Cesar Frank: biography, photos and interesting facts

Uncommon, unusual, unique personality in the French and world music art - Cesar Frank. Romain Rolland put in words of his hero Jean-Christophe the words of admiration for this man. He believes that Frank was unearthly, a saint from music, which gave him the opportunity and the strength to carry through life, despite the endless deprivations and all the despised work, the clarity of a patient and quivering soul. And consequently, and a humble smile, which kindled with light his work.

Childhood

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

At the age of eight, Cesar enters the Conservatory of the city of Liège, who graduates with honors in piano and solfeggio classes in just four years. In 1835, the future organist engaged in harmony with the famous music professor Dassuan.

The father, struck by the fantastic achievements of his son, arranged in 1835 for him several concerts in Aachen (mother's native city), Liege and Brussels.

Paris. First success

By the end of 1835, the family moved to the capital of France. Here the young musician after two years of private lessons with the famous Professor A. Reyha enters the Conservatory (1837). And not having citizenship of the French Republic, Cesar was enrolled as an exception, but Ferenc Liszt, for the same reason, was not accepted a few years earlier.

Beginning in 1838, César Frank received a prize every year on graduation tests for classes of organ, piano, and counterpoint. From the competition for the award of the Roman Prize, the musician refused and, under duress of his father, returned to Belgium, where for a long time he performed as an organist-virtuoso, less often as a pianist.

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

The Turning Year

A peculiar frontier for the writer was a significant year for the Fifth Republic - 1848. 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.

Curious is the fact of coincidence of the day of marriage with the beginning of the revolution - on February 22. The newlyweds were even "lucky" - they had to move through the wedding cortege through the rebel barricades.

To support the family, Cesar has to give endless private lessons. In many newspapers it was possible to read his announcement of a proposal to give a lesson of theoretical and practical harmony, as well as pianoforte, counterpoint and fugue. This exhausting, exhausting daily work pursued him for the rest of his life in the literal sense of the word. Going to the next student, the composer, bypassing the omnibus, received a blow, which subsequently died.

Flemish temperament

Most likely, it was he who gave that naive optimism and benevolence, which evoked endless sympathies of his contemporaries and even descendants. All the life's misfortunes that fell to his lot, could not shake the spiritual forces of Cesar. Walking to his students, the composer considered walking to be useful and restoring health, he considered the indifference of the hall in the performance of his creations for a hearty welcome. The composer was able to rejoice and enjoy any, even unpleasant event.

Cesar Frank (his biography is confirmation of this) was accurate, responsible, generous and calmly stern, despite the fact that his every day was monotonous: at half-past five the composer got up, then for two hours "worked for himself" (as he called the time of creativity ), By seven o'clock was already on the first lesson. At home Frank was only for supper. And if after it there was no scheduled classes, then again devoting time to his compositions. Such selfless activity not for the sake of material wealth, but for the cause of his life, devotion to vocation and higher skill, the composer's friends and friends were called a feat.

Perfection knows no bounds

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

In 1853, Frank Cesar was accepted organist into the church of Saint-Jean-Saint-Francois du Mare. The period of perfection begins. The composer continuously improves performing skills, 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 on the new, just finished organ of the work of the glorified Aristide Cavaillé-Colle. For this instrument, César Franck worked until the end of his days.

French citizenship

In 1871, Frank was asked to take the leadership of the class body, which left Francois Benoit. The only condition was French citizenship, which César accepted. In the middle of the winter of 1872, Frank became the official head of the class - a professor of the body, than laid a long tradition, later called "a great tradition." And since the conservatory first of all was guided by the opera, the Frank class became a class of composers. Not only students enrolled in the educational institution, but also free students, who accepted new views on learning, based on the principles of Beethoven and Bach's creativity, were studying with pleasure.

Among the students of Cesar are many organists of world renown, including Guy Rooparts, Ernest Chausson, Vincent d'Andy, and others.

Confession

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

The world recognition came only after the death of the composer. And today Cesar Frank's music evokes a trembling emotion of the soul.

Great heritage

Since 1874, many works of various forms and genres were created by Cesar Frank. Fugue with variations, numerous oratorios, piano compositions, organ, chamber ensembles, etc.

Student years were marked by several cycles of variations for pianoforte. Art critics believe that they do not represent special interest as musical works, but demonstrate an amazing variety of techniques for playing the piano.

In the same period, there are Big Sonatas and the First Symphony for a large orchestra. Judging by the biographical records, she was performed in Orleans no later than 1841.

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

A major work, the first highly rated professionals, was the oratorio "Ruth".

In the early 50-ies from the pen of the composer leaves "Farmat from the farm" (comic opera) and "The Tower of Babel" (oratorio).

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

Cesar Frank "Panis Angelicus" wrote in 1872. This is church music, laid on the words of the prayer of Thomas Aquinas. "Angelic bread" (for orchestra, tenor and choir) was conceived as part of the church mass. However, it became so popular that it was quickly perceived as an independent play. The melody written by César brought a worldwide fame to prayer, which has lived for more than 600 years.

Six Pieces

These were the first significant works of the creator. Two years, from 1860 to 1862, Creation was created by César Franck. Prelude, Fugue and variation are complete independent works. For them, the composer chose a model of the Baroque triptych, smoothly passing into a romantic ballad.

Fruitful eighties

From the end of 1879 and until 1886 the composer wrote a lot. So was created a quintet for pianoforte. Under the influence of H. Berlioz and Romanticism, the symphonic poem "The Damned Hunter" was published. Further "Djinn" (for pianoforte and orchestra), chorale, symphonic variations for piano and orchestra. A little later the prelude and aria wrote for pianoforte and orchestra Cesar Frank. Sonata for violin and piano was created in 1886 and in handwritten form was presented with a wedding gift to the great violinist E.Izay. After a spontaneous rehearsal, Eugene played it at the celebration and did not part with this great creation until the end of his life.

Unkindly apprehended by the audience performed by the Society concerts of the Conservatory in 1889, the Symphony in D minor just finished. But he continued to work, for he was firmly convinced of the success of his work by César Franck. The symphony in D minor became not only the symphonic symphony after Berlioz's famous works, but also the best in the second half of the 19th century.

Three organ chorals were written for her. They are recognized as the composer's variational technique.

Greatest of its kind

The importance of Cesar's activity is difficult to overestimate. He created his own school, which contributed to the cardinal changes in the French musical tradition. His works make it clear that the national spirit is not only an opera, and that in France there are also worthy composers creating symphonic music corresponding to a high European class.

César Frank (prelude, fugue, written by him for the orchestra, let it be understood) raised this genre to the level of Bach's works. Like the piano genres. Two large cycles for this tool, art historians put on a par with the famous Beethoven sonatas.

Outstanding musicians, contemporaries and disciples of Frank considered him an outstanding teacher. The opinion of the creator of music was listened to by E. Chausson, H. Rochartz, J. Bizet, A. Dupac, P. Duke, E. Chabrier, and others. Cesar Debussy respected infinitely.

So far, the composer's chromatic letter stands out in a special way, the free and easy use of nonaccords, the expressiveness of its modulations, the novelty of cyclic forms. Studying the harmonious language of Cesar enabled future composers to overcome the patterns.

curious

Many of the works created by Cesar remained in the handwritten version. But each composition is interesting. 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, on the same subject V. Hugo Ferenc Liszt later also wrote a work.