SEARCH

← Return to search results

Guide to the Jean Martinon papers

Collection Title: Jean Martinon papers
Dates: 1923-1994
Identification: Martinon
Creator: Martinon, Jean, 1910-1976
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Barraud, Henry, 1900-1997
Baudo, Serge, 1927-
Berliner Philharmoniker
Böhm, Karl, 1894-1981
Borsari, Amédée, 1905-1999
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Brisson, Pierre, 1896-1964
Canarina, John, 1934-
Casadesus, Francis, 1870-1954
Charles, Edouard
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chouraqui, André, 1917-2007
Comissiona, Sergiu
Cziffra, Georges, 1921-1994
Drake University. College of Arts and Sciences
Dutilleux, Henri, 1916-
Düsseldorfer Symphoniker
Ferras, Christian, 1933-1982
Fournet, Jean
Fournier, Jean, 1911-2003
Fournier, Pierre, 1906-1986
Francescatti, Zino, 1902-1991
Gavoty, Bernard
Gingold, Josef
Haitink, Bernard, 1929-
Hamon, Jean
Hasselmann, Roland
Henze, Hans Werner, 1926-
Hétu, Pierre, 1936-1998
Indiana University. School of Music
Inghelbrecht, D. E. (Désiré Emile), 1880-1965
Jean Martinon Society
Jolivet, André, 1905-1974
Karajan, Herbert von
Kubelík, Rafael, 1914-1996
Landowski, Marcel, 1915-1999
Le Roux, Maurice
Lees, Benjamin, 1924-2010
Leinsdorf, Erich, 1912-1993
Lescuyer, Christian
Loewenguth, Alfred
Lumbroso, Nelly, b. 1877
Malraux, André, 1901-1976
Menuhin, Yehudi, 1916-1999
Messiaen, Olivier, 1908-1992
Mihalovici, Marcel, 1898-1985
Moreux, Serge, 1900-1959
Munch, Charles, 1891-1968
Norddeutscher Rundfunk
Nussy Saint-Saëns, Marcel
Ohana, Maurice, 1913-1992
Orchestre des concerts Lamoureux
Otterloo, Willem van
Peck, Donald
Proffit, André
Radiodiffusion française. Orchestre national
Reiner, Fritz, 1888-1963
Remoortel, Edouard van, 1926-1977
Rosenthal, Manuel, 1904-2003
Roussel, Albert, 1869-1937
Rózsa, Miklós, 1907-1995
Ruchpaul, Eva, 1928-
Schmidt-Isserstedt, Hans, 1900-1973
Schoenberg, Gertrud
Serkin, Rudolf, 1903-1991
Solti, Georg, 1912-1997
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Starker, Janos
Stern, Isaac, 1920-2001
Stravinsky, Igor, 1882-1971
Szeryng, Henryk
Language of Materials: French, English
Abstract: The Jean Martinon Papers consist of materials created by composer/conductor Jean Martinon himself (including published and unpublished manuscript scores and arrangements of compositions written between 1935 and 1975, as well as biographical and other materials produced or collected by the Jean Martinon Society and the Association Jean Martinon.
Acquisition Information: The materials were donated to the Northwestern University Music Library by Martinon's widow, Nery Martinon, beginning in December 29, 1986.
Appraisal Information: Several duplicate published scores were discarded. Small amounts of duplicate and extraneous material were discarded.
Conditions Governing Use: The status and copyright on these materials are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).  All requests for use of any kind of these materials must be made in writing to the Head Music Librarian.
Conditions Governing Access: Open to researchers under library restrictions. All access to these materials is strictly controlled. Permission of the Head Music Librarian is required.
Preferred Citation: Jean Martinon Papers, Northwestern University Music Library.
Repository: Music Library
Deering Library
1970 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL,
URL: http://www.library.northwestern.edu/music
Email: musiclibrary@northwestern.edu
Phone: 847-491-3434

Biographical/Historical Information

Born on January 10, 1910 in Lyon, the French conductor and composer, Jean Martinon entered the Lyon and Paris conservatoires to study the violin. At Lyon, his teacher was Maurice Foundray and at the Paris Conservatory, he studied violin technique with Jules Boucherit. While at the Paris conservatory, Martinon took composition with Albert Roussel and Vincent d’Indy. After completing the composition courses, he studied conducting with Charles Munch and Désormière. He graduated from the Paris Conservatory in 1928, winning a premier prix.

