Erik Martin
Encyclopedia
Erik Martin is a German writer, songwriter and composer of songs. He is the founder and editor of the literature and art magazine Muschelhaufen
.
; they were the founders of the Sequoiafarm Kaldenkirchen
. His sister is the tree-and-bush expert Helge Breloer. Martin grew up in Kaldenkirchen, went to Aloisiuskolleg
in Bad Godesberg and graduated at Thomaeum High-School Kempen
. After studies in Aachen
he worked as a teacher of German and Biology in Viersen
, where he created schoolgardens and worked out environmental projects joining the German Waldjugend. In 1997 he received the Klaus-Gundelach-Prize for his merits concerning his environmental protection
and his youth novel Fjellwanderung.
From 1969 to 2008 Erik Martin edited Muschelhaufen, an annual
for literature and graphics. In numerous special editions he helped recover writers such as Albert Vigoleis Thelen, Margot Scharpenberg or Fritz Grasshoff. Stories and Poems by well-known writers such as Ernst Jandl
, Annemarie Schimmel
(honoured with the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
), Günter Kunert
, Siegfried Lenz
, Christoph Meckel
and James Krüss
were first published in Muschelhaufen. Artists like Elke Rehder
or Clemens Weiss
used to work for the magazine.
With great care Martin studied Werner Helwig's books and wrote essential essays on his work.
Martin's songs are well-known and often sung in the groups of the German Youth Movement
, the German folk
and the German Scout Movement
. One of those is the popular Wenn der Abend naht (When the evening comes)
. As youth leader
for many years Martin led groups to whose members he was known as Mac. Up to this day he participates in the Deutsche Waldjugend activities and has written articles for several magazines, e.g. der eisbrecher, scouting and Fang. Two CDs with Martin's songs were edited by the Waldjugend.
Erik Martin is married. He has two sons and lives in Viersen-Dülken
.
Muschelhaufen
Muschelhaufen is a German annual, originally combining literature and graphic arts. It was founded by Erik Martin from Viersen in 1969 and published - with an interruption of 11 years - until 2008, when the last issue came out Muschelhaufen (heap of shells) is a German annual, originally...
.
Life and work
Erik Martin is the first-born son of Illa and Ernst J. Martin – both dentists and dendrologistsDendrology
Dendrology or xylology is the science and study of wooded plants . There is no sharp boundary between plant taxonomy and dendrology. However, woody plants not only belong to many different plant families, but these families may be made up of both woody and non-woody members. Some families include...
; they were the founders of the Sequoiafarm Kaldenkirchen
Sequoiafarm Kaldenkirchen
The Sequoiafarm Kaldenkirchen is a German arboretum that has been used as a biological institute for many years. Part of the protected area in the city of Nettetal, it is situated in the "Kaldenkirchen Grenzwald" . Nettetal lies in the Lower Rhine region of Germany.- History and use :In 1946, Illa...
. His sister is the tree-and-bush expert Helge Breloer. Martin grew up in Kaldenkirchen, went to Aloisiuskolleg
Aloisiuskolleg
The Aloisiuskolleg is a co-educational, private and Catholic University-preparatory school in Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany with an affiliated boarding school directed by the Jesuits. The school is named for Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. It has an excellent reputation and is considered one of the most...
in Bad Godesberg and graduated at Thomaeum High-School Kempen
Kempen, Germany
Kempen is a town in the district of Viersen, named after Aaron Kempen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated approx. 30 km northwest of Düsseldorf, and 20 km east of Venlo. It was once a centre of textile manufacturing, i.e. silk, cotton, linen, etc.-Notable persons:Kempen is...
. After studies in Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
he worked as a teacher of German and Biology in Viersen
Viersen
Viersen is the capital of the district of Viersen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Viersen is situated approximately 8 km north-west of Mönchengladbach, 15 km south-west of Krefeld and 20 km east of Venlo ....
, where he created schoolgardens and worked out environmental projects joining the German Waldjugend. In 1997 he received the Klaus-Gundelach-Prize for his merits concerning his environmental protection
Environmental protection
Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and our technology the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently...
and his youth novel Fjellwanderung.
From 1969 to 2008 Erik Martin edited Muschelhaufen, an annual
Annual publication
An annual publication, more often called simply an annual, is a book or a magazine, comic book or comic strip published yearly. For example, a weekly or monthly publication may produce an Annual featuring similar materials to the regular publication....
for literature and graphics. In numerous special editions he helped recover writers such as Albert Vigoleis Thelen, Margot Scharpenberg or Fritz Grasshoff. Stories and Poems by well-known writers such as Ernst Jandl
Ernst Jandl
Ernst Jandl was an Austrian writer, poet, and translator.- Poetry :Influenced by Dada he started to write experimental poetry, first published in the journal "Neue Wege" in 1952....
, Annemarie Schimmel
Annemarie Schimmel
Annemarie Schimmel, SI, HI, was a well known and very influential German Orientalist and scholar, who wrote extensively on Islam and Sufism. She was a professor at Harvard University from 1967 to 1992.-Early life:...
