consequently began a
search and destroy mission for both the Jackl and all of his witch accomplices who used charms and
magic. A fundamental goal was to stop the propagation of the sorcery among young people.
In 1944, the Hexenturm was destroyed in an Allied bomb attack. All that remains in its pace is a plaque, above, and a
small figure of a witch that once adorned its roof as a weathervane (inset above).
small figure of a witch that once adorned its roof as a weathervane (inset above).
Stories about Jackl grew more and more imaginative until Jackl and his
followers were said to have the ability to turn into animals and make
themselves invisible, and they were also considered responsible for all
mysterious deaths or murders. It wasn't long before everyone wanted Jackl
and his whole gang caught. Today, it is thought that Zauberer Jackl was
probably just a thief and a beggar, and not even a murderer, let alone a
magician. The legendary Zauberer Jackl could never be seized.
followers were said to have the ability to turn into animals and make
themselves invisible, and they were also considered responsible for all
mysterious deaths or murders. It wasn't long before everyone wanted Jackl
and his whole gang caught. Today, it is thought that Zauberer Jackl was
probably just a thief and a beggar, and not even a murderer, let alone a
magician. The legendary Zauberer Jackl could never be seized.
Instead of him, 200 others were accused of being his accomplices and met their grisly deaths
between 1675 and 1681, 139 alone in the year 1681.The extremely violent Zaubererjackl witchcraft
trials were one of the last of the major European witch-hunts and unusual in that the majority of the
two hundred or so victims were mostly vagrants, mentally ill, beggars, wage workers, thieves and
prostitutes. Two thirds were male and one third were under age 16, and most admitted to acts of
sorcery during the torturous interrogations.
between 1675 and 1681, 139 alone in the year 1681.The extremely violent Zaubererjackl witchcraft
trials were one of the last of the major European witch-hunts and unusual in that the majority of the
two hundred or so victims were mostly vagrants, mentally ill, beggars, wage workers, thieves and
prostitutes. Two thirds were male and one third were under age 16, and most admitted to acts of
sorcery during the torturous interrogations.
| A Little Court Music and Biber |
When Archbishop Max Gandolph wasn't busy burning witches and banishing
Protestants, he enjoyed good music. Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, 1644 -
1704, was one of the first truly great instrumental composers and perhaps the
best violinist of the 17th century. Biber was born on a large estate, where his
father was huntsman. By the mid 1660s, he was in the orchestra of Prince-
Bishop Karl Lichtenstein-Kastelkorn of Olmütz. Biber felt he could do better
elsewhere, and left in 1670 without permission and the Prince-Bishop issued a
warrant for his arrest, only to forgive him later in life.
Protestants, he enjoyed good music. Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, 1644 -
1704, was one of the first truly great instrumental composers and perhaps the
best violinist of the 17th century. Biber was born on a large estate, where his
father was huntsman. By the mid 1660s, he was in the orchestra of Prince-
Bishop Karl Lichtenstein-Kastelkorn of Olmütz. Biber felt he could do better
elsewhere, and left in 1670 without permission and the Prince-Bishop issued a
warrant for his arrest, only to forgive him later in life.
Biber obtained a job with the court of Archbishop Max
Gandolph of Salzburg in the winter of 1670. In May 1672,
Biber married, and would lose no fewer than seven of his
eleven children to premature death. In Salzburg, he won a
series of promotions: trainer of the cathedral choir boys,
dean of the boys' school and, finally, Court Kapellmeister,
a post Biber held until his death. He was awarded a patent
of nobility by Emperor Leopold I in 1690.
Gandolph of Salzburg in the winter of 1670. In May 1672,
Biber married, and would lose no fewer than seven of his
eleven children to premature death. In Salzburg, he won a
series of promotions: trainer of the cathedral choir boys,
dean of the boys' school and, finally, Court Kapellmeister,
a post Biber held until his death. He was awarded a patent
of nobility by Emperor Leopold I in 1690.
Biber is best known to history for his violin music, however he also wrote two operas and much
religious music.Very little of Biber's music has survived. One massive work thought to be composed
by Biber was rescued by a horrifed Salzburg choirmaster who discovered that his grocer was
wrapping fish in sheets of the music. The Salzburg court employed scribes or copyists to write down
the various church music in the 17th and 18th centuries, and watermark evidence on the paper they
used often helps date compositions
religious music.Very little of Biber's music has survived. One massive work thought to be composed
by Biber was rescued by a horrifed Salzburg choirmaster who discovered that his grocer was
wrapping fish in sheets of the music. The Salzburg court employed scribes or copyists to write down
the various church music in the 17th and 18th centuries, and watermark evidence on the paper they
used often helps date compositions
During the early 1670s, Salzburg Archbishop Maximilian Gandolph actively promoted rosary
devotion in Salzburg and Biber wrote his Mystery or Rosary Sonatas, his most famous compositions.
The Salzburg archbishops loved grandiose services in the cathedral in which all available musicians
took part, and there were plenty of them. Not only were there many musicians available, there were
several other musical training institutions in Salzburg as well.
devotion in Salzburg and Biber wrote his Mystery or Rosary Sonatas, his most famous compositions.
The Salzburg archbishops loved grandiose services in the cathedral in which all available musicians
took part, and there were plenty of them. Not only were there many musicians available, there were
several other musical training institutions in Salzburg as well.
