September 15, 1890 Geneva - November 21, 1974 Naarden
"When I play Frank Martin’s ‘Polyptych’, I feel the same responsibility, the same exhilaration as when playing Bach’s Chaconne".
- Yehudi Menuhin
Frank Martin wrote a considerable body of keyboard works, two piano concertos and chamber music with piano. His most frequently performed keyboard cycle is his wonderful "8 Préludes", which he composed in 1947/48 for the pianist Dinu Lipatti. Unfortunately, Lipatti passed away before he could perform the Préludes.
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PIANOVERSAL listening tips: Frank Martin
Frank Martin plays Frank Martin!
Listen to the rare recording with Frank Martin himself: the first 4 préludes from his "8 Préludes" (1947/48)
youtube_frank_martin_plays_martin
Frank Martin wrote a beautiful short text about music:
To take our ten magic fingers for a walk
I would have needed twelve magic gardens.
Now there are but eight, and poor pieces for a fairy
For the muse punished me in my slow search for sounds
Too of with contempt for my syntheses
Here is a live performance of the "8 Preludes" by Paul Badura-Skoda, who was a close friend of Frank Martin. He is the dedicatee of the "Fantaisie sur des rythmes flamenco" (1974) for piano solo.
youtube_martin_8preludes_badura_skoda
There is a beautiful complete recording of all keyboard works for solo piano by pianist Julye Adam. A solid recording!
youtube_Frank_Martin_complete_piano_works_Julya_Adam
And here is a brief glimpse into Martin's chamber music with the lovely
Ballade for Trombone & Piano (1940)
Timothy Dowling, trombone; Mitchell Leigh, piano (live) at the Brisbane Lower Brass Weekend 2016
youtube_martin_ballade_tromb_pf
... and the Gigue (3rd movement) from Martin's "Piano Trio on Irish Folk Songs" (1925)
Trio Gaspard: Nicholas Rimmer, piano; Jonian Ilias Kadesha, violin; Vashti Hunter, cello
Recorded in 2015 at the SWR Studio in Freiburg. Sound engineer: Moritz Bergfeld
youtube_Martin_gigue_Trio_Gaspard
There is a very interesting interview with Maria Martin, the widow of Frank Martin in the "Frank Martin House" (NL / EN subtitles)
youtube_interview_maria_martin
The official website about Frank Martin is maintained by the Frank Martin Society in Naarden/NL: www.frankmartin.org
Visit the PIANOVERSALRegister and discover more information about Frank Martin's piano music.
Frank Martin: Composer of the Week No. 12 / March 2018