MARTIN, Frank
b Geneva, 15 September 1890
d Naarden, Holland, 21 November 1974, aged eighty-four

He was the tenth child of a Calvinist minister. He began composing at the age of eight, though his parents allowed him to have only one private teacher in music. He lectured on chamber music at Geneva Conservatory, and became the director of a private music school. From 1943 to 1946 he was president of the Swiss Musicians' Union. In 1946 he moved to the Netherlands, travelling from his horn e to hold composition classes in Cologne from 1950 to 1957.

Composition did not come easily to him, and he was lucky to have the help and influence of the conductor Ansermet. He toured the world as a piano performer, and won many prizes and honours.

1926 (36)

Rythmes, three symphonic movements

1931 (41)

Violin Sonata

Chaconne, for cello and piano

1933 (43)

Four Short Pieces for guitar

1934 (44)

Piano Concerto No 1

1935 (45)

Rhapsody, for two violins, two violas and double-bass, or string orchestra

1936 (46)

Symphony for full orchestra (1936-7)

Danse de la peur, for two pianos and small orchestra

String Trio

1938 (48)

Ballade, for alto saxophone, string orchestra, piano, timpani and percussion

Le Vin herbe, opera (Der Zaubertrank)

(1938-41)

Sonata da Chiesa for viola d'amore and organ

1939 (49)

Ballade, for piano and orchestra

Ballade, for flute, string orchestra and piano

Ballade, for flute and piano

1941 (51)

Sonata da Chiesa for flute and string orchestra

1942-3 (52-3)

Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Chnstoph Rilke, for high voice and orchestra

1943 (53)

Sechs Monologe aus Jedermann, for baritone and piano

1944 (54)

Petite symphonie concertante (1944-5)

In terra pax, oratorio

Passacaglia for organ

1945-8 (55-8)

Golgotha, oratorio

1946 (56)

Overture to Racine's Athalie, for orchestra

1947 (57)

Trois chants de Noel, for high voice, flute and piano

1948 (58)

Ballade, for cello and piano

Eight Piano Preludes

1949 (59)

Concerto for seven wind instruments

1950 (60)

Violin Concerto (1950-1)

Five Ariel Songs, for mixed chamber choir

1951 (61)

Concerto for cembalo and small orchestra (1951-2)

1952-5 (62-5)

La Tempete, opera

1955-6 (65)

Etudes, for string orchestra

1956 (66)

Overture in Homage to Mozart, for orchestra

1957-9 (67-9)

La Mystere de la Nativite, oratorio

1958 (68)

Overture in Rondo, for orchestra

Pseaumes de Geneve, for mixed choir, children's voices, organ and

orchestra

1960 (70)

Drey Minnelieder, for soprano and piano

1961-2 (71-2)

Monsieur de Pourceaugnac, opera

1962-4 (73-4)

Les Quatre élements, symphonic studies: Earth, Water, Air, Fire

1964 (74)

Pilate, cantata

1965 6 (75-6)

Cello Concerto

1967 (77)

String Quartet

1968 (78)

Maria-Triptychon (Ave Maria - Magnificat - Stabat Mater), for

soprano, solo violin and orchestra

Piano Concerto No 2

1969 (79)

Erasmi Monumentum, for orchestra and organ

Poemes de la mort, for tenor, baritone, bass and three electric

guitars (1969-71)

1970 (80)

Three Dances, for oboe, harp, string quintet and string orchestra

1971-2 (81-2)

Requiem, for soprano, contralto, tenor and bass soli, mixed choir, orchestra and organ

1972 (82)

Ballade, for viola, wind orchestra, cembalo, harp and timpani

1973 (83)

Polyptyque, for violin and two small string orchestras

Fantasy on Flamenco Rhythms, for piano

1974 (84)

Et la vie l'emporta, chamber cantata