Description

E. ROBERT SCHMITZ (PARIS, FRANCE, FEBRUARY 8, 1889 – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, SEPTEMBER 5, 1949)

 

 

 

  

He studied with Louis-Joseph Diémer at the Conservatoire de Paris where he won First Prize in Piano. He caught the attention of Camille Saint-Saëns and Vincent D’Indy while directing the Association Musicale Moderne et Artistique (later renamed L’Association de Concerts Schmitz), which gave the world premiere of Debussy’s Première rhapsodie, Roussel’s Evocations, Le Flem’s Crépuscules d’amour, and Milhaud’s Suite Symphonique. Schmitz lead the Association from 1912 until 1914. Schmitz toured the United States in 1919, and the following year, founded the Franco-American Music Society in New York. The Society incorporated as Pro Musica in 1923. Schmitz published a system of piano study, The Capture of Inspiration, in 1935. His book, The Piano works of Claude Debussy, a technical analysis with commentary, was published after his death, in 1950. Schmitz recorded the entire Debussy Preludes, Books I and II, for Victor Records, re-released in the LP era on the RCA Camden label (CAL-179/180). Among his notable pupils was the composer Samuel Dolin.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Arabesque No. 2 in G Major (Debussy) Edison 80890-R 18261
2. Children’s Corner (Debussy) Little Shepherd and Golliwog’s Cakewalk Edison 80890-L 18262
3. Waltz in C Sharp Minor Op. 64, No. 2 (Chopin) Edison 80896-L 18591
4. Nocturne in F Sharp Major Op. 15, No. 2 (Chopin) Edison 80896-R 18590
5. La Cathédrale Engloutie (The Engulfed Cathedral) (No. 10 of Preludes, Book I) (Debussy) Victor 11-8240-B 11-8240-B
6. Clair de Lune (Moonlight) (No. 3 of Suite Bergamasque) (Debussy) Victor 11-8240-A 11-8240-A
7. E. Robert Schmitz & Roth String Piano Quartet in E-Flat, Op. 16 (Beethoven) First movement (Grave; Allegro ma non troppo), part 1, part 2, part 3
8. E. Robert Schmitz & Roth String Piano Quartet in E-Flat, Op. 16 (Beethoven) Second movement (Andante cantabile), part 1, part 2
9. E. Robert Schmitz & Roth String Piano Quartet in E-Flat, Op. 16 (Beethoven) Third movement (Rondo Allegro ma non troppo), part 1, part 2 Columbia XCO 22957-3, XCO 22958-3, XCO 22959-1
10. Philharmonic String Quartet; E. Robert Schmitz Quintette in E flat major Op. 44 (Schumann) 1st movement Allegro brillante with Scipione Guidi (Violin), Arthur Lichstein (violin) and Osvaldo Mazzucchi (cello) Edison 80885 18051
11. Philharmonic String Quartet; E. Robert Schmitz Quintette in E flat major Op. 44 (Schumann) 2nd movement In modo d’una Marcia with Scipione Guidi (Violin), Arthur Lichstein (violin) and Osvaldo Mazzucchi (cello) Edison 80885 18052
12. Philharmonic String Quartet; E. Robert Schmitz Quintette in E flat major Op. 44 (Schumann) 3rd movement Scherzo molto vivace with Scipione Guidi (Violin), Arthur Lichstein (violin) and Osvaldo Mazzucchi (cello) Edison 80886 18055
13. Philharmonic String Quartet; E. Robert Schmitz Quintette in E flat major Op. 44 (Schumann) Finale Allegro ma non troppo with Scipione Guidi (Violin), Arthur Lichstein (violin) and Osvaldo Mazzucchi (cello) Edison 80886 18056
14. Valse, op. 42 (Chopin) Edison 1504