He worked in Altona as a composer, piano teacher and choral conductor, receiving a secure position as organist of the main church there in 1866. He became royal music director in 1873, teacher of choral singing at the Hamburg Conservatory in 1879 and honorary member of the ''Hamburg Tonkünstlerverein'' in 1887. With around 230 works, including two thirds piano compositions, as well as stage works, oratorios and songs, overtures and chamber music, he became an important co-creator of ''Biedermeier'' music.