Martinon’s familiarity with conducting started in France, followed by various appointments in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. In 1946, he embarked on a conducting career directing the Concerts du Conservatoire in Paris and the Bordeaux Symphony. The successful debut with the LPO led to his appointment as associate conductor of the orchestra in 1947. From 1947-1950 Martinon directed the Radio Eireann orchestra, Dublin and in 1951, he returned to Paris to conduct the Concerts Lamoureux until 1957. From 1957-1959, Martinon conducted the Israel Philharmonic. His appointment as the next conductor of the Düsseldorf Symphony occurred in 1959. Martinon was in Düsseldorf until 1963 when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra selected him as their music director, a position he held until 1968. During that same year, he returned to France to direct the French National Radio Orchestra and served as the principal conductor of the Hague Residentie–Orkest from 1974 until shortly before his death in 1976.

Martinon’s extensive experience as a composer led to his approach to conducting. The Symphoniette pour orchestre á cordes, piano, harpe et timbales, op. 16, from 1935, is one of three first attempts at composition. After enlisting in the war, Martinon’s imprisonment in a German camp, Stalag IX A, resulted in several new compositions, Psaume 136, le Chant des Captifs, Musique d’Exil, Sonatina No.3, Sonatina No. 4 for wind instruments, and various choral works. In 1946, the city of Paris awarded a prize to his composition le Chant des Captifs. After the war, other notable compositions include Symphonie no. 3 (Irlandaise), the Concerto no. 2 pour violin et orchestre, op. 5, dedicated to Szeryng, and the Concerto pour cello et orchestre, op. 52, composed for Pierre Fournier. For the stage Martinon composed two works, the ballet Ambohimanga ou la Cité Bleue and in 1949 the opera Hécube with a libretto by Serge Moreux. Symphony no.4 Altitudes was the outcome of a commission from the Chicago Symphony to commemorate its 75th anniversary.

Martinon had recently taken on a position at the Paris Conservatory to teach conducting when he died from a serious illness on March 1, 1976.

Scope and Content

The materials in the Jean Martinon Papers span the years 1923-1994.  Reflecting the origin of the materials, the collection has been organized into eight series: Ephemera (Manuscript), Ephemera (Printed), Correspondence, Jean Martinon Society Records, Association Jean Martinon Publications, Published Scores, Unpublished Scores, and Arrangements.  In most cases, original folder titles have been retained. Materials within folders are arranged chronologically.

Series I, II, and III consist of Martinon's own papers, writings, correspondence, and other documents. Items in Series I include Martinon's articles, lectures, and poetry; of particular note are the materials illuminating Martinon's interest in mountain climbing.  Series II includes programs from Martinon's own performances and from performances of his works. The correspondence files in Series III consist of individual folders of letters to and from fifty friends and colleagues. The folders are arranged alphabetically by surname of the correspondent. Topics include questions posed to Andre Malraux from a group composed of Martinon, Dutilleux, Ohana, and others who disliked the Viennese School and electronic music. Correpsondence dates from 1959-1976, with the bulk of the letters dating in the early-to-mid 1960s.

Series IV consists of materials donated to the Music Library by the Jean Martinon Society when the group disbanded in 1993.  The publications in Series V provide much information about Martinon's life and work, including volumes of photocopied interviews and articles, reviews of recordings and performances, and a catalogue raisonée of his recordings.  Much of the Association Jean Martinon material is in French.

Series VI contains fourteen folders of published scores. Two scores have the same opus number, Introduction et toccata, op. 45 and Symphonie no 3 "Irlandaise", op. 45. The Jean Martinon Society lists the first composition as op. 44. However, in examining the score of Introduction et toccata, it clearly is marked as op. 45.

Five boxes constitute Series VII, consisting of unpublished scores, including two compositions that were never published, En Promenade and Déchiffrage pour hautbois.

Series VIII contains three folders of Martinon's arrangements of music by Bach, Beethoven, and Paganini.


