Martin has received commissions from the Melrose Symphony, Cape Ann Symphony and Quincy Symphony Orchestras of Massachusetts, Duo Yumeno, and for other works for chorus and for solo instruments. He was a composer and associate director for the Afternoons of Shakuhachi and Koto Music concert series presented in the Boston area (1994-2012), Managing editor for the music journal Sonus (1991-2010), Director of Ellen Sitgreave Motter Concert/Lecture series at Harvard University where he organized and presented concerts and talks of music by living composers (1990-1997).
He began gigging as a clarinetist and saxophonist in 1966 at age 16 under the guidance and support of elder musicians and music teachers around his hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. This exposed him to a wide range of experience with popular, jazz and Western classical music.
After serving as a bandsman (clarinetist) in the U. S. Army 1970-72, he studied music at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (BM ’76) as a composition student of Philip Bezanson and Robert Stern. He later did his graduate studies at the New England Conservatory (MM ’86) as a composition student of Arthur Berger, Pozzi Escot and Malcolm Peyton.
His compositions for both Western symphonic instruments and for traditional Japanese instruments have been presented across the U. S., in Europe, and in Japan. Several of these works have won him awards from: the Massachusetts Cultural Council; the 21st Century Music Project of the International Center for Japanese Culture in Yokahama, certificate; the New England Reed Trio International Chamber Music Composition Competition; and a Bryant Fellowship from Harvard University Library for production of score and parts of his Symphonic Journey for orchestra.
Martin’s Discography:
Three Japanese Images. Jeffrey Jacob, piano, on "Contemporary Eclectic Music for the Piano," vol. 23. New Ariel Recording, 2023.
A Lullaby in Restless Times for classical guitar. On "Drifting," Aaron Larget-Caplan, guitar. Stone Records, 2021.
Three Japanese Images for piano; Ballade for violin & piano; Opera Scenes without a Libretto for piano. Aleksandra Ivanova, piano and Anastasiya Abadjieva, violin. Stories Beyond Words, independent album, 2020.
Two Japanese Idylls for classical guitar. "The Legend of Hagoromo," Aaron Larget-Caplan, guitar. Stone Records, 2015.
Symphonic Journey for orchestra. Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Robert Black cond. MMC Recordings, 1993.
About the music
I compose music across different genres and styles of music while being mindful of an intended audience. I view traditional tonal music and atonal music as two separate poles of the same continuum of musical sound within the framework of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale. I am comfortable writing music at either of these poles or in the fertile connecting tonal continuum between them.
With my training in the Western classical tradition, my experience in jazz and my contemporary compositions for traditional Japanese instruments, I often like to explore ways of creating new meaning to my work by bringing elements of these different musical traditions together.
Photo credits
Martin M Schreiner
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