Frank Martin

Frank Martin (1890–1974) was one of the most significant Swiss composers of the twentieth century. Initially, he was a proponent of neoclassicism, but in the 1930s, influenced by dodecaphony (the twelve-tone technique), he developed a personal, more daring style. The characteristic of this compositional style is intense lyricism, with melodic lines that are frequently quite pronounced and intense, and constantly changing bass chords.

Martin also worked as a teacher. He was long involved with the Émile Jaques-Dalcroze Institute, centred around eurhythmics, where music is taught and experienced through movement. Later, Martin eventually became a teacher at the Geneva Conservatoire. In 1946, he left Switzerland for the Netherlands, the birth country of his wife. He settled in Amsterdam, then Naarden, where he remained until his death. During his years in the Netherlands, he committed himself fully to composing, with the only exception being his appointment as a composition teacher at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne between 1950 and 1957.

Last update: 26-03-2024