Container List / Contents

  • Ephemera (Manuscript), 1926-1973, n.d.
    • Program Notes, 1953-1964, n.d.Box 1, Folder 1
        Scope and Contents: Includes printed program and biographical notes.
    • Composition Course (Lecture Notes), n.d.Box 1, Folder 2
    • Poetry (Montagnes), 1926-1930Box 1, Folder 3
        Scope and Contents: Includes published version by the Association Jean Martinon.
    • Sports (Mountain Climbing), 1967-1972, n.d.Box 1, Folder 4
    • Contact List and Contract, 1973, n.d.Box 1, Folder 5
  • Ephemera (Printed), 1923-1987, n.d.
    • The Conductor (Compact disc and programs from Grand Cercle, Aix-Les-Bains and Chicago Symphony Orchestra), 1938-1967Box 1, Folder 6
        Scope and Contents: The CD is of a live recording broadcast on November 2, 1967 of Martinon conducting CSO in Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe. The programs for Grand Cercle are from 1938; includes one 1967 CSO program.
    • Violinist (Programs), 1923-1941Box 1, Folder 7
    • Program Notes for Martinon's CompositionsBox 1, Folder 8
    • Programs (Performances of Martinon's work)Box 1, Folder 9
  • Correspondence, 1952-1976, n.d.
    • Barraud, Henri, 1960-1961, n.d.Folder 1
    • Baudo, Serge, 1976Folder 2
    • Böhm, Karl, 1963, n.d.Folder 3
    • Canarina, John, 1976Folder 4
    • Chouraqui, André, 1970Folder 5
    • Clarendon controversy, 1952-1959Folder 6
        Scope and Contents: Includes clippings of editorials by Clarendon (Bernard Gavoty) and Jean Hanon and correspondence with Pierre Brisson, Roland Hasselmann, Amédée Borsari, Nelly Lumbroso, Edouard Charles, Christian Lescuyer, Francis Casadesus, and Yehudi Menuhin.
    • Comissiona, Sergiu, 1976Folder 7
    • Cziffra, Georg, 1964Folder 8
    • Dutilleux, Henri, 1960, 1962Folder 9
    • Ferras, Christian, 1963-1964Folder 10
    • Fournet, Jean, 1959Folder 11
    • Fournier, Jean, 1962-1963Folder 12
    • Fournier, Pierre, 1962-1965, n.d.Folder 13
    • Francescatti, Zino, 1963Folder 14
    • Gingold, Josef, 1969Folder 15
    • Haitink, Bernard, 1965Folder 16
    • Henze, Hans Werner, 1964-1965Folder 17
    • Hétu, Pierre, 1962-1963Folder 18
    • Inghelbrecht, D.E., 1962Folder 19
    • Jolivet, André, 1960Folder 20
    • Karajan, Herbert von, 1961Folder 21
    • Landowsky, Marcel, 1964Folder 22
    • Lees, Benjamin, 1964-1965Folder 23
    • Leinsdorf, Erich, 1963-1965Folder 24
    • LeRoux, Maurice, 1976Folder 25
    • Loewenguth, Alfred, 1963Folder 26
    • Malraux, André, 1963, n.d.Folder 27
    • Menuhin, Yehudi, 1961Folder 28
    • Messiaen, Olivier, 1960Folder 29
    • Mihailovici, Marcel, 1965Folder 30
    • Moreux, Serge, 1954-1959, n.d.Folder 31
    • Munch, Charles, 1959Folder 32
    • Nussy Saint-Saëns, n.d.Folder 33
    • Ohana, Maurice, 1963-1965Folder 34
    • Otterloo, Willem van, 1962Folder 35
    • Peck, Donald, 1976Folder 36
    • Reiner, Fritz, 1962Folder 37
    • Remoortel, Edouard van, 1961, n.d.Folder 38
    • Rosenthal, Manuel, 1964Folder 39
    • Roussel, Albert, 1961Folder 40
    • Rozsa, Miklos, 1964-1965Folder 41
    • Ruchpaul, Eva, 1970, n.d.Folder 42
    • Schmidt-Isserstedt, Hans, 1963-1964Folder 43
    • Schoenberg, Mrs. Arnold, 1965Folder 44
    • Serkin, Rudolf, 1969Folder 45
