Martin Greif, born Friedrich Hermann Frey (18 June 1839 – 1 April 1911) was a German freelance writer of poems and dramas which were performed at the Burgtheater in Vienna and the Bavarian Court Theatre in Munich.

[2] His first publications, enabled by Eduard Mörike were poems, published in 1868 by Cotta’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung unter the pen name Martin Greif, which he used as his official name from 1882 on.

When Laube left the post, Greif returned to Munich and wrote patriotic dramas performed at the Bavarian Court Theatre.

[3] His poem "Das klagende Lied" possibly inspired Gustav Mahler's cantata of the same name, written from 1878 on with a libretto by the composer.

[4] Several of Greif's poems were set to music,[5] for example "Der zerrißne Grabkranz" by Max Reger as part of his Sechs Lieder, Op.