Leo Smit

Leo Smit (Amsterdam,14 May 1900 – Sobibor, 30 April 1943) lived a fairly ordinary life in Amsterdam until 1927, when he moved to Paris. His parents wanted him to study law and enrolled him in the Barlaeus gymnasium at age 14. For three years he struggled through law classes with not much interest, and the grades to prove it. At age 17 he enrolled in the Amsterdam Conservatoire where he flourished. He graduated with a degree in piano in 1922, followed by a degree in composition in 1925. Smit was hired to teach theory but disagreements with the new director, Willem Pijper, lead to his quitting his position and moving to Paris in 1927.(1)

 

Smit’s parents supported him during his preliminary years in Paris. It was in Paris where he met Engelina (Lientje) de Vries who he married in 1933. His wife and his in-laws supported him while he remained in Paris, allowing him to freely compose. (2) Many compositions from this period made Smit one of the most well-known Dutch composers prior to World War II.  Impressionism, jazz, and neoclassicism were just a few of the influences that found their way into Smit’s music. He also became known as a film composer, often for foreign film companies. Much of that music has been lost.

 

In 1936, the Smits moved to Brussels, and a year later returned to Amsterdam. Smit opened his own studio, offering piano, compositions, and theory lessons.  World War II reached the Netherlands in May 1940. Jews were no longer allowed to perform in public. Many of his students discontinued lessons with him. Without the ability to have larger works performed, as most composers of the time experienced, Smit turned to chamber music. In 1942, the Smits were forced into a Jewish ghetto. Here he continued to give lessons and compose, trying to maintain as normal a life as possible. On March 25, 1943, Smit, who had refused to go into hiding when given the opportunity, was arrested. He was first sent to the Westerbork transit camp, and on April 27, he and his wife were deported to Sobibor. They were murdered on April 30, 1943.(3)

Prior to being sent to the ghetto, Smit had placed his music and possessions with a storage firm, using the name of one of his pupils, Frits Zuiderweg. Zuiderweg gave Smit’s possessions to Leo’s sister, Nora-Copenhagen Smit once she came out of hiding. It is through her efforts that Leo Smit’s music has been preserved.(4)

 

The Flute Sonata was Smit’s last completed work. The three movements (Allegro, Lento, Allegro moderato) were composed out of order. The first movement, then the third were completed. The second movement was Smit’s last composition. It was finished on March 22, 1943, three days before he was arrested.(5) The movement shows influences from Smit’s Paris days, with impressionistic motions throughout.

 

 

(1) Eleonore Pameijer, Treasures 1937-1944, Program Notes. Amsterdam: Channel Classics, 1995.

 

(2) Leopold Smit (1900-1943). Nederlands Musiek Instituut.  n.d. http://www.nederlandsmuziekinstituut.nl/en/collections/490 Accessed November 21, 2015.

 

(3) bid.

 

(4) Ibid.

 

(5) Pameijer, Treasures 1937-1944