Carl Andreas Göpfert

Carl Andreas Göpfert (or Goepfert) (1768–1818) was a German virtuoso clarinettist, and composer. Göpfert composed in several genres, including symphonies, concerti, wind ensembles, sonatas, and songs. Carl Andreas Göpfert, in his lifetime salaried Chamber Musician to the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, excellent virtuoso on the clarinet and admirable composer, was born on 16 January 1768 in Rimpar near Würzburg, the son of a surgical officer. Initially taught singing, piano and organ by the local schoolmaster, his preference for the clarinet led him in 1780 to the celebrated Würzburg clarinet virtuoso Philipp Meissner, who may also have taught him the rudiments of composition. Göpfert’s rapidly acquired phenomenal skill on the clarinet led to his being engaged as first clarinettist of the Meiningen court orchestra at the age of 20. As his gentle character prevented him from insisting, he had less and less opportunity to become known further afield as a virtuoso, which would certainly have brought him as much acclaim as did his very popular compositions. He received a golden medal for dedicating a Fantasia militare for wind band to King Wilhelm III. In 1788 Göpfert moved to Vienna. While in