Johann Gottlob Töpfer

In 1830 he was appointed organist at the city church of Saint Peter and Paul at Weimar. He held this post until his death, despite attempting to resign in 1844 because of unreasonable conditions; he withdrew his request later. Töpfer was respected by his contemporaries as a virtuoso and organ expert. He enjoyed a relationship of mutual respect with Franz Liszt amongst others. • Illustration — Gravestone As a composer he left over 400 works, mostly chorale preludes for the organ. His historical legacy is however his writing on the construction of organs. His definition of a Normalmensur is still used today as a basic reference-point for calculation and description of the scaling of organ pipes. Töpfer's publications in 1833, 1843, and 1855 were widely influential because they appeared at a time when the French and English organ makers were open to new, foreign ideas, and they gave full details of pipe scales, wind chambers, pallets, bellows and action. He is buried in the historical cemetery of Weimar.

Johann Gottlob Töpfer studied at Wilhelm-Ernst-Gymnasium. Alexander Wilhelm Gottschalg is recorded as having studied under Johann Gottlob Töpfer. The recorded working language is German. Places of work recorded in the authority are Weimar. Work by Johann Gottlob Töpfer is recorded in the collections of Nationaal Orgelmuseum.

• Background — person • Name — Johann Gottlob Töpfer • Born — 4 December 1791 • Birthplace — Niederroßla, Holy Roman Empire • Died — 8 June 1870 • Place of death — Weimar, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire

• Die Orgelbau-Kunst nach einer neuen Theorie dargestellt und auf mathematische und physikalische Grundsätze gestützt. ("The art of organ building, described by a new theory and supported by mathematical and physical principles") Weimar, 1833. • Erster Nachtrag zur Orgelbaukunst. ("First addendum to the art of organ building") Weimar, 1834. • Anleitung zur Erhaltung und Stimmung der Orgel. Für Organisten und Landschullehrer. ("Instructions for the maintenance and tuning of the organ, for organists and country teachers.") Jena, 1840, 2 1865. • Die Scheiblersche Stimm-Methode. ("The Scheibler method of voicing") Erfurt, 1842. • Die Orgel, Zweck und Beschaffenheit ihrer Theile, Gesetze ihrer Construction, und Wahl der dazu gehörigen Materialien. ("The organ, purpose and nature of its parts, laws of its construction, and the choice of materials required for it.") Erfurt, 1843. Reprint Merseburger, 2010. • Lehrbuch der Orgelbaukunst. ("Text book on organ-building.") 4 vols. in two parts und illustrations. Weimar, 1855. • Die Theorie und Praxis des Orgelbaues. ("The theory and practice of organ-building.") Second completely reworked edition of the Lehrbuch, "for the use of organ builders, organ auditors, organists and architects, edited by Max Allihn, accompanied by a volume containing 65 plates. Weimar, 1888. Bernhard Friedrich Voigt. • Atlas zur Theorie und Praxis des Orgelbaues. Zweite völlig umgearbeitete Auflage des Lehrbuches der Orgelbaukunst von J. G. Töpfer. Für den Gebrauch des Orgelbauers, Orgelrevisors, Organisten und Architekten herausgegeben von Max Allihn. Mit 75 Foliotafeln. Leipzig [sic] 1888. Verlag von Berh. Friedr. Voigt.

Johann Gottlob Töpfer is recorded as composer, musicologist, music theorist, organ builder and music teacher.