4 was completed in 1933, and received its premiere in 1934 under the direction of Oswald Kabasta at the Wiener Musikverein concert hall in Vienna.
This symphony is contemplative and reflective in nature, and it has been suggested that it represents Schmidt coming to terms with his own death in addition to his daughter's since the composer's physical health was in a period of serious decline around the time of composition.
4 is scored for an orchestra consisting of 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets in Bb, clarinet in Eb, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets in C, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (3), 2 harps, and strings.
Paavo Järvi included the work in a 2020 Deutsche Grammophon album featuring all four of Schmidt's symphonies along with the Intermezzo from the opera Notre Dame.
Most recently, Jonathon Berman, conducting the BBC National Orchestra of Wales has been released in 2024. ref name=":2" />[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]