józef elsner was born in grottkau (grodków), herzogtum neisse (duchy of nysa), near breslau (wrocław), kingdom of prussia, on 1 june 1769, to german silesian catholic parents franz xaver elsner. his mother was from the famous matzke family of glatz, which had intensive contacts with czech culture in bohemia. józef elsner was initially educated for the priesthood at breslau's dominican monastery school, st. matthew's "gymnasium", and a local jesuit college, but chose the music field. in 1832–37 he would compose nineteen religious pieces for breslau cathedral.