A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Mazas, Jacques-Féréol

MAZAS, Jacques-Féréol, French violinist and composer, was born in 1782 [App. p.715 "Sept. 23"] at Beziers. He entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1802, and after having studied for three years under Baillot, obtained the first prize for violin-playing. He had great success at Paris, especially with his performance of a violin-concerto by Auber at the Conservatoire. He travelled through a very large part of Europe, and returned in 1829 to Paris, without however gaining his former success. In 1837 he left Paris again, and accepted the directorship of a music-school at Cambrai. He died in 1849.

Mazas wrote a large number of brilliant violin pieces, quartets, trios, and duets for stringed instruments (the latter still much valued for teaching purposes), an instruction-book for the violin, and one for the viola. Fétis mentions also two operas, two violin-concertos, and an overture.

[ P. D. ]