The Ondes Martenot

Synopsis

On today’s date in 1928, French musician and inventor Maurice Martenot gave the first public demonstration of a new electronic instrument he had created which produced eerie-sounding tones reminiscent of the human voice, but without the human limitations of voice range or lung power.

Martenot was also a savvy promoter of his new instrument, which he took on a world tour, with his sister serving as its first virtuoso performer. The instrument came to be called the “Ondes Martenot”— which translates into English as “Martenot Waves.”

A number of 20th century composers were quite enthusiastic. Arthur Honegger suggested the instrument might replace the contra-bassoon in symphony orchestras, writing: “The Ondes Martenot has power and a speed of utterance which is not to be compared with those gloomy stove-pipes looming up in orchestras.”

Well, contra-bassoonists needn’t worry: their stove-pipes still provide the low blows in most modern orchestras, but the Ondes Martenot does figure prominently in several major 20th century scores, including the monumental Turangalila Symphony of French composer Oliver Messiaen.

And, following Martenot’s death in 1981, the French even formed an official society with the grand title of “L’Association pour la Diffusion et le Développement des Ondes Martenot.”

Music Played in Today's Program

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992): Turangalila Symphony; Tristan Murail, Ondes Martenot; Philharmonia Orchestra; Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Sony 53473

On This Day

Births

• 1881 - Russian composer Nikolai Miaskovsky, in the fortress of Novo-Georgiyevsk (now Modlin), Poland (Julian date: April 8)

Deaths

• 1869 - German song composer Karl Loewe, 72, in Kiel

Premieres

• 1910 - Ravel: Ma Mère L’oye (Mother Goose) for piano four-hands, in Paris, by two young female pianists, at the first concert of the newly-formed “Société musicale indépedante.” On the same program was the premiere of Gabriel Fauré’s Le Chanson d’Eve with the composer at the piano.

• 1979 - George Perle: Concertino for Piano, Winds, and Timpani, by Morey Ritt and the Contemporary Chamber Players of the University of Chicago, Ralph Shapey conducting

• 1983 - Thomas Oboe Lee: Quartet on B-flat for string quartet, at the Harvard Music Association in Beacon Hill, Massachusetts, by the Manhattan String Quartet

• 2001 - Danielpour: String Quartet, in Kansas City, Mo., by the American String Quartet

• 2002 - Michael Torke: Song of Isaiah for voice and chamber ensemble, at the Milwaukee Art Museum by the Present Music Ensemble, with the composer conducting

Others

• 1759 - Burial of Handel in Westminster Abbey, London

• 1928 - In Paris, the first public demonstration of an electronic instrument invented by Maurice Martenot called the “Ondes Musicales.” The instrument later came to be called the “Ondes Martenot,” and was included in scores by Milhaud, Messiaen, Jolivet, Ibert, Honegger, Florent Schmitt and other 20th century composers.