Frank Martin (1890–1974) was a Swiss composer, teacher, harpsichordist, and pianist. He was a professor of chamber music at the Geneva Conservatory of Music and also taught improvisation and rhythm theory at the Institut Jacques-Dalcroze. Martin composed a number of well-known works, including the Petite Symphonie Concertante (1944–45) and the Concerto for Seven Wind Instruments, Timpani, Percussion, and String Orchestra (1949). He composed a harpsichord concerto in 1951–52 for Isabelle Nef. RK wrote to Martin in 1952 asking about the concerto and expressing an interest in performing it. However, Nef had exclusive rights to perform it through 1953. I found no evidence that RK ever performed the concerto, and the Frank Martin Foundation confirmed that they have no record of a performance of the concerto by RK.

[Translated from French]

December 17, 1952

Dear Sir,

Miss Staehelin from the Swiss Music Library has made me aware of your concerto for harpsichord which immediately aroused my intense interest. I have always been sorry that I wasn't free when Mr. Ansermet conducted in New York the first performance of your Symphonie Concertante and that, until now, I haven't had the chance to perform it. If you could make the score of the Concerto available to me, I would be very obliged to you, and if you agree to that, it would be my great pleasure, I am sure, to set up a performance of it during the next concert season.

I am not at all sure if you will remember me. I am a friend of Paul Boepple who for so many years told me about you that I seem to know you much better than in reality when we met each other briefly in Paris in 1937.

Please accept, dear sir, my very best regards.

Ralph Kirkpatrick

[Translated from French]

January 2, 1953

Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for your nice letter. Regarding my Harpsichord Concerto, you will need a little more patience. Mrs. Isabelle Nef has requested exclusive rights to the piece until the end of 1953. After that time, Universal Edition will publish it and it will be freely available to anyone.