Martha Elizabeth Blackman (born January 1, 1927, in Dallas, Texas, died November 17, 2021, in Palo Alto, California) was an American viola da gamba player and

lutenist A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted. More specifically, the term "lute" can refe ...

, and the first American to perform on and teach the viol.

Biography

Blackman studied cello at the Juilliard School under

Leonard Rose Leonard Joseph Rose (July 27, 1918 – November 16, 1984) was an American cellist and pedagogue. Biography Rose was born in Washington, D.C.; his parents were Jewish immigrants, his father from Bragin, Belarus, and his mother from Kyiv, ...

. Receiving a

Fulbright Scholarship The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of ...

(1953–54), she studied the viola da gamba, first in Munich and then at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg. She returned to the USA in 1954 and appeared as a leading gamba soloist, and also joining the New York Pro Musica working under

Noah Greenberg Noah Greenberg (April 9, 1919 – January 9, 1966) was an American choral conductor. Greenberg was born in the Bronx. In 1937, aged 18, he joined the Socialist Workers Party of Max Shachtman, and worked as a lathe operator and party activist. He ...

from 1954-1961, during which she did most of her recording. Together with Paul Maynard and

Bernard Krainis Bernard Krainis (1924-2000) was an American musician and co-founder of New York Pro Musica. He played recorder Recorder or The Recorder may refer to: Newspapers * ''Indianapolis Recorder'', a weekly newspaper * ''The Recorder'' (Massachusetts ...

, she formed the New York Pro Musica Baroque Trio, and was also a member of the Stanley Buetens Lute Ensemble. Since 1970 Blackman was a long time lecturer at Stanford University. She has also received an

International Research & Exchanges Board The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) is an international, nonprofit organization that specializes in global education and development. IREX works with partners in more than 100 countries. History IREX was established in 1968 by ...

(IREX) Fellowship for research of Eastern European folk and Renaissance music at the Charles University in Prague. Blackman is also an expert in French ornamentation in Baroque string music, the lyra viol, the composer Tobias Hume, and the clàrsach and its repertoire.

Publications

Academic papers include: "A New Star", Albertus Magnus Alumnae, 3 (2) :4-7, 1966, an English translation of

Hans Judenkönig Hans Judenkönig (also ''Judenkunig'' or ''Judenkünig''; c. 1450 – 4 March 1526) was a German lutenist of the Renaissance. He was born in Schwäbisch Gmünd and died in Vienna. He worked as a lutenist in the vicinity of the University of Vien ...

's "Ain Schone Kunstliche Underweisung (1523)," Lute Society Journal, Vol XIV, 1972, various editions of early music, and for the International Horn Society Journal (unpublished), "Hunting Horns in Viola da Gamba Music".

Recordings

The majority of her recordings are with the New York Pro Musica at Decca. Other recordings include Experiences Anonymous, Columbia,*^Vocal Music of Claudio Monteverdi 1957 (ML5159) and on other labels.

References

* Martha Blackman Discography: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Martha+Blackman * New York Pro Musica Discography: http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/performers/nypm.html * Stanley Buetens Lute Ensemble http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/non71120.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Blackman, Martha Viol players Stanford University Department of Music faculty American performers of early music Women performers of early music American lutenists American cellists 1927 births Living people Hochschule für Musik Freiburg alumni Women cellists Women music educators Fulbright alumni