Short bio Leo Smit
Full biography Leo Smit
Leo Smit (1900-1943) was a Dutch-born composer, pianist, and music educator. He was born in Amsterdam and began his music studies at a young age. Smit studied composition with Willem Pijper and piano with Ulfert Schults. In 1921, he made his public debut as a pianist in Amsterdam and in the 1920s, he became known for his performances of contemporary music.
In the 1930s, Smit emigrated to the United States to escape the rise of fascism in Europe. He settled in Los Angeles, where he became a highly regarded music educator and an active member of the city's musical community. He taught at UCLA and was the director of the Monday Evening Concerts series, which presented new music by American and European composers.
As a composer, Smit was active in a variety of genres, including orchestral music, chamber music, and vocal music. He was particularly drawn to the poetry of Emily Dickinson and his settings of her poems are considered among his finest works. He also wrote two operas: "The Alaskan" and "The Raven."
Despite his success in the United States, Smit's life was cut short by the Holocaust. In 1943, he and his wife were arrested by the Nazis and deported to the Terezin concentration camp, where Smit died later that year at the age of 43. His legacy lives on through his music, which has been performed and recorded by numerous artists. The Leo Smit Foundation, based in the Netherlands, is dedicated to promoting his works and those of other composers who were suppressed during the Nazi era.
Compositions featuring Leo Smit
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonata for flute & piano | 12:48 min | Chamber Music | 1943 |
| 2 | Divertimento, for piano, 4 hands | 14:12 min | Keyboard | 1942 |
| 3 | Pieces (12) for piano, 4 hands | 10:31 min | Keyboard | 1941 |
| 4 | Concerto for viola & string orchestra | 13:29 min | Concerto | 1940 |
| 5 | De bruid, for female chorus | 2:47 min | Choral | 1939 |
| 6 | String Quartet (unfinished) | 5:38 min | Chamber Music | 1939 |
| 7 | Duo for oboe & cello | 16:46 min | Chamber Music | 1938 |
| 8 | Trio for clarinet, viola & piano | 13:10 min | Chamber Music | 1938 |
| 9 | Kleine prélude van Ravel, for alto & piano | 7:11 min | Vocal Music | 1938 |
| 10 | La Mort, for soprano, alto & piano | 6:28 min | Vocal Music | 1938 |
| 11 | Concertino for cello and orchestra | 10:47 min | Orchestral | 1937 |
| 12 | Concerto for piano & wind ensemble | 11:42 min | Concerto | 1937 |
| 13 | Symphonie in C major | 28:41 min | Symphony | 1936 |
| 14 | Sonate Concertante, for flute & chamber orchestra | 12:16 min | Concerto | 1934 |
| 15 | Concertino, for harp & orchestra | 17:33 min | Concerto | 1933 |
| 16 | Schemselnihar, for orchestra | 26:59 min | Orchestral | 1929 |
| 17 | Sextet for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn & piano | 13:31 min | Chamber Music | 1928 |
| 18 | Quintet for flute, violin, viola, cello & harp | 21:35 min | Chamber Music | 1928 |
| 19 | Hommages (2) for piano | 7:39 min | Keyboard | 1928 |
| 20 | Suite for piano | 10:28 min | Keyboard | 1926 |
| 21 | Trio, for flute, viola & harp | 11:35 min | Chamber Music | 1926 |
| 22 | Overture to Teirlinck's "De Vertraagde Film", for orchestra | 7:30 min | Orchestral | 1923 |
| 23 | Silhouetten, for orchestra | 14:22 min | Orchestral | 1922 |
| 24 | Forlane et Rondeau, for orchestra (orch. Gotfried Devreese from Suite for piano) | 7:26 min | Orchestral | - |
Albums featuring Leo Smit
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Trio Zerline, Debussy, Bax, Dubois, Smit, Takemitsu – Debussy, Couleur Originale(7×File, AAC, Album) | 2022 | Paraty |
| 2 |  |
Aaron Copland, William Lang, Michael Winfield, New England Conservatory Chorus, Lorna Cooke deVaron, New Philharmonia Orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra, Henry Fonda, Philharmonia Orchestra, Benny Goodman, Laura Newell, Abba Bogin, Columbia Symphony | 2013 | Sony Classical |
| 3 |  |
Leo Smit, Georgine Resick, Warren Jones (5) – Song Cycle(CD, Album) | 2007 | Bridge Records (4) |
| 4 |  |
Bruch, Jacob, Smit, Trio Accanto (2) – Music For Clarinet, Viola And Piano(CD, Album) | 2002 | Paula |
