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Born in 1946, he studied at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, from which he graduated in 1971. Two years later he began working in the studio for electronic music of the Skryabin Museum, which served as the meeting ground for leading composers of the Russian avant-garde, such as Denisov, Gubaidulina, Schnittke, and Nemtin. Martynov was also actively involved in the rock group ‘The Boomerang’, which was formed in the studio and for which he wrote the rock opera The Seraphic Visions of St Francis of Assisi (1978). The interest in folk music led him to extensive travels all over Russia, the Caucasus and Tadjikistan. At the end of the 1970s he embarked on an investigation of early Russian religious chant, while also publishing editions of works by Isaac, Machaut, Gabrieli, Dunstable and Dufay. Around that time he accepted a teaching post at the Theological Institute of the Trinity-St Sergius Monastery and from 1980 to 1983 he composed mainly church music. He is currently working on the opera, Vita Nuova, commissioned by the Marijsky Theatre. Selected works (since 1990):
Twelve Victories of King Arthur for seven pianos (1990), Apocalypse for
soloists and two a cappella choirs (1991), The Lamentation of Jeremiah for
a cappella mixed choir (1992), Magnificat quinti toni for coutertenor,
violin and strings (1994), Stabat Mater for mixed choir and string
ensemble (1994), Autumn Ball of the Elves for string orchestra (1994),
Kali-Yuga Dances for piano (1995), Music for Tatyana and America for
violin solo (1995), Requiem for mixed choir, soloists and strings (1995),
Night in Galicia for Russian folk choir and strings (1996), Opus post II
for piano (1996), Games of Angels and Humans for four mixed choir, boys’
choir, soloists, violin solo and instrumental ensemble (1997), Folk Dance
for piano (1997), Exercises and Dances of Guido, opera (1997), Litanies to
the Virgin for three female voices and ensemble (1999), The Afternoon of
Bach for string orchestra (2000), The Well-Tempered Beauty for violin,
oboe and chamber orchestra (2000), Song of Songs (2001), Folk Dance for
string quartet (2002), For it would be better if the Liturgy were
musically performed for five instruments (2003), Death of Wild Warrior for
piano and ensemble (2005); soundtracks for more than 50 films. |