Cesar Frank: biography, photos and interesting facts

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

An extraordinary, unusual, original personality in French and world musical art - Cesar Franck. Romain Rolland put words of admiration for this man into the mouth of his hero Jean-Christophe. He believes that Frank was unearthly, a saint from music, which gave him the opportunity and strength to carry through life, despite endless hardships and despised work, the clarity of a patient and quivering soul. And consequently, a humble smile that lit up his work with a kind light.

Childhood

Cesar Franck was born into a German-Belgian family on December 10, 1822. The father of the future composer belonged to an old family of Flemish court painters. Perhaps that is why he early noticed the exceptional talent of his son. But the resourcefulness of the financier that prevailed in his character prompted his father to exploit the gift of little Frank for the sake of a good income.

At the age of eight, Cesar entered the Liege Conservatory, where he graduated with honors in piano and solfeggio in just four years. In 1835, the future organist studied harmony with the famousmusic professor Dassuan.

The father, amazed by his son's fantastic achievements, arranged several concerts for him in 1835 in Aachen (mother's hometown), Liège and Brussels.

Paris. First success

By the end of 1835, the family moved to the capital of France. Here, after two years of private studies with the famous professor A. Reicha, the young musician enters the conservatory (1837). Moreover, Cesar, who does not have citizenship of the French Republic, was enrolled as an exception, but Ference Liszt was not accepted for the same reason a few years earlier.

Starting from 1838, Cesar Franck received an award every year at the final tests in the classes of organ, piano, and counterpoint. The musician refused the competition for the Rome Prize and, under the compulsion of his father, returned to Belgium, where for a long time he gave concerts as a virtuoso organist, less often as a pianist.

At the same time, Cesar's first musical works appeared. In 1943 - Piano Trio and a little later sketches for the future oratorio "Ruth".

A turning point

The year 1848, which was also significant for the Fifth Republic, turned out to be a kind of frontier for the writer. During this period, Cesar refuses concert activity, deciding to seriously engage in writing, and marries. His beloved Felicite de Musso is the daughter of the leading actors of the French Comedy Theater.

It is curious that the wedding day coincides with the beginning of the revolution - February 22. The newlyweds were even "lucky" - they had to move in a wedding procession throughrebel barricades.

To support his family, Cesar has to give endless private lessons. In many newspapers one could read his announcement of a proposal to give a lesson in theoretical and practical harmony, as well as piano, counterpoint and fugue. This exhausting, exhausting daily work haunted him until the end of his life in the literal sense of the word. Heading to the next student, the composer, bypassing the omnibus, received a blow, from which he later died.

Flemish temperament

Most likely, it was he who gave that naive optimism and goodwill that aroused the endless sympathy of his contemporaries and even descendants. All the hardships of life that fell to his lot, could not shake the spiritual strength of Cesar. The composer considered walking to his students useful and restoring he alth, he considered the indifference of the audience when performing his creations as a warm welcome. The composer knew how to rejoice and enjoy any event, even an unpleasant one.

Cesar Franck (his biography is proof of this) was precise, responsible, generous and calmly severe, despite the fact that every day was monotonous: at half past five the composer got up, then for two hours he “worked for himself” (so he called the time of creativity), by seven o'clock he was already going to the first lesson. Frank was at home only for dinner. And if there were no classes scheduled after him, he again devoted time to his compositions. Such selfless activity is not for the sake of material we alth, but for the sake of one's life's work,Comrades-in-arms and friends of the composer called devotion to the vocation and the highest skill a feat.

Perfection knows no bounds

After a couple of years, Frank, not listening to his father, again goes to the capital of France. Here he finishes "What is heard on the mountain" - a symphonic poem based on the works of V. Hugo, and undertakes large-scale work on the opera, which he called "The Servant for Hire".

In 1853, Franck Cesar was accepted as organist at the church of Saint-Jean-Saint-Francois du Marais. The period of improvement begins. The composer improves his performing skills day and night, namely the technique of organ improvisation and pedals.

At the beginning of the last month of 1859, his efforts were rewarded: the Church of Saint Clotilde entrusted him to play a new, just finished organ by the famous Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. Cesar Franck worked for this instrument until the end of his days.

French nationality

In 1871, Franck was asked to take over the leadership of the organ class that François Benois had left. The only condition was French citizenship, which Cesar accepted. In the middle of the winter of 1872, Frank became the official head of the class - professor of organ, which laid the foundation for a long tradition, later called the "great tradition". And since the conservatory was primarily focused on opera, the class of Frank became the class of composers. It was a pleasure to study not only students enrolled in an educational institution, but also free listeners who adopted new views on learning based on the principles of Beethoven's work.and Bach.

