Maurice Martenot was the French cellist, teacher, and inventor of the Ondes Martenot (1928), one of the earliest and most expressive electronic instruments.
He was born in Paris, he trained as a cellist and also worked as a radio operator during World War I.
His wartime experience with radio oscillators gave him the idea of using them for music.
Patented in 1928, the Ondes Martenot combined electronic sound generation with a design that emphasized expressivity, unlike the purely experimental Theremin. Martenot wanted an instrument that could match the nuance of a cello while producing entirely new sounds.
The Ondes Martenot featured a keyboard with lateral movement (for vibrato), a ruban (sliding ring and wire) for glissandi, and an expression key that controlled dynamics. It could be connected to special resonating loudspeakers, including one with vibrating strings (palme) and another with a gong-like resonator (metallique).
Martenot was not only an inventor but also a dedicated teacher. He taught the instrument at the Paris Conservatoire, training generations of ondiste players. His sister, Ginette Martenot, was one of the first virtuosos to perform and champion the instrument.
The Ondes Martenot became a favorite of composers such as Olivier Messiaen, Arthur Honegger, André Jolivet, and Darius Milhaud. Martenot’s work influenced later synthesizers and expressive controllers. Even after his death, the instrument lives on through reconstructions and modern performances.