falckenhagen was born in großdalzig, a city near leipzig. he learned to play the lute and the harpsichord. from 1719-1720 he studied in the leipzig university. between 1720 and 1727 he worked in weißenfels as a court musician. he went to dresden to study with sylvius leopold weiss. in 1734 he moved to bayreuth. he worked for margrave frederick of bayreuth. he died in bayreuth on 6 october 1754.