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E. Robert Schmitz

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E. Robert (Elie Robert) Schmitz (February 8, 1889, in Paris – September 5, 1949, in San Francisco) was a Franco-American pianist, teacher, writer, editor, and organizer.[1]

He studied with Louis Diémer at the Conservatoire de Paris where he won first prize in piano. A protégé of Debussy, Schmitz 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 premiered Debussy's Première rhapsodie, Roussel's Evocations, Le Flem's Crépuscules d'amour, and Milhaud's Suite symphonique. Schmitz lead the Association from 1911–14.[1]

Schmitz toured the United States in 1919 and, the following year, founded the Franco-American Music Society in New York, which incorporated as Pro Musica from 1923–36.[2][3] During this period, the first American appearances of Bartók and Ravel were sponsored, as well as lectures and concerts by Schoenberg, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky. Schmitz also had a personal and professional friendship with Charles Ives.[4]

Schmitz published his system of piano study, The Capture of Inspiration, in 1935,[5] as well as editions of the Chopin Etudes, the Bach Two-Part Inventions, and other works that included explanatory texts on his method.[6][7][8] His book, The Piano Works of Claude Debussy, a technical analysis with commentary, was published posthumously in 1950.[1][9] Among his pupils were composers Samuel Dolin, Harry Somers, and Gertrude Price Wollner;[10] and pianist Naomi Yanova.[11]

He recorded in 1942 the Debussy Preludes, Books I and II, for RCA Victor Records, as well as other works for Edison Records.[12][13] The CD, Élie Robert Schmitz joue Debussy (Les introuvables, vol. 34 ), was released in 2023.[14]

Schmitz died at age 60.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Slonimsky, Nicolas; Theodore Baker (1992). Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Eighth Edition. New York, New York: Schirmer Books.
  2. ^ Perlis, Vivian (1978). Two Men for Modern Music: E. Robert Schmitz and Herman Langinger. Brooklyn, NY: Institute for Studies in American Music, Dept. of Music, School of Performing Arts, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. OCLC 6861675.
  3. ^ Wiecki, Ronald V. (1992). A Chronicle of Pro Musica in the United States (1920-1944): With a Biographical Sketch of its Founder, E. Robert Schmitz (PhD diss.). University of Wisconsin, Madison.
  4. ^ Wiecki, Ronald V. (1992). "Two Musical Idealists — Charles Ives and E. Robert Schmitz: A Friendship Reconsidered". American Music. 10 (1, Spring): 1–19. doi:10.2307/3052141. JSTOR 3052141 – via JSTOR.
  5. ^ Schmitz, E. Robert (1935). Rodriguez, José (ed.). The Capture of Inspiration. New York: E. Weyhe. OCLC 3357496.
  6. ^ Chopin, Frédéric (1938). Schmitz, E. Robert (ed.). Etudes (3rd printing, revised ed.). New York: C. [Charles] Fisher. OCLC 7165848.
  7. ^ Bach, Johann Sebastian (1944). Schmitz, E. Robert (ed.). Two-part Inventions. New York: Charles Fisher. OCLC 978210390.
  8. ^ Merritt, Debra E. (2007). The Editions of Alfred Cortot and E. Robert Schmitz Revisited: Pedagogical Perspectives on Selected Chopin Etudes (DMA diss.). University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
  9. ^ Schmitz, E. Robert (1966). The Piano Works of Claude Debussy. New York: Dover Publications. OCLC 615631.
  10. ^ Cohen, Aaron (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers (2nd, revised and enlarged ed.). New York: Books & Music (USA). p. 764.
  11. ^ Betty Nygaard King (December 16, 2013). "Adaskin, Naomi Yanova". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  12. ^ "E. Robert Schmitz". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  13. ^ "E. Robert Schmitz". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  14. ^ "Élie Robert Schmitz – Joue Debussy". Discogs. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  15. ^ "E. Robert Schmitz, Concert Pianist, 60". New York Times. 1949-09-07. p. 29. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
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