Background
Witt was born in 1770, the same year as Beethoven, and was a German composer of considerable stature in his time. He was born in the Württemberg village of Niederstetten, the son of a cantor and court clerk.
Witt was born in 1770, the same year as Beethoven, and was a German composer of considerable stature in his time. He was born in the Württemberg village of Niederstetten, the son of a cantor and court clerk.
He is perhaps best known as the likely author of a Symphony in C major known as the Jena Symphony, once attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven. Witt became a cellist (some accounts say a violinist) in the court orchestra of Oettingen-Wallerstein when he was nineteen, taking composition lessons there with Antonio Rosettithat is, Anton Rosler. Witt was most famous in his lifetime for his oratorio Der leidende Heilandin English, The Suffering Saviour, securing an appointment as Kapellmeister for the Prince of Würzburg, and later for the theater, where he stayed until his death.
He also wrote two operas: Palma (1804) and Das Fischerweib (1806).
His other compositions include concertos, church music, chamber music and symphonies. His best known work, a symphony in C major known as the Jena, is largely based on the Symphony Number.
97 by Joseph Haydn. Stephen Fisher compiled a thematic index of Witt"s symphonies.