Who was Christian Gottlob Neefe?

Christian Gottlob Neefe was a Protestant musician from Saxony who served as the court organist in Bonn under the rule of Maximilian Francis. Although he was somewhat limited as a musician, he was a man of wide culture and high ideals who composed songs and light theatrical pieces.1

Neefe is most notable for being Ludwig van Beethoven’s teacher. He played a pivotal role in the young composer's early career, as it was through Neefe that Beethoven’s first extant composition, Nine Variations on a March by Dressler, was published in 1783. By June 1782, Beethoven had advanced enough to become Neefe’s assistant as court organist.1