Composer, born near Halle, Germany. He studied music and theology at Halle, and in 1822 became a musical teacher at Stettin. In 1847 he sang and played before the court in London. He composed operas (of which only one, The Three Wishes, was performed), oratorios, symphonies, concertos, duets, and works for piano. He is best known for his dramatic ballads, including his setting of Goethe's Erlkönig. He published his autobiography in 1870.