Frank Martin Swiss composer Date of Birth: 15.09.1890 Country: Switzerland

1. Biography of Frank Martin
2. Musician and Educator
3. Focus on Composition
4. Compositions and Achievements
5. Monograph on Emile Jaques-Dalcroze

Biography of Frank Martin

Frank Martin was a Swiss composer born into a Calvinist pastor's family. He taught himself to play the piano and began composing at the age of nine. While studying physics and mathematics at the University of Geneva, he also took composition lessons from organist and composer Joseph Lober (1864-1952).

Musician and Educator

In 1926, Martin founded the Geneva Chamber Music Association, where he served as pianist and harpsichordist for ten years. He also taught music theory and improvisation at the Jacques-Dalcroze Institute and led a chamber ensemble at the Geneva Conservatory. From 1933 to 1940, he was the director of his own music school, the Technicum Moderne de Musique, and from 1942 to 1946, he served as the head of the Association of Musicians in Switzerland.

Focus on Composition

In 1946, Martin left all administrative positions and moved to Amsterdam with his Dutch wife to fully dedicate himself to composition. From 1950 to 1957, he taught composition at the Cologne University of Music. In his works, Martin combined the synthesis of the dodecaphonic technique (Schoenberg's 12-tone technique) with the classical tonal system.

Compositions and Achievements

Frank Martin was the author of oratorios such as "Golgotha" and "In Terra Pax," as well as requiems, symphonies, vocal pieces, and instrumental compositions. His ballads for flute, trombone, piano, cello, saxophone, and viola were particularly popular. He also composed the Latin Sonata da chiesa for flute and organ (or Viola d'amore with orchestra).

Monograph on Emile Jaques-Dalcroze

Martin wrote a monograph about Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, the creator of eurhythmics, titled "L’Homme. Le Compositeur. Le createur de la Rythmique" (Neuchatel, Switzerland, 1965).