Joseph Matthias Kracher (30/01/1752 - 26/03/1835), an Austrian composer, born in Mattighofen, died in Salzburg. Church composer ; entered the choir of the convent of Fürstenzell at the age of nine ; was cantor of several places, and in 1772 became organist at Seekirchen, which position he held for forty-two years, exchanging it afterwards for a similar one at Kochl, near Hallein. On the advice of Michael Haydn he studied composition through the works of the great masters, and from 1775 composed a great deal of church music, much used, but never published. Works (in 1803) : 22 masses, 4 Requiems ; 24 graduate ; 15 offertories ; 2 Te Deum ; 6 Tenebrae ; 1 Vesper de Beata ; 20 Vesper-hymns ; 4 litanies, etc.