Martin Eastick Born 1957 Croydon England
Martin was born in Croydon, Surrey. He studied the piano form the age of six, and later attended the Royal College of Music. Even in his school days Martin was interested in collecting recondite 19th-century piano music, and his collection now forms the basis of his lecture-recitals, programme notes for C.D's, and background material for BBC broadcasts. He has a particular interest in rescuing works by Scharwenka and Moszkowski, and he has contributed work lists and biographies to the latest New Grove Dictionary of Music.
Since marrying the clarinettist Sheila Caira, Martin has also researched forgotten 19th-century piano-and-wind duos and ensembles. This has had a stylistic influence on his compositions. Martin makes no apology for not writing in a 'contemporary' idiom. Thus there are unashamed hints of Schumann and Mendelssohn in some pieces and an even broader nod towards later 19th-century Russian nationalism in others.
Chamber
Fantasiestuck 'Salience' for clarinet and piano Op.5
Serenade Orientale 'Samarkand for clarinet and piano Op.6
Romance for clarinet and piano Op.7
Springtime Serenade for clarinet and piano Op.8
Aquarelle Op.9
Impromptu Op.10
An Irish Suite - in three movements Op.11
Clarinet sonata - single movement Op.17
Piano
Five Morceaux: Petite Valse, Nocturne, Mazurka, Feuilletd'Album, and Petite Polka a la Russe Op.1
Three Morceaux; Valse Sentimentale, Consolation and Mazurka Op.2 (about 14 minutes long)
Introduction and Rondo Brillante, pastiche of early 19th-century virtuosity Op.3
Impromptu and Gavotte-Caprice. (technically very demanding) Op.4
Grand Valse de Concert (virtuoso showpiece) Op.12
Valse Viennoise and Valse Intime Op.13
Intermezzo and Quasi Habenera Op.14
Allegro appassionato Op.15
Valse Caprice Op.16
Theme and Variations Op.18
Novelette Op.19
Most of these works have been published and are available from Martin Eastick
Who can, of course, be reached at this forum @ "Martin Eastick". Unless that's a different musician of the same name!...
Have any of these pieces been recorded?
Not recorded yet but they do seem to have had a considerable number of performances.
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9981805--martin-eastick-piano-music-vol-1
Now we will have a disc of his piano music on toccata played by Ian Hobson on Nov. 6th
See this post in the Recordings & Broadcasts board (https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,10270.0.html). All discussion of the recording there from now on, please.
I was very sorry to learn of Martin's death a few days ago (https://slippedisc.com/2026/09/english-piano-composer-rip/). He was a first rate musicologist with an encyclopaedic knowledge of even the most obscure and dusty corners of the 19th century unsung repertoire, and an enthusiastic supporter of resurrecting unjustly neglected music. He was a member of UC and his posts were always filled with that same enthusiasm and knowledge. It's such a shame that he passed away just before a CD of his piano music, about which he was characteristically modest, is due for release.
Martin's passing is a great loss to us; because of his extensive knowledge and deep erudition, but also because of the nuanced way in which he managed to communicate them and contribute to our discussions. And mostly, because it always hurts having to say goodbye to genuinely nice people.
Yes, I was very sorry to hear this. I was only an occasional botherer of his, but he was always generous with his time and knowledge, especially when it comes to the unsungs. Having not realised until very recently that he was also a composer, I look forward to hearing the Toccata disk. No doubt he was aware of its imminent release, which I hope brought some sense of comfort and accomplishment for a lifetime of musical passion.
I am quite shocked to read of this. He was always considerate and helpful.
Martin Eastick is definitely remembered for his contribution of 19th century obscure composers and their works, I learnt composers like Barnett, Horsley thru his valuable postings. It's sad that he may not have the chance to hear these works anymore..
I remembered his greatest wish is to listen to the reconstruction of John Francis Barnett's piano concerto, also, Charles Horsley's piano concerto, and many concertante (variations) works by Herz, Kalkbrenner etc.
I am very, very saddened to learn of Martin's death. I can but echo the tributes in the preceding posts: a fine musicologist, composer and all round musician. Generous with his time and knowledge. A lovely man, who will be sorely missed.
I'm very sorry to know Martin has just passed away. Even more so when I realize that this turned out to be his final illness for which he said he has been in hospital for a long time at the beginning of this year when I asked him about the ArsBrasil Oswald CD set.
Back in 2013 Martin Eastick sent me photocopies of the parts of Jadassohn's sextet for piano duet and strings, which I happily used to fill a gap at IMSLP- a fair amount of photocopying on his part and much appreciated.
I had not heard about his death and am very sorry to.