Constant Martin

Constant Martin (1910 - 1995) was an inventive engineer and French which developed and marketed electronic radios and musical instruments, in particular the Clavioline.

Biography

After having acquired diplomas for the occupation of electrical engineer and radioelectrician in 1930, Constant Martin starts by working for the manufacturer of radios Victor Martin (no family ties) in whom it carries out an original receiver. In 1932, it creates with Versailles “the depth of sound” where it markets new “pre-stereophonic” radios and begins research on the creation of musical sounds with electronic processes.

From 1932 to 1937, it develops a first related electronic musical instrument with the Orgue using Anche S of Harmonium; a model improved of two keyboards and pedals is tried out in July 1939 in the Holy-Odile church with Paris. Constant Martin studies, moreover, an electronic keyboard instrument intended to replace the Violon. This instrument will undergo many transformations and, later, will become Clavioline whose prototype is used in 1940 during an official reception with the profit of the refugees in free Zone. Starting from its work on free sheers, Constant Martin observes that the vibration complexes of a vibrating rod present of the similarities with the vibration of a bronze bell and the idea of an electronic bell conceives some.

In 1943, Constant Martin finishes the construction of a sophisticated electronic organ composed of Oscillateur S independent and circuits analyzers of harmonics; this instrument is presented to the Oratory of Louvre, Saint-Louis of the Invalids and the Palais of Chaillot. In addition, it improves its electronic bells which sound with the Town hall of Versailles for the Release of the city. As from 1945, Constant Martin continues his research and the marketing of its instruments (electronic organ and bells) within the framework of the SEBCM (Development company of the patents Constant Martin) in Versailles. Put on the market in 1947, Clavioline is a great success and will be manufactured by Selmer in France and Great Britain, Gibson with the the United States and Jorgensen in Germany. Clavioline is placed quickly at the head of all the instruments monodic built in the world. It was sold of them more 30 000 specimens in the United Kingdom only.

In the years 1950, Constant Martin endeavors to use the most recent discoveries of electronics to improve its organ and its bells. It presents a new type of electronic bell, which reproduces without movement of the sound diffuser the effect of flight, to the church Saint-Philippe-of-Rolls of Paris. In 1961, it finishes the development of its first organ with transistors and improves of them the techniques of harmonization in a spirit which remains faithful to the traditions of the organ with pipes. With the beginning of the year 1960, Constant Martin also creates electronic Carillon S of sound indication of which the use will be spread in the airports, stations and companies. By using the principles of the electronic bells, these small apparatuses, which stress in particular the hours of the radio Europe n°1 as from 1960 and them advertisements of the air terminal of Orly as from 1961, make hear short melodies which replace ringings and sirens. These chimes will be then standardized under the name of Harpsonic.

Lastly, the searchs for Constant Martin will lead in 1968 to the manufacture of an electronic organ to pipes. Revolutionary instrument reproducing sonorities of the traditional organ accurately, it combines the production of the sounds by electronic means with the excitation of the airstream of a series of pipes.

The industrialization of the invoice of the electronic instruments will be right of the impassioned research task and the artisanal care taken by Constant Martin to the manufacture of each instrument bearing its name. Clavioline will be still used by artists of popular music famous in the years 1960 (Del Shannon, The Tornados, The Beatles); it will be then supplanted by the polyphonic synthetizers. The electronic bells Constant Martin will cease being manufactured and the organ of the same name will not be able to deal with the competition of the Italian, Austrian famous brands or Dutchwomen. It does not remain about it less than in a little more than one about thirty years work pionnière of Constant Martin will have contributed to revolutionize the instrumental invoice by showing how, by electronic means, it is possible to produce infinities of sounds usable in all the kinds of music.

He is the grandfather of the realizer Michel Gondry.

Constant Martin published, in addition to articles in Science and Vie and the Review of the Sound: the electronic music , Technical Paris, Editions and popularization, 1950.

The Musée of the music of the Cité of the music to Paris has in its collections Clavioline and a model of electronic organ Constant Martin two keyboards and pedals going back to 1957.

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