Unfortunately, standard reference works record almost nothing about the composer Alexis Martin. It can be assumed that Martin worked as a horn player in Paris. Several of his compositions survive in print, including some 20 duos for 2 horns, a Fantaisie for horn and piano, a Grande Sérénade op. 2 for 3 horns, and a Fantaisie for horn and orchestra, which may be identical to the version for horn and piano.
The present Serenade espagnole op. 7, also titled Nocturne in its first edition, was published in 1819 by the Parisian publisher Pleyel. Martin dedicated the serenade "à son ami Charles Castagnes".