Among Cesar's students are many world-famous organists, including Guy Ropartz, Ernest Chausson, Vincent d'Andy and others.

Recognition

Too late it came to the creator. Only in 1885 did the famous composer and organist receive an award from the Legion of Honor, and a year later he was appointed president of the National Musical Society.

World recognition came only after the death of the composer. And today the music of Cesar Franck causes quivering excitement of the soul.

Great legacy

Since 1874, many works of various forms and genres have been created by César Franck. Fugue with variations, numerous oratorios, piano compositions, organ and chamber ensembles, etc.

Student years were marked by several cycles of variations for piano. Art historians believe that they are not of particular interest as musical works, but show an amazing variety of piano playing techniques.

In the same period, Grand Sonatas and the First Symphony for large orchestra appeared. Judging by biographical records, it was performed in Orleans no later than 1841.

The first serious works - three concert trios (for piano, cello and violin), were written in 1842 and 1843. Officially, they are considered the composer's "first opus". Liszt, who was friendly with Franck, was pleasantly surprised by the integrity of the last part of the trio and furiously urged the young composer to publish it as a single piece,finished work. By the way, Franz Liszt often supported Cesar, helping to publish.

The oratorio "Ruth" was the first to be highly appreciated by professionals.

In the early 1950s, The Farmhand (comic opera) and The Tower of Babel (oratorio) came out from the composer's pen.

In 1869, Cesar created the best of his works, according to art historians - the oratorio in eight parts for choir, orchestra and soloists "The Beatitudes".

Cesar Franck "Panis Angelicus" wrote in 1872. This is church music set to the words of the prayer of Thomas Aquinas. "Angel's Bread" (for orchestra, tenor and choir) was conceived as part of a church mass. However, it became so popular that it quickly began to be perceived as an independent play. The melody written by Cesar brought worldwide fame to a prayer that has lived for over 600 years.

Six Pieces

These were the first significant works of the creator. For two years, from 1860 to 1862, Cesar Franck created them. Prelude, Fugue and Variation are complete independent works. For them, the composer chose the model of a baroque triptych, smoothly turning into a romantic ballad.

Prolific Eighties

From the end of 1879 to 1886 the composer wrote a lot. This is how the Piano Quintet was created. Under the influence of G. Berlioz and romanticism, the symphonic poem "The Damned Hunter" was published. Further "Jinns" (forpiano and orchestra), chorale, symphonic variations for piano and orchestra. A little later, Cesar Franck writes the prelude and aria for piano and orchestra. The Sonata for Violin and Piano was created in 1886 and presented in handwritten form as a wedding gift to the grandiose violinist E. Ysaye. After a spontaneous rehearsal, Eugene played it at the celebration and did not part with this great creation until the end of his life.

The audience reacted unkindly to the recently completed symphony in D minor, performed by the Conservatory Concert Society in 1889. But he continued to work, for he was firmly convinced of the success of his work Cesar Franck. The Symphony in D minor became not only the largest symphonic work after the famous works of Berlioz, but also the best in the second half of the 19th century.

Three organ chorales were written behind her. They are recognized as an image of the composer's variational technique.

The greatest of its kind

The significance of Cesar's activities can hardly be overestimated. He created his own school, which contributed to fundamental changes in the French musical tradition. His works make it clear that the national spirit is not only about opera, and that there are also worthy composers in France who create symphonic music corresponding to the high European class.

Cesar Franck (prelude, fugue, written by him for orchestra, make it clear) raised this genre to the level of Bach's works. As well as piano genres. Two of his great cycles for this instrument are put by art critics on a par with Beethoven's famous sonatas.

Outstandingmusicians, contemporaries and students of Frank considered him an outstanding teacher. E. Chausson, G. Ropartz, J. Bizet, A. Dupac, P. Duc, E. Chabrier and others listened to the opinion of the music creator. He infinitely respected Cesar Debussy.

Until now, the composer's chromatic writing, his free and easy use of non-chords, the expressiveness of his modulations, the novelty of cyclic forms, stand out in a special way. The study of Cesar's harmonic language enabled future composers to overcome patterns.

Curious

Much of what Cesar created remained in handwritten form. But each essay is interesting in some way. For example, "What is heard on the mountain" is considered the first example of a symphonic poem that has a clear chronological line. By the way, V. Hugo Franz Liszt later also wrote a work on the same plot.