February 5, 1748:
Christian Gottlob Neefe is born in Chemnitz, Electorate of Saxony in the Holy Roman Empire, the son of Johann Gottlieb Neefe, a tailor, and Rosina Weyrauch.
April 18, 1771:
Der Dorfbalbier, a comische Operette by Johann Adam Hiller (42) and Christian Gottlob Neefe (23) to words of Weisse after Sedaine, is performed for the first time, at the Theater am Rannstädter Thore, Leipzig.
December 13, 1771:
Die Apotheke, a comic opera by Christian Gottlob Neefe (23) to words of Engel, is performed for the first time, in Berlin.
May 10, 1772:
Amors Guckkasten, an operetta by Christian Gottlob Neefe (24) to words of Michaelis, is performed for the first time, in Leipzig.
March 5, 1776:
Zemire und Azor, a komische Oper by Christian Gottlob Neefe (28) to words of von Thummel after Marmontel, is performed for the first time, in Leipzig.
March 26, 1776:
Christian Gottlob Neefe’s (28) drama Heinrich und Lyda to words of “B.C. d’Arien”, is performed for the first time, in Berlin.
October 12, 1776:
Sophonisbe, a musikalisches Drama mit historischen Prolog und Choren by Christian Gottlob Neefe (28) to words of Meissner, is performed for the first time, in Leipzig.
May 17, 1778:
Christian Gottlob Neefe (30) marries the singer and actress Suzanne Zinck in Frankfurt. She is the adopted daughter of Georg Benda (55).
September 23, 1780:
Adelheit von Veltheim, a Schauspiel mit Gesang by Christian Gottlob Neefe (32) to words of Grossmann, is performed for the first time, in Frankfurt-am-Main.
February 15, 1781:
Christian Gottlob Neefe (33) is named a candidate for court organist in Bonn. While there, he will be composition instructor to an aspiring young musician named Ludwig van Beethoven (10).
June 19, 1782:
Christian Gottlob Neefe (34) becomes court and court chapel organist in Bonn.
June 20, 1782:
One day after being appointed court organist in Bonn, Christian Gottlob Neefe (34) leaves on a summer tour. While he is away, his duties will be taken up by his talented student, Ludwig van Beethoven (11).
March 2, 1783:
Ludwig van Beethoven (12) receives his first public notice, in a letter from his teacher, Christian Gottlob Neefe (35) to Cramer’s Magazin der Musik. (This edition is actually published on March 30)
April 26, 1783:
Bonn Kapellmeister Andrea Luchesi and Konzertmeister Cajetano Mattioli leave town for Italy. While they are away, Luchesi’s duties are taken up by court organist Christian Gottlob Neefe (35). With all this extra work, Neefe will call on the assistance of his student, Ludwig van Beethoven (12).
April 15, 1784:
Maximilian Friedrich, Elector-Archbishop of Cologne, and employer of Christian Gottlob Neefe (36) and Ludwig van Beethoven (13), dies and is succeeded by Maximilian Franz, Archduke of Austria.
June 27, 1784:
Ludwig van Beethoven (13) is hired as second organist by the new Elector of Cologne, Maximilian Franz. He is under the direction of first organist Christian Gottlob Neefe (36). Neefe’s salary is reduced from 400 to 200 florins and Beethoven is hired at 150 florins.
July 23, 1784:
Christian Gottlob Neefe writes that he has taken a position as a schoolmaster in order to make up for the reduction in salary of 27 June.
February 8, 1785:
Maximilian-Franz, Elector-Archbishop of Cologne, restores Christian Gottlob Neefe (37) to his full salary as court organist. See 27 June 1784.
January 3, 1789:
The National Theatre in Bonn is reopened after a hiatus of five years. The stage director is Christian Gottlob Neefe (40).
January 26, 1798:
Christian Gottlob Neefe dies in Dessau in the Principality of Anhalt-Dessau, aged 49 years, eleven months, and 21 days. His earthly remains will be laid to rest in the Historischer Friedhof, Dessau.