Fred Witt
Fred Witt (1922–) was born in Dortmund and studied singing, composition, guitar, zither, accordion and conducting at Dortmund Conservatorium, grounding a career in composition and direction.
A composer and arranger of much music for plucked string orchestra, he has also conducted many choirs and orchestras in Europe.
After arriving in Melbourne in 1990 he served for six years as conductor of the Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra.
Compositions by Fred Witt appear on
Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra
A prize-winning Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra programme of easy-listening classical works, with guitar soloist Slava Grigoryan and other featured players under Fred Witt.
Composer
Forgotten Dreams
In 1999 Concordia director Basil Hawkins first heard Hadjidakis’s The Waltz of Forgotten Dreams. Struck by its atmospheric, evocative character, he shaped a programme of kindred nostalgia, including Eileen Pakenham’s Reverie and Fred Witt’s Memories of Bendigo.
Salut d'Amour
Concordia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble offers a warm European tour for plucked strings, crowned by Elgar's Salut d'Amour in an arrangement for mandolin orchestra.
Fred Witt also appears on
The Marvellous World of George Dreyfus, Vol. 1
A survey of marvellous music by the well-known Australian composer George Dreyfus, one of the country’s most animated musical personalities, spanning concert, film, choral and children’s repertoire.