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E. Robert Schmitz

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.

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.

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. 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.

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

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

Schmitz died at age 60.

Birth and Death Data: Born Paris (capital city and largest city of France), Died September 5, 1949 (San Francisco (consolidated city and county in California, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 60 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-068872 10-in. 1/14/1942 Les sons et les parfums E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068873 10-in. 1/14/1942 Des pas sur la neige E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068874 10-in. 1/14/1942 Sérénade interrompue E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068875 10-in. 1/14/1942 La fille aux cheveux de lin E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068876 10-in. 1/14/1942 La cathédrale engloutie, part 1 E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068877 10-in. 1/14/1942 La cathédrale engloutie, concluded E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068878 10-in. 1/15/1942 Les collines d'Anacapri E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068879 10-in. 1/15/1942 Le vent dans la plaine E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068880 10-in. 1/15/1942 Minstrels E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CS-068881 12-in. 1/15/1942 Suite bergamasque : Prélude E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CS-068882 12-in. 1/15/1942 Clair de lune (Moonlight) E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CS-068888 12-in. 1/16/1942 Suite bergamasque : Menuet E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CS-068889 12-in. 1/16/1942 Suite bergamasque : Passepied E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CS-068890 12-in. 1/16/1942 La cathédrale engloutie E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068891 10-in. 1/16/1942 La danse de puck E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-068892 10-in. 1/16/1942 Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-071298 10-in. 1/14/1942 Danseuses de delphes E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-071299 10-in. 1/14/1942 Voiles E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5RB-0253 10-in. 5/4/1945 La sèrénade interrompue E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5RB-0254 10-in. 5/4/1945 La danse de Puck E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5RB-0255 10-in. 5/4/1945 Minstrels E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5RB-0256 10-in. 5/4/1945 Sur le nom d'Haydn E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D6RB-1614 10-in. 2/1/1946 Brouillards E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D6RB-1615 10-in. 2/1/1946 Feuilles mortes E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D6RB-1616 10-in. 2/1/1946 La puerta del vino E. Robert Schmitz Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 1-25 of 60 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Schmitz, E. Robert," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104206.

Schmitz, E. Robert. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104206.

"Schmitz, E. Robert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104206

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