Pierre-Yves Martel

Pierre-Yves at work

Pierre-Yves Martel is a Montreal-based musician and composer whose work moves between early music and contemporary experimental practices. A specialist of the viola da gamba, he also explores modular synthesis, field recording, and other instruments, approaching sound as sound—focusing on timbre, texture, and the act of listening itself. His wide-ranging output includes numerous solo albums, scores for film and dance, long-standing collaborations such as the improvised trio Hübsch Martel Zoubek, and original music for the arts and philosophy podcast Weird Studies. Alongside an active international concert career, Martel develops site-specific and long-form projects (including the 600-minute Ephemera for Radio Bloc Oral), often combining improvisation, composition, and soundscape.

Solstice Story Hour

A reading of M. R. James’ “Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad”

with J. F. Martel, Pierre-Yves Martel and Phil Ford

PLEASE NOTE: This event concluded on Dec 21, 2025. Registering for an event after its conclusion grants you access to the video recording.

Weirdosphere’s second annual spectral celebration of the solstice began with J. F. and Phil doing a live reading of M. R. James’ ghost story “Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad,” with musical accompaniment by Pierre-Yves. Following the reading, Phil and J. F. had a discussion.

This event concluded on December 21, 2025.