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Martin, Lucien
Martin, Lucien. Violinist, conductor, composer, b Montreal 30 May 1908, d there 29 Oct 1950; licence de concert (École normale, Paris) 1933. He took his first violin lessons from his father, Cyrice, a violinist and string-instrument maker; at seven, on the recommendation of Claude Champagne, he was accepted as a student at the Conservatoire national of Montreal, where his swift progress led to a gold medal. In 1916 he played at the Central Theater in Biddeford, Me, where he was hailed as 'the champion young violinist of the world.' He studied 1917-20 with Albert Chamberland, 1920-3 with Alfred De Sève, and 1923-5 with Camille Couture and took courses in harmony with Georges-Émile Tanguay. Between 1925 and 1928 he performed in various major US cities. When he returned to Montreal he continued his studies with Camille Couture. Awarded the 1931 Prix d'Europe, he studied in France for two years with Maurice Hayot.
Martin returned to Canada in July 1933 and gave recitals later that year at the Imperial Theatre in Montreal and at the Palais Montcalm in Quebec City. Settling in Montreal, he gave a recital for the Ladies' Morning Musical Club and was heard on radio. He was a member of the first violins of the CSM orchestra and was soloist at its second concert, 4 Feb 1935, in Bruch's Concerto No. 1. The critic for Montreal's La Presse the following day praised his 'passionate interpretation and confident technique.' After another period in Paris, working with Georges Enesco, he returned to Montreal and was second violin 1937-8 of the Dubois String Quartet. In the late 1930s he participated in numerous radio programs, particularly on station CKAC and on CBC's 'Les Joyeux Troubadours'. He also conducted public concerts, including one at Plateau Hall 22 Sep 1948 and one at the Delorimier stadium, where his program included Miro's Scènes mauresques. His only published composition, the art song 'La Chanson des belles' to words by Tristan Klingsor, was premiered by Jeanne Desjardins on the CBC program 'Sérénade pour cordes.'