    • Solti, Georg, n.d.Folder 46
    • Starker, Janos, 1963-1964, n.d.Folder 47
    • Stern, Isaac, n.d.Folder 48
    • Stravinsky, Igor, 1964-1965Folder 49
    • Szeryng, Henrik and Rafael Kubelik, 1969Folder 50
  • Jean Martinon Society records, 1985-1994, n.d.
    • Records, 1985-1994, n.d.Box 3, Folder 1
  • Association Jean Martinon publications, n.d.
    • Guide critique des enregistrements, n.d.Box 3, Folder 2
    • Interviews et articles, n.d.Box 3, Folder 3
    • Recueil de critiques des oeuvres (tome 1), n.d.Box 3, Folder 4
    • Recueil de critiques des oeuvres (tome 2), n.d.Box 3, Folder 5
  • Scores (Published), 1935-1974
    • Après ma journée faite op. 26, 1940Box 4, Folder 1
    • Ballade du soldat incassable op. 40 no 2, 1945Box 4, Folder 2
    • Concerto giocoso pour violin et orchestre op. 18, 1937Box 4, Folder 3
    • Concerto lyrique pour un quatuor a cordes solo et un orchestre de 36 musiciens, op. 38, 1962Box 4, Folder 4
    • Concerto pour flute et orchestre, 1971Box 4, Folder 5
    • Concerto pour quatour de saxophones op. 38b, 1974Box 4, Folder 6
    • Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre, op. 52, 1967Box 4, Folder 7
    • 2e [i.e. Deuxième] concerto pour violon et orchestre, opus 51, 1963Box 4, Folder 8
    • Divertissement pour orchestre reduit, 1942Box 4, Folder 9
    • Doménon, ou, Musique pour quintette à vent, 1970Box 4, Folder 10
    • Duo : musique en forme de sonate pour violon et piano, opus 47, 1959Box 4, Folder 11
    • Epilogue d'un conte d'amour : berceuse pour piano, op. 35, no 1, 1947Box 4, Folder 12
    • Les horizons perdus pour chant et piano, 1946Box 4, Folder 13
    • Humanité (Les Soirs) pour chant et piano op. 12, 1940Box 4, Folder 14
    • Hymne, variations et rondo op. 56, 1961-1968Box 5, Folder 1
    • Introduction et toccata op. 45, 1947Box 5, Folder 2
    • Mon plus joli rêve, 1946?Box 5, Folder 3
    • Musique d'exil, op. 31, 1941Box 5, Folder 4
    • Ouverture pour tragédie grecque op. 47, 1951Box 5, Folder 5
    • Paysage antérieur pour chant et piano, op. 25, no 1, 1940Box 5, Folder 6
    • Psaume CXXXVI : (Chant des captifs), op. 33, 1946Box 5, Folder 7
    • Psaume 136 (Chant des captifs) pour chant et piano avec choeurs, op. 33, 1946Box 5, Folder 8
    • Quatour a cordes no 1 op. 43, 1946Box 6, Folder 1
    • Quatour a cordes no 2 op. 54, 1966Box 6, Folder 2
    • Rapsodie 72 pour alto et piano, 1972Box 6, Folder 3
    • Sonatine no 1 pour violin et piano op. 19 no 1, 1935Box 6, Folder 4
    • Sonatine pour clarinette et piano op. 19 no 1b, 1935-1968Box 6, Folder 5
    • Sonatine no 2 pour violin et piano op. 19 no 2, 1936Box 6, Folder 6
    • Sonatine pour flute et piano op. 19 no 2b, 1936-1968Box 6, Folder 7
    • Sonatine no. 3 pour piano, op. 22, 1946?Box 6, Folder 8
    • Sonatine no 4 pour trio d'anches op. 26 no 1, 1940Box 6, Folder 9
    • Sonatine No. 6 für Violine allein, op. 49, No. 2, 1960Box 6, Folder 10
    • Sonatine a la lune qui s'en va pour chant et piano, op. 10, no. 3, 1946?Box 6, Folder 11
    • Suite nocturne pour violin et piano op. 34, 1944Box 6, Folder 12
    • Symphoniette pour orchestre à cordes, piano, harpe, et timbales, 1952Box 6, Folder 13
