Gottfried Silbermann

Gottfried Silbermann (1683–1753), born at Kleinbobritzsch in Saxony, was the outstanding German organ builder of the Baroque. He learned the craft in Strasbourg from his brother Andreas after 1702. He returned to Saxony in 1710 and opened his workshop at Freiberg, completing the grand organ of Freiberg Cathedral in 1714.

Appointed court organ builder to the Saxon elector in 1723, he built some fifty organs. He also made fortepianos after Cristofori's design from 1732, selling several to Frederick the Great, and died at Dresden in 1753.