August Joseph Norbert Burgmüller (1810-1836)was born in 1810 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the youngest son of a musical family. His father, August (1766-1824), enjoyed a significant reputation as conductor and concert organizer, to a lesser extent as a composer. His mother Therese was a gifted singer and sought-after piano teacher. His brother Friedrich (1806-1874) settled in Paris where he enjoyed popularity on account of countless light piano pieces and études and the romantic ballet "La Péri."