Martin Georgi

Richard Martin Georgi was born on 1 February 1889 in Bockau in the Erzgebirge (Germany). After attending the teachers' seminary in Schneeberg, he worked as a teacher first in Gornsdorf and later in Klingenthal. In 1914 he moved to Thum, where he became cantor and teacher at the local Realschule and was eventually promoted to the rank of Studienrat.
Alongside his teaching career Georgi devoted himself intensively to music and composition. Between 1919 and 1922 he continued his musical studies with Professor Polenz in Annaberg. He became particularly active as a composer, church musician and writer of songs in the Erzgebirge dialect.
In 1922 the Chemnitz publisher W. Berndt issued his collection "Neie Liedle für arzgebirgische Leit", op. 14. His dialect songs became sufficiently well known to be represented in Horst Henschel's important 1939 anthology "Singendes Land. 400 Mundartlieder aus dem Erzgebirge". Georgi wrote both sacred and secular vocal music, including songs and motets, but his output also comprised sonatas, Singspiele and a substantial body of chamber and string music.
His compositions include several violin and viola sonatas, string trios, organ works, a Grafenstein Suite for string orchestra and at least two string quartets. A large part of his musical estate survives today in the Sächsische Landesbibliothek – Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden.
Richard Martin Georgi died on 6 February 1969 in Thum (Germany).

Martin Georgi composed mainly chamber music and Singspiele. His work list contains several violin and viola sonatas, string trios, a few works for organ, a Grafenstein Suite for string orchestra and at least two string quartets - one from 1939 and one from 1942.

The autograph manuscript in my possession is the String quartet op.57 which was written between July and November 1939. It consists of the four movements I. Im raschen Schritt - II. Gesangsmäßig - III. Menuett - IV. Sehr rasch.