Walter Gerwig was born on 26 November 1899 and was a German lutenist, choral conductor and composer. With Fritz Jöde he was a co-founder of the Berliner Volksmusikschule, the first folk music school in Berlin. From 1928 he taught lute at Berlin’s Akademie für Kirchen- und Schulmusik. During the Nazi era he did not join the NSDAP and avoided appearing at Nazi-sponsored events. From 1952 he headed the lute course at the State Academy of Music in Köln. He died on 9 July 1966.

Gerwig was one of the pioneers of the revival of early music and historical performance practice. Through his concerts and recordings he made a significant contribution to reviving the lute and its repertoire in Europe and America. He made numerous LP recordings of Baroque and Renaissance lute repertoire. In 1965 he received the prize of the Deutschen Schallplattenkritik for the recording of J.S. Bach’s Suite in G minor (BWV 995). He also composed several works for lute, guitar and other stringed instruments.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Gerwig
• https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2544456