Biography
Born 1931
BA summa cum laude Harvard University 1951
University of Zurich 1951-52
MM Yale University 1953
Studied composition with Walter Piston (Harvard University 1947-51), Aaron Copland (Tanglewood 1949, 1950), and Paul Hindemith (University of Zurich 1951-52, Yale University 1952-53). Piano with Eduard Steuermann.
Career as a pianist between 1957-1970, including regular recitals with Joseph Silverstein, Jan de Gaetani, Bethany Beardslee, Mathew Raimondi, Zara Nelsova and many others. Regular pianist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1964, under Erich Leinsdorf.
Taught at Brandeis University since 1947, at present, Irving G. Fine Professor of Music Composition.
Fellowships and Awards
1951 Paine Fellowship1953-55 Fulbright Fellowship1967 National Winner of the Jeunesses Musicales for String Quartet No. 11974 Martha Baird Rockefeller Award for recording of String Quartet No. 21976 Fromm Foundation Commission1981 YADDO Foundation, Saratoga Springs, NY1982, 1989, 1992 The MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH1983 National Endowment for the Arts Grant1983 National Winner, League-ISCM1984 Guggenheim Fellowship1985 Koussevitzky Commission, Library of Congress1986 Recording Award from the American Academy and National Institute of Arts and Letters1988 Walter Hinrichsen Publication Award from the American Academy and National Institute of Arts and Letters1992 The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, VA1992 YADDO Foundation - The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation endowed ResidencyResidences1987 Composer-in-Residence, Composer's Conference, Wellesley, MA1988-89 Visiting Professor of Composition, Columbia University1993 Visiting Professor of Composition, New York University1994 Senior Fulbright Lecturer, Bar Ilan University, Israel1998 Composer-in-Residence, Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival, Irasburg, VT1999-2000 Visiting Professor of Composition, New York University
Publications
Music Published by C.F. Peters Corporation, Mobart Music Press, and Association for the Promotion of New Music. Member of the Editorial Board of Perspectives of New Music. Articles published in Perspectives of New Music and Journal of the American Society of University Composers.
Recordings
String Quartet No. 1 and String Quartet No. 2 recorded by Composer's Recordings, Inc. Elegy for Soprano and Six Instruments and Epithalamion for Baritone, Violin and Harp, released in 1988 under a grant from the American Academy (CRI). Re-release as a CD with the addition of String Quartet #4 in April, 1998 (CRI).
Further Information
Listed in Groves Dictionary, Baker's Biographical Dictionary, Dictionary of American Composers, Who's Who in America. Articles by John Harbison and Elinor Cory in Perspectives of New Music, 1973, and the Musical Quarterly, 1976.
Contact Information
10 Winsor Ave.
Watertown, MA 02472
Annual Updates
2009
Martin Boykan is the Irving G. Fine Professor of Composition at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA.
PREMIERES
Violinist Curtis Macomber and the Boston (MA) Modern Orchestra Project, under the direction of Gil Rose, introduced Concerto for Violin and Orchestra November 14, 2008, Jordan Hall, Boston.
PERFORMANCES
Usurpations for piano solo was heard in an October 15, 2008, performance at Sprague Memorial Hall, Yale University, New Haven, CT. First Sonata for Violin and Piano was presented in recital October 25, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA.