Frank, Cesar

Frank was born into a German-Belgian family — his mother was from Aachen , and his father was from the Belgian village of Gemmenich. In 1830, Frank entered the Liege Conservatory , which four years later graduated with honors in solfeggio and piano . From 1833 to 1835, he took private harmony lessons from Professor Dassuan, a nephew of Etienne Megul , who taught at the Paris Conservatory . Inspired by the musical successes of his son, Frank's father was able to organize a series of concerts in Aachen, Liege and Brussels in the spring of 1835.

In the same year, the family moved to Paris , where Frank entered the conservatory in the class of Professor Antonin Reich . In 1838 , 1839 and 1841, Frank received first prizes at the final exams in the classes of piano , counterpoint and organ, respectively. Frank had the opportunity to participate in the competition for the Rome Prize , but at the insistence of his father, he returned to Belgium, where he successfully performed as a pianist and organ virtuoso.

In Belgium, Frank creates the first compositions: Piano Trio ( 1843 ) and sketches for the oratorio "Ruth".

Two years later, against the will of his father, Frank again leaves for Paris, where he writes the symphonic poem “What is heard on the mountain” and begins work on the opera “Servant for Hire”. In 1853, he received an organist's place in the church of Saint-Jean-Saint-Francois du Mare. Inspired by the art of renowned organist Jacques Lemmens , Frank begins to work on improving his performing skills, in particular pedaling and improvisation . On December 1, 1859, Frank was entrusted with the first performance on the newly built organ of the work of the famous master Aristide Cavaye-Coll in the Church of St. Clotilde . Frank worked as an organist in this church for the rest of his life.

In 1871, the head of the organ class, François Benoit , left the Paris Conservatory, and the vacant seat was offered to Frank. This required French citizenship, and the composer agreed to accept it. Frank officially led the class in February 1872 . Among his students are a number of well-known organists and composers, including Vincent d'Andy , Ernest Chausson and Guy Ropartz .

Since 1874, Frank created numerous works in various genres - oratorios, chamber ensembles, piano and organ compositions, etc. In 1885, the composer was awarded the Legion of Honor , and a year later became president of the National Music Society.

Frank died in 1890 from pleurisy that arose after the flu , is buried in the cemetery of Montparnasse .

Frank is one of the largest composers of the 19th century. His work influenced the next generation of French composers, including Ernest Chausson , Claude Debussy , Maurice Ravel . Frank applied the principle of the so-called “end-to-end development” in his writings, based on the use of several themes developing from one and conducted in all parts, and combining them in the final, which gave the structure of the work more stability and completeness. An integral part of Frank's legacy is composed of compositions for an organ, an instrument that the composer was well-versed in. Many call him the greatest composer for this instrument after Bach . Frank's organ compositions, written in a typical late-romantic style, with numerous modulations and elements of improvisation, served as the forerunners of large-scale compositions by Charles Widor , Louis Vierne , Marcel Dupre .

Opera

• The Stradella ( 1841 )
• "Servant for hire" ( 1851 - 1853 )
• The Gould ( 1879 - 1885 )
• Gisella ( 1888 - 1890 )

Works for choir and orchestra

Oratorios:

• "Ruth" ( 1845 )
• The Atonement ( 1871 )
• The Commandments of Bliss ( 1869 - 1879 )
• Solemn Mass

Works for orchestra

• Grand Symphony G-dur ( 1840 )
• Symphony d-moll ( 1883 )

Symphonic poems:

• The Aeolides ( 1876 )
• The Cursed Hunter ( 1882 )
• The Genies ( 1884 )
• "Psyche" (with choir; 1886 - 1888 )
• Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra ( 1885 )

Compositions for Organ

• Fantasy C-dur
• Great Symphonic Piece
• Prelude, Fugue and Variation
• Pastoral
• Prayer
• The final
• Choral E-dur
• Choral h-moll
• Choral a-moll
• Fantasy A-dur
• Cantabile
• Heroic play

Compositions for Piano

• Eclogue
• Big capriccio
• Prelude, Choral and Fugue
• Prelude, Aria and Finale

Chamber Works

• Sonata for Violin and Piano ( 1886 )
• String Quartet D-dur
• Piano Trio ( 1843 )
• Quintet for piano, two violins, viola and cello (1879)

• Rogozhina N. Cesar Frank. - M.: Soviet composer, 1969 .

• Cesar Franco International Society (German ) (German) (French)
• Biography and a list of works by Frank (Fr.)