1874-1939
Schmidt is a late-Romantic composer who achieved success in Austria, particularly as a cellist.
I first became familiar with the composer from his oratorio The Book of the Seven Seals, which eventually led me to his symphonies.
This was enough for me to want to explore more of his music, and so most of what you find from me here will be mainly exploratory.
Schmidt follows a number of composers I have covered whose name is entangled with the Nazi party. As I understand it, Schmidt was rather witless in his knowledge of politics, inconceivable in today's political climate, but apparently shared no convictions with them.
The composer wasn't terribly prolific, however Schmidt shared a love of the pipe organ, and his musical language is often compared to that of fellow organ enthusiast Max Reger, plus Richard Strauss and Bruckner.
Recordings and reviews currently on hand (Click below to visit):
1992: Quintets in G Major & B-flat Major
1996: String Quartets
1997: Symphonies
1998: Book of the Seven Seals
2010: Piano Concerto
2016: Quintet in A Major
2016: Variations on a Hussar's Song