Born in 1811 Ritter, a contemporary of Wagner and Liszt made an early decision to concerntrate his energies into organ music and performance. He held significant posts at Merseburg and Magdeburg Cathedrals and was renowned as a teacher.

Ritter developed and interest in musicology and his interest in collecting old music led eventually to the publication of his most significant historical work Zur Geschichte des Orgelspiels. There is much in this and other teaching publications that had a lasting effect and indeed an influence on the twentieth century Orgelbewegung.

His four organ sonatas were written in a ten year period between 1846 and 1856. The Ladegast organ in Polditz, one of the builders largest in Saxony, is a contemporary of the composer.