A unique combination of chamber music by the Swiss composer on record, tracing the development of his voice and career through the medium of the flute.

Martin was a late bloomer in music, growing up as the tenth child of a Swiss priest and his wife surrounded by the music of Bach and Mozart. It was only when Ernest Ansermet founded the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande in 1918 that the 28-year-old Martin began to discover and be captivated by the sensuality of Debussy and Ravel, and this stylistic dichotomy also played out in his own music.

Among his most refined and individual early works is the series of four love sonnets composed in 1921 to poems by the 16th century balladeer Pierre de Ronsard. The influence of modernism is already evident in the angular and even ascetic form of Martin's melodic invention, and yet a gentle, atmospheric mood pervades the cycle; this too was to become a hallmark of his sound world.

in 1939, Martin began a series of instrumental ballads with the Competition Piece, which remains his best-known work for flute to this day. This was followed in the same year by a ballad for alto saxophone, which he then arranged for flute. Both works are excellent examples of Martin's ability to combine serialism with tonality. A neo-classical (or rather neo-baroque) spirit pervades the Sonata da Chiesa of 1940 with solemn, protestant seriousness, but the flute part still sings with the lyricism of the early sonnets.

The Trois Chants de Noel (1947) from the post-war period distil the mystery of Christmas in three short settings of texts by the Swiss poet Albert Rudhardt (1894-1944). A trio of Minnelieder (1961) masterfully reduces Martin's language to the essentials in an unmistakable "late style", in which flute and guitar support and emphasize the sung line with an archaic modernity. Almost all of these works have only been recorded once or twice, but put together by these experienced Italian musicians, they paint a new and convincing portrait of Martin as a spiritually committed modernist.

Frank Martin (1890-1974) was a Swiss composer who lived most of his life in the Netherlands. His oeuvre includes orchestral works, oratorios and chamber music. Martin's style defies easy categorization and blends elements of neoclassicism, serialism and Gregorian chant. His vocal works reflect his spiritual depth and musical mastery.

Frank Martin wrote a considerable number of works for flute, including the Ballade for Flute and Piano (1939), the Deuxième Ballade for Flute and Piano (1939) and the Church Sonata for Flute and Organ (1941). Of these three, only the Ballade is an original work for flute, as the Deuxième Ballade and the Church Sonata are transcriptions of earlier scores by the author. This new recording also includes works for soprano and instrumental ensemble, with flute, oboe, harp, viola and cello. A fascinating collection of a highly original voice in 20th century music!

Performed by Daniele Ruggieri (flute), Monica Bacelli (soprano) and several outstanding Italian instrumentalists.