Alphonse Schmitt

Alphonse Schmitt was a French organist and composer.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article on Alphonse Schmitt.

From the period sources

Aloys Schmitt, born in Erlenbach on the Main, was a notable figure in German music, particularly as a piano teacher in Frankfort, where he established himself in 1816. His pedagogical influence extended to several prominent musicians; for instance, Ferdinand Hiller, born in 1811, was among his early pupils (Grove’s Dictionary, 1908). Schmitt’s teaching also shaped the careers of the Andre family, with Julius Andre (born 1808), a fine organist and pianist, being his pupil, and Jean Baptiste Andre (born 1823), also a pianist, studying under him (A Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, 1900). Beyond these, Karl Arnold (born 1794), a fine pianist who later conducted the Philharmonic Society in Christiania, received instruction from Alois Schmitt in Offenbach (Dictionary of Music, 1908). His reputation as a teacher was such that Pierre-Henri Barbara, a French pianist and composer, was sent to Frankfort specifically to take lessons from Schmitt, who was “alors célèbre en Allemagne comme professeur” (Biographie universelle des musiciens, 1880). Schmitt also held the position of Court Organist in Hanover from 1825 to 1829 (Grove’s Dictionary, 1908). His compositions included an oratorio, Ruth, mentioned around 1850 (Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians, 1889).