Geneva

Harpsichord

Under the guidance of its professor Béatrice Martin, a renowned soloist and chamber musician, the harpsichord class supports its students as they learn the main repertoires, ranging from the 16th century to the end of the 18th century, as well as contemporary repertoire. 

Emphasis is placed on strengthening a clean and solid technique, relying on adapted use of didactic and theoretical works for keyboard, a demanding fingering strategy and a rigorous harmonic and structural analysis of the works; all this is done in the interests of achieving an eloquent exposition of the musical narrative. As well as regular individual lessons, there are six group lessons spread over the year as well as three public concerts.

The harpsichord class at the ‘Haute école de musique’ (HEM) offers its students a very extensive inventory of instruments: its thirty instruments - school instruments and aesthetic instruments, each with its own character - constitute thirty plus points, enabling the students to develop a great feel, suitable sensitivity and a level of rhetoric in relation to the repertoire being studied.

Particularly suited to accompaniment, the harpsichord easily finds its place in a diverse range of instrumental ensembles, or in the grandest orchestras. Our students are given an initiation in the workings of basso continuo, which they put into practice in an instrumental or vocal ensemble.

Our students are encouraged to take part in numerous activities arranged by the HEM’s department of early music, which regularly invites eminent performers and researchers from all over the world to give Masterclasses and seminars. The goal is to encourage the development of a thoughtful approach, with a view to achieving a deeper contextualization of the practice and repertoire of their instrument.

he harpsichord class regularly collaborates with the HEM’s other departments, and with internationally acclaimed Swiss ensembles, on ‘side-by-side’ artistic projects, which constitute a real gateway to the professional world. 

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Teachers

Béatrice Martin

Professor of Harpsichord

Born in Annecy, Béatrice Martin began studying harpsichord at the age of six. Her musical journey led her to study with prominent harpsichordists such as Christiane Jaccottet at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, Kenneth Gilbert, and Christophe Rousset at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. She obtained numerous first prizes with highest honors and completed an advanced cycle of studies there. She also received valuable guidance from Huguette Dreyfus, Ton Koopman, and Lars-Ulrik Mortensen during masterclasses. In 1998, she won first prize at the International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges, along with the Audience Prize and the Bärenreiter Prize. The following year, she was named a Revelation by ADAMI at MIDEM in Cannes. Highly regarded for her skills as a continuo player, she has performed at numerous festivals and with a variety of ensembles. She has been a close collaborator with William Christie and Les Arts Florissants for twenty years. Recognized for her teaching abilities, Béatrice Martin established the harpsichord class at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barcelona and currently serves as a guest professor at the Juilliard School in New York. In 2000, Béatrice Martin co-founded Les Folies françoises with Patrick Cohën-Akenine, actively contributing to its development. Learn more about Béatrice Martin.

Béatrice Martin

Associated studies

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Bachelor of Arts in music
ORCHESTRE - MUSICIEN D'ORCHESTRE

Master of Arts in Music Performance
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Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance
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Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy

Departments and associated courses

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Early music department