Höpner, Christian Gottlob 11/07/1799 - 10/26/1859

Christian Gottlob Höpner grew up in the family of a weaver in Frankenberg near Chemnitz and he acquired his first musical knowledge in a self-taught manner. At the age of 14 he was already able to play the piano by listening to the pianoforte lessons his older brother received. At the age of 17 Höpner also wanted to learn to play the organ. He found the opportunity to do so after attending Sunday services by using the organ of the Frankenberg church. With the wages he received after his training as a weaver's apprentice, Höpner bought musical textbooks, practiced independently on a small organ and undertook compositional experiments. In 1824 he submitted these compositions to the cantor August Ferdinand Anacker (1790-1854) in Freiberg for examination. The verdict was so encouraging that in 1827 Höpner introduced himself to the court conductor Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) in Weimar who advised him to devote himself entirely to music. Höpner moved to Dresden where he received professional training for four years from 1827 onwards under Johann Gottlob Schneider jr. (1789-1864) when the latter was organist at the Dresden Hofkirche. He himself was organist at the Kreuzkirche in Dresden from 1837 to 1859.


Höpner worked during his leisure hours on the magazine ''Neues vollständiges Museum für die Orgel''. This was intended for use in the training and further education of organists and was published by an "Association of Excellent Organ Composers". The journal was published by Friedrich Wilhelm Goedsche in Meissen. With organ compositions, for example with his composition "Praeludium et Fuga", Höpner participated around 1847 in a "Hand- und Musterbuch", which was intended for the study of organ music as well as for church service. Additonally, the church music collection was intended for all organ enthusiasts.

from: WIKIPEDIA

Note: Translated from the German version of Wikipedia into English