A 1682 engraving of the Cathedral shows a mass in progress with numerous
instrumentalists and vocalists in various locations around the building: at ground
level, on both sides and also in the four organ galleries, making "surround sound".
instrumentalists and vocalists in various locations around the building: at ground
level, on both sides and also in the four organ galleries, making "surround sound".
Biber hid out with an instrument maker in the South Tyrol, Jakob Stainer, who spread the word that
Biber was a "formidable virtuoso."
Biber was a "formidable virtuoso."
| Witches and Music in Salzburg |
Archbishop Pilgrim II from Puchheim (reigned from 1365-1396) was the first archbishop to actively
sponsor music and composition, and from the 15th. century on, music at the fortress Hohensalzburg
drifted down from on high and greeted everyone from the wealthy patrician to the beggar in rags.
There were two high trumpet towers in the Hohensalzburg, erected in 1465 and 1506, from which
there was a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. At night, a huge lantern was hung from
the upper tower and during the day a flag. When people approached the fortress, they were spotted
from the towers and announced with horns and trumpets which signalled the soldiers in the fortress
as well as the townsfolk below of approaching friends or foe. Hence, visitors to Salzburg describe the
deafening roar of gun salvos, trumpets and drums heralding their approach mixed with the heavenly
sounds of concerts in progress. The royal trumpeters also played to entertain, not only from the
trumpet towers, but at the court, in front of the Rathaus, at the church and the convent and in front
of the houses of the elite, all for a reward of coins, while members of the Salzburg court orchestra
played the music of Paul Hofhaimer and other greats in the grand rooms and chambers of the
Salzburg court and at festivals and celebrations.
sponsor music and composition, and from the 15th. century on, music at the fortress Hohensalzburg
drifted down from on high and greeted everyone from the wealthy patrician to the beggar in rags.
There were two high trumpet towers in the Hohensalzburg, erected in 1465 and 1506, from which
there was a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. At night, a huge lantern was hung from
the upper tower and during the day a flag. When people approached the fortress, they were spotted
from the towers and announced with horns and trumpets which signalled the soldiers in the fortress
as well as the townsfolk below of approaching friends or foe. Hence, visitors to Salzburg describe the
deafening roar of gun salvos, trumpets and drums heralding their approach mixed with the heavenly
sounds of concerts in progress. The royal trumpeters also played to entertain, not only from the
trumpet towers, but at the court, in front of the Rathaus, at the church and the convent and in front
of the houses of the elite, all for a reward of coins, while members of the Salzburg court orchestra
played the music of Paul Hofhaimer and other greats in the grand rooms and chambers of the
Salzburg court and at festivals and celebrations.
St George's chapel at the fortress Hohensalzburg in Salzburg was built during the reign of Archbishop Leonard von
Keutschach (1495 to 1519) and inaugurated on August 21, 1502. Although during the Middle ages, many towns, cities,
monasteries and cloisters had mechanical organs built into their gates and towers, the only organ to have survived in its
entirety until today is the so-called “castle horn” organ at Hohensalzburg, the organ which von Keutschach had built in
order to communicate with the inhabitants of the town in a method akin to the use of alpine horns in the valleys. The
“castle horn” woke the townsfolk up at 4AM and signaled their bedtime at 7PM. It also reminded everyone of the
Archbishop's power over them.
Keutschach (1495 to 1519) and inaugurated on August 21, 1502. Although during the Middle ages, many towns, cities,
monasteries and cloisters had mechanical organs built into their gates and towers, the only organ to have survived in its
entirety until today is the so-called “castle horn” organ at Hohensalzburg, the organ which von Keutschach had built in
order to communicate with the inhabitants of the town in a method akin to the use of alpine horns in the valleys. The
“castle horn” woke the townsfolk up at 4AM and signaled their bedtime at 7PM. It also reminded everyone of the
Archbishop's power over them.
Biber Midi
In 1672, Archbishop Max Gandolph had a chaplain's house built and attached to St Georg's Chapel
in which there was additional space to house a music school and living quarters for the teacher. The
Choirboys' Institute housed, fed, educated and clothed about sixteen choirboys who sang in the
Cathedral, all at the court's full expense. Here they were taught by court musicians such as Biber.
Through most of the seventeenth century, there were about seventy-five to eighty cathedral and
court musicians and about fifty regularly performing vocal music.
in which there was additional space to house a music school and living quarters for the teacher. The
Choirboys' Institute housed, fed, educated and clothed about sixteen choirboys who sang in the
Cathedral, all at the court's full expense. Here they were taught by court musicians such as Biber.
Through most of the seventeenth century, there were about seventy-five to eighty cathedral and
court musicians and about fifty regularly performing vocal music.
The Salzburger Hexenturm was
built between 1465 and 1480. In
1678, it was a prison with 14
cells and an apartment for the
court servants who managed the
place. There was no street level
door for the prisoners. They
were lowered down by means of
long wooden poles and sent up
tied to the same, many to be
burned alive in that manner.
built between 1465 and 1480. In
1678, it was a prison with 14
cells and an apartment for the
court servants who managed the
place. There was no street level
door for the prisoners. They
were lowered down by means of
long wooden poles and sent up
tied to the same, many to be
burned alive in that manner.
