Philip Klitz
Encyclopedia
Philip Klitz was a British-born composer.
Klitz was born at Lymington
, Hampshire
. His father, George Philip Klitz, drum-major of the royal Flintshire militia, and musical composer, was born at Biebrich, Germany, in 1777, and died at Lymington in 1839. In 1801 he married Elizabeth Lane of Boldre (1775–1838), and by her he had a large family, which included six sons, all well-known musicians:
Philip, the eldest, early became a composer of ball-room music. About 1829 he took up his residence at Southampton, where, besides classical music, he produced a variety of ballads, of which the words were frequently his own. He was a brilliant performer on the pianoforte and violin, and in 1831 conducted Paganini's concert in Southampton. His lectures on music, given in literary institutions and other places, were always well attended, and his advocacy of the Hullah system (see John Pyke Hullah
) met with much success.
He was first organist of St. Lawrence and St. Joseph's Church, Southampton, and from 1845 to his death of All Saints' Church. In 1838 he printed ‘Songs of the Mid-watch, the Poetry by Captain Willes Johnson, the Music composed for and dedicated to the British Navy.’ These six songs were, by order of the admiralty, reprinted in a work entitled ‘Songs of Charles Dibdin. Arranged by T. Dibdin,’ 1850, pp. 315–20. Besides his musical works, he was the author in 1850 of a book entitled ‘Sketches of Life, Character, and Scenery in the New Forest: a series of Tales, Rural, Domestic, Legendary, and Humorous.’ To the masonic body he gave his support, and his composition, ‘Faith, Hope, and Charity,’ is still introduced at the entertainments of the Hampshire lodges. He was one of the first persons to write songs for the concerts of Ethiopian serenaders. ‘Miss Ginger’ and ‘Dinah Dear,’ both in 1847, became very popular ditties.
He died at 24 Portland Place, Southampton. His wife was Charlotte Lyte, a half-sister of Henry Francis Lyte
. His son, George Klitz, was also a voluminous musical composer.
Klitz was born at Lymington
Lymington
Lymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. His father, George Philip Klitz, drum-major of the royal Flintshire militia, and musical composer, was born at Biebrich, Germany, in 1777, and died at Lymington in 1839. In 1801 he married Elizabeth Lane of Boldre (1775–1838), and by her he had a large family, which included six sons, all well-known musicians:
- Philip;
- William, organist of St. Michael's Church, Basingstoke, died 31 May 1857;
- Charles, organist of St. Thomas's Church, Lymington, died 16 February 1864;
- James Frederick, died at Northampton 2 October 1870;
- Robert John;
- John Henry, died 6 December 1880, who by will founded the Widow and Orphans British and Foreign Musical Society.
Philip, the eldest, early became a composer of ball-room music. About 1829 he took up his residence at Southampton, where, besides classical music, he produced a variety of ballads, of which the words were frequently his own. He was a brilliant performer on the pianoforte and violin, and in 1831 conducted Paganini's concert in Southampton. His lectures on music, given in literary institutions and other places, were always well attended, and his advocacy of the Hullah system (see John Pyke Hullah
John Pyke Hullah
John Pyke Hullah , English composer and teacher of music, was born at Worcester.He was a pupil of William Horsley from 1829, and entered the Royal Academy of Music in 1833...
) met with much success.
He was first organist of St. Lawrence and St. Joseph's Church, Southampton, and from 1845 to his death of All Saints' Church. In 1838 he printed ‘Songs of the Mid-watch, the Poetry by Captain Willes Johnson, the Music composed for and dedicated to the British Navy.’ These six songs were, by order of the admiralty, reprinted in a work entitled ‘Songs of Charles Dibdin. Arranged by T. Dibdin,’ 1850, pp. 315–20. Besides his musical works, he was the author in 1850 of a book entitled ‘Sketches of Life, Character, and Scenery in the New Forest: a series of Tales, Rural, Domestic, Legendary, and Humorous.’ To the masonic body he gave his support, and his composition, ‘Faith, Hope, and Charity,’ is still introduced at the entertainments of the Hampshire lodges. He was one of the first persons to write songs for the concerts of Ethiopian serenaders. ‘Miss Ginger’ and ‘Dinah Dear,’ both in 1847, became very popular ditties.
He died at 24 Portland Place, Southampton. His wife was Charlotte Lyte, a half-sister of Henry Francis Lyte
Henry Francis Lyte
Henry Francis Lyte was a Scottish Anglican divine and hymn-writer.-Youth and education:Henry Francis Lyte was born to Thomas and Anna Maria Lyte on a farm at Ednam, near Kelso, Scotland...
. His son, George Klitz, was also a voluminous musical composer.