Matthias Schmidt

Prof. Dr. Matthias Schmidt holds the Chair of Musicology at the University of Basel since 2007, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and the Musicological Seminar. Previously, he held guest lectureships and acting professorships in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands, and worked at the Arnold Schönberg Research Center in Vienna. His academic journey includes a doctorate from the Free University of Berlin (1996) and habilitation from the University of Salzburg (2001).

• Education: Doctorate (Free University of Berlin, 1996), Habilitation (University of Salzburg, 2001)
• Current Roles: Full Professor at University of Basel, Sponsor at eikones – Center for the Theory and History of the Image

His research spans music aesthetics and history from the 18th to 21st centuries, focusing on cultural hybridities, Jewish identity in music, and digital humanities. He explores intersections of literature (e.g., Goethe's West-östlicher Divan) with music, historical practices in Alpine salon orchestras, and memory studies in violin repertoire. Recent projects include collaborations with the Paul Sacher Foundation and studies on ballet music aesthetics.

Key publications analyze contemporary compositions, historical musicology, and cultural contexts in works by Fritz Kreisler, Mendelssohn, and Goldmark. His team contributes to international collaborations like the MAKE MUSIC Festival (2025), addressing music's role in dictatorships and resistance. He co-edits monographs on topics such as Salon Orchestras in the Alps and High-Altitude Music.

Scientific Awards: No specific awards listed in the provided data.

He supervises doctoral theses and mentors students in areas like music analysis and cultural studies. His lab at the Musicological Seminar (Petersgraben 27) houses one of Europe's premier early music libraries, supporting research from medieval to contemporary periods.