| 5 |  |
Songs Of Wonder / At The Corner Of The Sky / Cock Robin / Copernicus(CD, Compilation) | 1999 | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 6 |  |
Leo Smit, Rosalind Rees – 33 Songs On Poems Of Emily Dickinson(CD, Album) | 1997 | Bridge Records (4) |
| 7 |  |
Aaron Copland, Leo Smit – The Young Pioneers: The Complete Music For Solo Piano | 1994 | Sony Classical |
| 8 |  |
A Crazy Quilt Of American Piano Music | 1986 | Musical Heritage Society |
| 9 |  |
Harold Blumenfeld / Fred Fox / Henry Orland / Leo Smit - The Gregg Smith Singers, Gregg Smith (2), The Washington University Madrigal Singers, Orland Johnson, California State, Hayward, University Singers, Harry Carter (4) – New American Choral Music Vol. | 1984 | Gregg Smith Singers Productions |
| 10 |  |
The Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Lukas Foss - Lou Harrison / Vladimir Ussachevsky / John Cage, Henry Cowell, Lou Harrison, Virgil Thomson / Leo Smit – At The Tomb Of Charles Ives / Divertimento / Party Pieces / Academic Graffiti | 1983 | Gramavision |
| 11 |  |
Leo Smit, Claudia Hoca – Piano Music(LP) | 1983 | Spectrum Records (5) |
| 12 |  |
Aaron Copland – The Complete Music For Solo Piano | 1979 | CBS Masterworks |
| 13 |  |
Jan DeGaetani & Leo Smit – Classic Cole | 1977 | CBS Classics |
| 14 |  |
Wilson, Smit, Blank – Other Voices(LP) | 1977 | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 15 |  |
Leo Smit , Piano Compositions In The Jazz Idiom By Alexandre Tansman, Hindemith, Copland, Milhaud, Stravinsky, Gershwin – The Masters Write Jazz(LP, Mono) | 1958 | Dot Records |
| 16 |  |
Aaron Copland / Ernest Bloch - Leo Smit, Radio Rome Symphony Orchestra / Radio Zurich Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Scherman – Piano Concerto ("Jazz" Concerto) 1926 / Four Episodes For Small Orchestra | 1952 | Concert Hall |
| 17 |  |
Alexei Haieff / Robert Ward (6) - Leo Smit, American Recording Society Symphony Orchestra, Walter Hendl, Dean Dixon (2) – Concerto For Piano And Orchestra / Symphony No. 1 | 1952 | American Recording Society |
| 18 |  |
Stravinsky / Copland - Joseph Fuchs, Leo Smit – Duo Concertant / Sonata For Violin And Piano | 1950 | Decca |
| 19 |  |
Aaron Copland, Leo Smit – Danzon Cubano(Shellac, 10", 78 RPM) | 1947 | Concert Hall |
| 20 |  |
Marc Blitzstein, Henry Cowell, Norman Dello Joio, Lukas Foss, Leo Smit – American Composers At The Piano(4×12", 78 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Mono) | 1947 | Concert Hall |
| 21 |  |
Aaron Copland, Leo Smit – Piano Sonata (1941) "Our Town" Suite(4×12", 78 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered) | 1946 | Concert Hall |
| 22 |  |
Aaron Copland - Jan DeGaetani, Leo Smit – 81st Birthday Concert At The Library Of Congress(CD, Album) | - | Bridge Records (4) |
| 23 |  |
Aaron Copland, Leo Smit – Danzon Cubano / Three Blues / Our Town Suite(10", 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Mono) | - | Concert Hall Society |
| 24 |  |
Leo Smit, Liszt – In Woods For Oboe, Harp & Percussion / Six Piano Pieces(LP) | - | Orion |
| 25 |  |
Alexei Haieff, Walter Hendl, Leo Smit, Ray Green, Max Schönherr – Concert For Piano And Orchestra / Alexei Haieff Walter Hendl, Conductor / Leo Smit, Piano Sunday Sing Symphony / Ray Green Max Schoenherr, Conductor(LP, Album, Mono) | - | Desto |
| 26 |  |
Jan DeGaetani / Leo Smit – Classic Cole(Cassette, Album) | - | Sony Music Special Products |
| 27 |  |
Alexei Haieff, Sondra Bianca, Leo Smit, Hans-Jürgen Walther, The Philharmonia Orchestra Of Hamburg – Concerto For Piano and Orchestra / Five Pieces For Piano / Four Juke Box Pieces(LP) | - | MGM Records |
| 28 |  |
Tchaikovsky ; Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Gottfried Ephraim Lessing / Leo Smit – Francesca Da Rimini, Op. 32 / Scherzo A la Russe, Op. 1(10", 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition, Sampler) | - | Concert Hall |
Videos featuring Leo Smit
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) and Leo Smit (1921-1999), 2 pianos
Recorded in 1947
(Note: already uploaded by TheWelleszTheatre but this transfer has better sound quality.)
