SCHMIDT, Franz
b Pressburg, 22 December 1874
d near Vienna, 11 February 1939, aged sixy-four

He was a fine pianist by the age of fourteen, but family financial problems compelled him to earn a living by playing in dancing schools. He entered the Vienna Conservatory in 1890; from 1896 to 1911 he was cellist in the Vienna Court Opera Orchestra, and also taught cello at the Conservatory from 1901 to 1908. In 1914 he was appointed professor of piano at the Vienna Staatsakademie, and became professor of counterpoint and composition in 1922. He was the director of the Staatsakademie from 1925 to 1927, and director of the Musikhochschule from 1927 to 1931. On his sixtieth birthday he received an honorary doctorate from Vienna University.

1896-9 (22-5)

Symphony No 1

1902-4 (28-30)

Notre Dame, opera

1911-13 (37-9)

Symphony No 2

1916-21 (42-7)

Fredigundis, opera

1922 (48)

Romance for piano

1923 (49)

Piano Concerto No 1

1924 (50)

Fantasy and Fugue for organ

Toccata for organ

Prelude and Fugue for organ

1925 (51)

Chaconne for organ

String Quartet in A

1926 (52)

Piano Quintet in C sharp

1927 (53)

Fugue in F for organ

1928 (54)

Symphony No 3

Four Little Preludes and Fugues for organ

1929 (55)

String Quartet in G

1930-1 (56-7)

Variationen uber ein Husarenlied, for orchestra

1931 (57)

Chaconne for orchestra

1932 (58)

Piano Quintet in B

1933 (59)

Symphony No 4

1934 (60)

Piano Concerto No 2

Prelude and Fugue in A for organ

1935 (61)

Toccata and Fugue in Ab for organ

1935-7 (61-3)

Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln, oratorio

1937 (63)

Fuga Solemnis, for organ

1938 (64)

Toccata for piano

Piano Quintet in A Schmidt also composed two clarinet quintets and many organ pieces.