Joseph Schnabel (1767-1831) was born into a musical family and received his first musical instruction from his father. In 1790 he became the village schoolmaster in Breslau, and then violinist at the St. Vincent Church and organist at St. Clara's. In 1798 he became violinist and concertmaster in the theater orchestra, which he often conducted. In 1805 he rose to the position of Cathedral kapellmeister in his home town, in 1806 he became conductor of the Richter winter concerts and in 1812 became the university music director, music teacher at the Catholic Seminar and Director of the Royal Institute for Church Music.
In addition to church music (including five masses, offertories, hymns and vespers) he composed military music, songs for four male voices, songs, a clarinet concerto and a quintet for string quartet and guitar. His choral song "Transeamus usque ad Bethlehem" has remained popular until the present day.