(honoured with the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade is an international peace prize given yearly at the Frankfurt Book Fair in the Paulskirche in Frankfurt am Main, Germany...
), Günter Kunert
Günter Kunert
Günter Kunert is a German writer who left the German Democratic Republic to live in the Federal Republic of Germany ....
, Siegfried Lenz
Siegfried Lenz
Siegfried Lenz is a German writer, who has written novels and produced several collections of short stories, essays, and plays for radio and the theatre. He was awarded the Goethe Prize in Frankfurt-am-Main on the 250th Anniversary of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's birth...
, Christoph Meckel
Christoph Meckel
Christoph Meckel is a German author and graphic artist.- Life :Christoph Meckel spent his youth in Freiburg im Breisgau, where he attended Gymnasium. In 1954/55 he studied graphic art at the Academy of Art in Freiburg im Breisgau, and in 1956 at the Academy of Art in München.Since 1956 he has...
and James Krüss
James Krüss
James Krüss was a German poet and writer.James Jacob Hinrich Krüss was born as the son of the electrician Ludwig Krüss and his wife Margaretha Krüss on Heligoland. In 1941, during World War II, the inhabitants of the island were evacuated to Arnstadt, Thuringia, later to Hertigswalde, near...
were first published in Muschelhaufen. Artists like Elke Rehder
Elke Rehder
Elke Rehder is a German artist living in Barsbüttel Germany.- Life and work :Elke Rehder studied at the Heatherley School of Fine Art in London . During that time she was predominantly active as a sculptor, where she created objects from iron, steel, copper, granite, marble as well as small...
or Clemens Weiss
Clemens Weiss
Clemens Weiss is a German artist living in the United States.- Youth and Education :Clemens Weiss grew up in the Region of the Lower Rhine Valley where he received technical training in mechanical engineering from 1970 to 1973. From 1977 to 1982, he studied art, philosophy, medicine and geology in...
used to work for the magazine.
With great care Martin studied Werner Helwig's books and wrote essential essays on his work.
Martin's songs are well-known and often sung in the groups of the German Youth Movement
German Youth Movement
The German Youth Movement is a collective term for a cultural and educational movement that started in 1896. It consists of numerous associations of young people that focus on outdoor activities. The movement included German Scouting and the Wandervogel...
, the German folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and the German Scout Movement
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
. One of those is the popular Wenn der Abend naht (When the evening comes)
. As youth leader
Youth leaders
Youth leaders are persons that are active in youth work field.Youth leaders, educator or youth counsellor are not the same as Child and Youth Worker named persons in Canada and United States of America, which are therapeutics youth workers....
for many years Martin led groups to whose members he was known as Mac. Up to this day he participates in the Deutsche Waldjugend activities and has written articles for several magazines, e.g. der eisbrecher, scouting and Fang. Two CDs with Martin's songs were edited by the Waldjugend.
Erik Martin is married. He has two sons and lives in Viersen-Dülken
Dülken
Dülken is a town located in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany. It has a population of about 20,000. It is part of the municipality of Viersen. It received its town charter in 1364 thus being the oldest part of the municipality of Viersen. It lies in the administrative region of Düsseldorf...
.
Publications
- Macs Fahrtenbuch (1971)
- Vom Singen in den Gruppen (1981)
- Waldläuferheft für Nordlandfahrer und Liederfreunde (1982)
- Liederblätter deutscher Jugend. Vol. 27 (1984).
- Fjellwanderung. Novel. (1986). ISBN 3-88258-094-1
- Das kleine Grenzwaldbuch (= Muschelhaufen. Vol. 24/25-1987/88).
- Werner Helwig. Special edition Muschelhaufen. Vol. 26A (1991).
- Die schwierigen Jahre. Biography. (1995). ISBN 978-3-910172-31-9
- Etwas andere Geschichten zum Vorlesen (1996)
- Wenn der Abend naht. Lieder von Mac. CD. (1996 and 2000)
- Heut wird die Hexe verbrannt. CD. (2006)
Secondary Literature
- Bernd Gerhard: Mac zum Sechzigsten. In: der eisbrecher. No. 1/96. Verlag der Jugendbewegung, Witzenhausen 1996,
- Michael Buselmeier: Hungerphasen, Wandervögel. In: Frankfurter RundschauFrankfurter RundschauThe Frankfurter Rundschau is a German daily newspaper, based in Frankfurt am Main. It is published every day but Sunday as a city, two regional and one nationwide issues and offers an online edition as well as an e-paper...
, 8 April 2000 - Ursula Prause: Muschelhaufen und Dünenschutt / Erik Martin und Werner Helwig. In: MuschelhaufenMuschelhaufenMuschelhaufen is a German annual, originally combining literature and graphic arts. It was founded by Erik Martin from Viersen in 1969 and published - with an interruption of 11 years - until 2008, when the last issue came out Muschelhaufen (heap of shells) is a German annual, originally...
. Jahresschrift für Literatur und Graphik. Vol. 47/48. Viersen 2007, - Markus Orths: Abschied vom Muschelhaufen. In: Am Erker. Zeitschrift für Literatur. No. 53. Daedalus, Münster 2007, ISBN 978-3-89126-553-6