Although he is best known as a conductor, he was most passionate about composition and longed to be a famous composer like Richard Strauss, of whom he was especially envious. Stylistically influenced by Wagner and Liszt, his compositional output was significant, including seven symphonies, ten operas, thirty-five Lieder, and many orchestral, choral, and chamber works.

Some of his operas enjoyed moderate success, the most notable being Genesius (1892). In 1904 he wrote Traumnacht und Sturmhymn...