Philip Klitz

Philip Klitz (7 January 1805 – 13 January 1854) was a British-born composer.

Early life and family Klitz was born in Lymington, Hampshire. His father, George Philip Klitz, a 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), with whom he had six sons who became musicians: Philip, the eldest. 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 (1815-1899) John Henry, died 6 December 1880, who by will, founded the Widow and Orphans British and Foreign Musical Society.

Career Philip became a composer of ball-room music at an early age. Around 1829, he took up residence at Southampton where besides classical music, he produced a variety of ballads of which the words were frequently his own. He played the violin and pianoforte, He died at 24 Portland Place, Southampton on 13 January 1854, aged 49, of bronchitis.