In 1942, to celebrate the twent
">Copland's "Danzón Cubano" played by Aaron Copland and Leo Smit (1947 rec.)
Aaron Copland's "Danzón Cubano" (1942) for two pianos.
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) and Leo Smit (1921-1999), 2 pianos
Recorded in 1947
(Note: already uploaded by TheWelleszTheatre but this transfer has better sound quality.)
In 1942, to celebrate the twent
Scherzo Humoristique: The Cat and the Mouse (1920)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Scherzo Humoristique: The Cat and the Mouse (1920) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Produ
Two Songs for Voice and Bassoon: I. Don't Let that Horse Eat that Violin
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Two Songs for Voice and Bassoon: I. Don't Let that Horse Eat that Violin · Men and Boys Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral · Frederick Burgomaster · Allan Blank · Jan DeGaetani · Arthur Weisberg
Other Voice
Two Songs for Voice and Bassoon: II. The Penny Candy Store Beyond the El
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Two Songs for Voice and Bassoon: II. The Penny Candy Store Beyond the El · Men and Boys Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral · Frederick Burgomaster · Allan Blank · Jan DeGaetani · Arthur Weisberg
Other Voice
Piano Variations (1930)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Piano Variations (1930) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith Sherman
Executi
Sometimes
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Sometimes · Men and Boys Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral · Frederick Burgomaster · Olly Wilson · William Brown
Other Voices
℗ 2011 Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.
Released on: 2011-01-15
Auto-gener
In Evening Air (1966)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
In Evening Air (1966) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Executive Producer, Producer: Tho
Passacaglia (1922)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Passacaglia (1922) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith Sherman
Executive P
Piano Sonata : I. Molto moderato
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Piano Sonata : I. Molto moderato · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith Sherma
Piano Sonata : II. Vivace
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Piano Sonata : II. Vivace · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith Sherman
Execu
Piano Sonata : III. Andante sostenuto
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Piano Sonata : III. Andante sostenuto · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith S
Piano Fantasy
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Piano Fantasy · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith Sherman
Executive Produc
Four Piano Blues : 1. Freely Poetic (for Leo Smit)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Four Piano Blues : 1. Freely Poetic (for Leo Smit) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Produ
Four Piano Blues : 2. Soft and Languid (for Andor Foldes)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Four Piano Blues : 2. Soft and Languid (for Andor Foldes) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Four Piano Blues : 3. Muted and Sensuous (for William Kapell)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Four Piano Blues : 3. Muted and Sensuous (for William Kapell) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-0
Four Piano Blues : 4. With Bounce (for John Kirkpatrick)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Four Piano Blues : 4. With Bounce (for John Kirkpatrick) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Midsummer Nocturne (1947)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Midsummer Nocturne (1947) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith Sherman
Execu
The Young Pioneers (1936)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
The Young Pioneers (1936) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith Sherman
Execu
Sunday Afternoon Music (1936)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Sunday Afternoon Music (1936) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith Sherman
E
Down A Country Lane (1962)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Down A Country Lane (1962) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith Sherman
Exec
Night Thoughts (Homage to Ives) (1972)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Night Thoughts (Homage to Ives) (1972) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1979 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Judith
Sentimental Melody (1926)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Sentimental Melody (1926) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Thomas Frost
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Two Piano Pieces (1982) : 2. Proclamation
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Two Piano Pieces (1982) : 2. Proclamation · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Executive Pro
Two Piano Pieces (1982) : 1. Midday Thoughts
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Two Piano Pieces (1982) : 1. Midday Thoughts · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Executive
Petite Portrait (1921)
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
Petite Portrait (1921) · Leo Smit · Aaron Copland / 柯普蘭
Copland: The Complete Music For Solo Piano
℗ 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Released on: 1994-08-23
Producer: Thomas Frost
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Cage/Cowell/Harrison/Thomson | Party Pieces ("Sonorous and Exquisite Corpses")
A 20-movement suite of pieces written at a party by John Cage, Henry Cowell, Lou Harrison, and Virgil Thomson.
Callie Carmosino - Bassoon
Heather Gilligan - Piano
Tim Goss - Flute/Piano
Kathryn Lanouette - Clarinet
Arranged by Robert Hughes and Heather
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