Martin, Frank

Martin, Frank (b Geneva, 1890; d Naarden, Holland, 1974). Swiss composer, pianist, and harpsichordist. Settled in Paris 1923–6, returning to Geneva to teach at Inst. Jaques-Dalcroze 1927–38. Founder and dir. Technicum moderne de musique, Geneva, 1933–9. Taught Cologne Hochschule für Musik 1950–7. Works of high quality, notable for delicate colouring, contrapuntal skill, and expressive nature. Used 12-note system very freely in late works. Prin. comps.:OPERAS: Der Sturm (The Tempest) (1952–5); Monsieur de Pourceaugnac (1960–2).BALLETS: Die blaue Blume (1936); Fairy-Tale of Cinderella (1941); Ein Totentanz zu Basel in Jahre 1943 (1943).ORCH.: Symphonie burlesque sur des thèmes savoyards (1915); Esquisses (1920); Rythmes (1926); Guitare (1933); 5 Ballades: alto sax., str., pf. (1938); fl., str. (1939); pf. (1939); tb. (1940); vc., small orch. (1949); Petite Symphonie Concertante, hp., hpd., pf., str. (1944–5, for full orch. 1946); Concerto, 7 winds, timp., str. (1949); Passacaille, str. (1952, orig. for org. 1944), for orch. (1963); Études, str. (1956); Les 4 Éléments (1963).CONCERTOS: pf. conc. No.1 (1934), No.2 (1968–9); vn. conc. (1951); hpd. conc. (1952); vc. conc. (1966); Triptych, vn., orch. (1973–4).VOICE & ORCH.: Der Cornet or Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke, cont., small orch. (1942–3); Sechs Monologe aus Jedermann (Hofmannsthal), bar. or cont. (1943, orch. 1949).CHORAL: Mass (1922–6); Le vin herbé, secular oratorio on Tristan legend (1938–41); In terra pax, oratorio (1944); Golgotha, oratorio (1945–8); Le mystère de la Nativité (1957–9); Pilate (1964); Requiem (1971–2); Et la vie l'emporta, chamber cantata (1974, orch. B. Reichel).CHAMBER MUSIC: pf. quintet (1919); str. trio (1936); str. qt. No.1 (1936), No.2 (1967); vn. sonata No.1 (1913), No.2 (1931–2).