Evensong

Easthope Martin (1882-1925) was born in Stourport-on-Severn, and studied at Trinity College of Music, where he was a composition student of Samuel Coleridge Taylor.

He joined the Aeolian Company in London as an organist, pianist and demonstrator. He is mentioned affectionately in Elgar's diaries, and he was responsible for creating the Metrostyle lines on the 65-note rolls of the composer's First Symphony, under Elgar's direction. Martin was the soloist in the Grieg Piano Concerto at the Queen's Hall in London in June 1912, with the London Symphony Orchestra under Artur Nikisch, and performed in a Pianola and piano duo with the French composer, Cécile Chaminade, almost exactly a year later, at Aeolian Hall in London, thereby on both occasions demonstrating the complete inaccuracy of the notion that Pianolas cannot be successfully played in synchronism with other musical instruments.

He made a number of 78 recordings of Aeolian Organ rolls, but he is best remembered by the general musical public as a composer of attractive songs and occasional keyboard pieces. Sadly, he developed tuberculosis at quite an early age, and spent many of his winters at the home of a friend in Monte Carlo, where he was a musical favorite of the local expatriate community. He died at a nursing home at Hampstead, in north London.

"Evensong" was published in 1910 by Weeks & Co. as number 18 in their series, "The Western Organist." It is rather a famous piece - or infamous, depending upon your point of view! It is very much a "child of its time," and colorful though it may be, it seems to have very little do with evensong, at least from my perspective.

There was a time that I hated it. Now, I'd have no problem including it as a "novelty piece" on a concert program, but would never include it in a liturgical service.

The score is attached below, as well as a drawing of Martin performing on the pianola, with Sir Edward Elgar conducting.

MORE Hill recordings coming soon!