    • Symphonie no 3 "Irlandaise" op. 45, 1948Box 6, Folder 14
    • Symphonie no 4 "Altitudes" op. 53, 1965Box 6, Folder 15
    • Trio a cordes op. 32 no 2, 1943Box 6, Folder 16
    • Trois chansons op. 20, 1938Box 6, Folder 17
  • Scores (Unpublished), 1935-1975, n.d.
    • Absolve, Domine : motet pour 4 voix d'hommes et orchestre spécial, op. 30, 1942Box 7, Folder 1
    • Ambohimanga, ou La cité bleue : ballet radiophonique, op. 42, 1949Box 7, Folder 2
    • Appel de parfums : chœur à 4 voix d'hommes , op. 28, no. 2, 1941Box 7, Folder 3
    • 183eme Concerto, 1943Box 7, Folder 4
        Scope and Contents: Parodic composition written for violinist André Proffit's 40th birthday; ms. note by Proffit taped to back of score.
    • Concerto giocoso pour violon et orchestre, op. 18, 1937Box 7, Folder 5
    • Concerto lyrique, op. 38a, 1944Box 7, Folder 6
    • Concerto pour alto op. 18b, 1937Box 7, Folder 7
    • Concerto pour cello et orchestre op. 52, 1963Box 8, Folder 1
    • Concerto pour flute et orchestre, 1971Box 8, Folder 2
    • Concerto pour quatour de saxophones, 1974Box 8, Folder 3
    • Concerto no 2 pour violin et orchestre op. 51, 1958Box 8, Folder 4
    • Déchiffrage pour hautbois, n.d.Box 8, Folder 5
    • Fanfare en rondo op. 40, 1946Box 9, Folder 1
    • Hécube op. 46, 1949Box 9, Folder 2
    • Hécube (Acte 1) op. 46, 1949Box 9, Folder 3
    • Hécube (Acte 2) op. 46, 1949Box 9, Folder 4
    • Hymne variation et rondo, 1961-1968Box 10, Folder 1
    • Introduzione adagio et passacaglia op. 55, 1966Box 10, Folder 2
    • Le lis de Saron ou le cantique de cantiques op. 48, 1952Box 10, Folder 3
    • Motet pour quatre voix mixtes op. 28 no 4, 1940Box 10, Folder 4
    • Octour op. 57, 1969Box 10, Folder 5
    • Ode au soleil ne de la mort, 1945Box 10, Folder 6
    • Prélude et toccata, op. 50, 1961Box 10, Folder 7
    • En promenade, n.d.Box 11, Folder 1
    • Quatour a cordes no 1 op. 43, 1946Box 11, Folder 2
    • Rapsodie 72 pour alto et piano op. 60, 1971Box 11, Folder 3
    • Romance bleue : rapsodie de concert pour violon solo et orchestre, 1942Box 11, Folder 4
    • Sonatine brève, 1965Box 11, Folder 5
    • Sonatine pour clarinette et piano, 1972Box 11, Folder 6
    • Suite enchainée pour 11 cordes et clavecin, 1975Box 11, Folder 7
    • Suite nocturne pour violon et piano, op. 34, 1946Box 11, Folder 8
    • Symphonie en ut, op. 17, 1934-1936Box 11, Folder 9
    • Symphonie no 2 "Hymne a la Vie" op. 37, 1944Box 11, Folder 10
    • Symphonie no 3 "Irlandaise" op. 45, 1948Box 11, Folder 11
    • Symphonie no 4 "Altitudes" (originaux) op. 53, 1965Box 12, Folder 1
    • Symphonie no 4 "Altitudes" (corrections) op. 53, 1965Box 12, Folder 2
    • Symphonie no 4 "Altitudes" (new coda final) op. 53, 1965Box 12, Folder 3
    • Symphonie de voyages op. 49 no 1, 1956Box 12, Folder 4
    • Symphoniette op. 16, 1935Box 12, Folder 5
    • Trio a cordes op. 32 no 2, 1943Box 12, Folder 6
    • Trois nouvelles chansons op. 36, 1968Box 12, Folder 7
    • Vigintour no 1 op. 58, 1968Box 12, Folder 8
  • Scores (Arrangements), 1946-1969, n.d.
    • Grande fugue, 1969Box 13, Folder 1
    • Magnificat, n.d.Box 13, Folder 2
    • Moto perpetuo, n.d.Box 13, Folder 3
    • Sérénade, 1946Box 13, Folder 4
  • Stuff