Johann Gottlieb Naumann was born in
Blasewitz, Dresden and received his musical training from the teachers at his town school, where he was instructed in piano and organ. Later, he studied at the
Kreuzschule in
Dresden and was a member of the
Dresdner Kreuzchor. In Dresden he was taught by the organist and cantor of the Kreuzschule,
Gottfried August Homilius, a student of
Bach. In May 1757, he traveled to Italy with the Swedish violinist Anders Wesström. The composer
Giuseppe Tartini encountered Naumann in 1762 and took an interest in his work. Later that year, he made his debut as an opera composer in Venice with
Il tesoro insidiato. Following his successful 1764 production of
Li creduti spiriti, he was engaged as the second church composer at the Dresden court, on the composer
Johann Adolf Hasse's recommendation. The chord sequence which became known as the
Dresden amen was composed by Naumann for use in the Court Church in Dresden. Such was its popularity that it spread to other churches in
Saxony, both
Catholic and
Lutheran. It was also used by later composers, including
Felix Mendelssohn (in his
Reformation Symphony) and
Richard Wagner (in his opera
Parsifal). In 1777, as a result of negotiations by Swedish diplomat Count Löwenhjelm, Naumann was appointed to reform the Stockholm Hovkapell and assist
King Gustavus III in his opera plans. His work in Sweden led to the 1782 production of his opera
Cora och Alonzo at the inauguration of the new opera house in Stockholm and the 1786 production of
Gustaf Wasa, based on an idea of the king for a
Royal Swedish Opera. After a brief period as a guest composer in
Copenhagen (1785–86), he returned to Dresden where he became Oberkapellmeister. In 1792 he married Catarina von Grodtschilling, daughter of a Danish vice-admiral. His grandson was composer
Ernst Naumann (1832–1910). Naumann also wrote music for
masonic rituals. Naumann died in
Dresden, aged 60. == Works (selected) ==