Janez Krstnik Dolar

Janez Krstnik Dolar (Ioannes Baptista Dollar, Tollar, Tholarius) was born around the year 1620 at Kamnik ("Carniolus Lithopolitanus"). He finished his secondary schooling in 1639 at the Jesuit college in Ljubljana. In the same year he was admitted to the Jesuit novitiate in Vienna and at the same time enrolled on a philosophy course at the university there. In 1642 he entered the initial four ranks of clergy. In the years 1645 to 1647 he taught at the Jesuit gymnasium in Ljubljana, later, however, he continued his studies of theology at the University of Vienna. In 1652 he was ordained priest. From 1656 to 1658 he was again in the Jesuit college in Ljubljana where, at least for limited period of time, he presided over the fraternity of the Assumption of the Virgin Maria and was in charge of musical performances. The provincial head of the order then sent him to Passau but, owing to his musical capabilities, he was 1661 or 1662 asked to come to Vienna where he became head of St. Ignatius and St. Pancratius Jesuit college and the musical director at the conventual church Am Hof. From then onwards he worked in the imperial capital until his death on February 13, 1673.

Dolar was held in great esteem as a composer and his works were during his lifetime performed often in Austrian lands. This is perfectly obvious from the obituary that reads: "... For the growth of the glory of Church he was composing holy songs not only artistically perfect but also expressive of the sense and feeeling rendered in the text, In his artistic pursuit he made such progress that few could be his parallel. Therefore his sacred music was in demand not only in his own order but also in others, both in his and in other provinces..."