Nagler was a German cantor, regional poet and composer. Son of a schoolmaster and cantor, Nagler spent his student years in the ''Thomanerchor'' in Leipzig. After seminary studies in Dresden and further training at the Leipzig Conservatory, he accepted a cantor position in Limbach in 1898. From 1902 to 1936, he was cantor and church music director in Leisnig. He then moved to Dresden to Traubestraße 4, but returned to Leisnig after the bombing in 1945. His grave is located in the Leisnig cemetery.
In addition to his professional activities, Nagler also worked as a choir director and composer. In Leisnig he led the men's choral society "Liederkranz", the women's choir and the choral society "Saxonia". He also composed about 130 motets, cantatas, singspiels and choral music works. In addition, there were literary works, novellas, fairy tales and texts for folk songs, children's festivals and home plays. Nagler was a co-founder of the Leisniger local group of the ''Kulturbund der DDR'' (Culture Association of the GDR) and a member of the German Writers' Association.
