Since 1983 he was professor of musicology at the University of Music Karlsruhe and head of the Institute for Musicology at the University of Karlsruhe. From 1986 to 1990 and again from 1992 to 1996 he served as vice-rector of the University of Music Karlsruhe.
Since 1999 he has been the editor of the Karlsruher Beiträge zur Musikwissenschaft (ISSN: 1434-4270), which is published annually.
From 1997 he was chairman of the board of trustees of the Max-Reger-Institut Karlsruhe and from 1999 to 2007 chairman of the Händel-Gesellschaft Karlsruhe. He was also active in the Handel Academy. He was a co-founder of the Association for the Promotion of Karlsruhe City History and its chairman until his death in Karlsruhe at age 67.
Publications
as editor with Walther Dürr and Thomas Seyboldt: Schuberts Lieder nach Gedichten aus seinem literarischen Freundeskreis. Auf der Suche nach dem Ton der Dichtung in der Musik[3] (Karlsruher Beiträge zur Musikwissenschaft. Vol. 1). Lang, Frankfurt a. o. 1999, ISBN3-631-33984-4.
as editor: Ausdrucksformen der Musik des Barock. Passionsoratorium – Serenata – Rezitativ (Veröffentlichungen der Internationalen Händel-Akademie Karlsruhe. Vol. 7: Bericht über die Symposien der Internationalen Händel-Akademie. 6, 1998/2000). Laaber-Verlag, Laaber 2002, ISBN3-89007-529-0.
as editor with Jürgen Schaarwächter: Festschrift für Susanne Popp (Schriftenreihe des Max-Reger-Instituts Karlsruhe. Vol. 17: Reger-Studien. 7). Carus, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN3-89948-064-3.
as editor: Aspekte der Musik des Barock. Aufführungspraxis und Stil (Veröffentlichungen der Internationalen Händel-Akademie Karlsruhe.[4] 7, 2001/2004). Laaber-Verlag, Laaber 2006, ISBN3-89007-649-1.
Ravels Klaviermusik. Ein musikalischer Werkführer[5] (Beck'sche Reihe. 2210, C.-H.-Beck-Wissen). C. H. Beck, Munich 2006, ISBN3-406-44810-0.
Honours
Susanne Mautz, Jörg Breitweg (ed.): Festschrift für Siegfried Schmalzriedt zum 60. Geburtstag. Lang, Frankfurt am Main u. a. 2001, ISBN3-631-37815-7.
^The surname is to be interpreted as toponym for "Schmalzieg-Ried", "clearing populated by young deer goats". "Schmalziege" is to be understood as a synonym for "Schmalreh" or "Schmalgeiß", as a young roe deer goat, which has not yet calved, is called in the language of the hunter. Accordingly, the family name "Schmalzigaug" is explained as "Rehgeißen-Auge".