Boykan, Martin
Boykan, Martin
Boykan, Martin, American composer, teacher, and pianist; b. N.Y., April 12, 1931. He studied composition with Piston at Harvard Univ. (B.A., 1951), Copland at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood (summers, 1949–50), and Hindemith at the Univ. of Zurich (1951–52) and Yale Univ. (M.M., 1953). He also had lessons in piano from Steuermann. From 1957 to 1970 he was active as a pianist. In 1957 he joined the faculty of Brandéis Univ., where he later was a prof, of composition. He also was a visiting prof, of composition at Columbia Univ. (1988–89) and N.Y. Univ. (1993). In 1994 he was a senior Fulbright lecturer at Bar–Ilan Univ. in Israel. He held Fulbright (1953–55) and Guggenheim (1984) fellowships. In 1986 and 1988 he received awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His music is marked by a predominate lyrical line and emotional breadth.
Works
orch.: Concerto for 13 Players (1971); Sym. for Baritone and Orch. (1989; Salt Lake City, April 9, 1993). chamber: Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello (1948); String Quartet (1949); 4 numbered string quartets (1967, 1974, 1984, 1995–96); Flute Sonata (1950); Duo for Violin and Piano (1951); Flute Quintet (1953); 2 trios for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1975, 1997); Nocturne for Cello, Piano, and Percussion (1991); Eclogue for Flute, Horn, Viola, Cello, and Piano (1991); Echoes of Petrarch for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano (1992); Cello Sonata (1992); Impromptu for Violin (1993); Violin Sonata (1994); Sonata for Solo Cello (1998); Flume for Clarinet and Piano (1998); Romanza for Flute and Piano (1999). keyboard:piano:2 sonatas (1986, 1990); Pastorale (1993); Usurpations, 5 bagatelles (1997). otgan:Prelude (1964). vocal:Psalm 128 for Chorus (1965); Elegy for Soprano and 6 Instruments (1982); Shalom Rav for Baritone, Chorus, and Organ (1985); Epithalamion for Baritone, Violin, and Harp (1987); Voyages for Soprano and Piano (1992); Sea Gardens, 4 songs for Soprano and Piano (1993); 3 Psalms for Soprano and Piano (1993); Ma’ariv Settings for Chorus and Organ (1995); 3 Shakespeare Songs for Chorus (1996); Psalm 121 for Soprano and String Quartet (1997).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire