An extraordinary, unusual, peculiar personality in the French and world musical art - Cesar Frank. Romain Rolland put in the mouth of his hero Jean-Christophe words of admiration for this man. He believes that Frank was unearthly, holy from the music, which gave him the opportunity and strength to carry through life, despite endless hardships and despised by all, clarity of a patient and reverent soul. And consequently, a humble smile, which kindly illuminated his work.
Childhood
Cesar Frank was born into a German-Belgian family in 1822, December 10. The father of the future composer belonged to an old family of court Flemish 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 a good income.
At the age of eight, Cesar enters the conservatory of the city of Liège, which he graduates in piano and solfeggio with honors in just four years. In 1835, the future organist was engaged in harmony with the famous music professor Dassuan.
The father, astounded by the fantastic achievements of his son, arranged for him in 1835 several concerts 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, a young musician, after two years of private studies with the famous professor A. Reich, enters the conservatory (1837). Moreover, Cesar, who did not have the citizenship of the French Republic, was credited as an exception, but Ferenz Liszt, for the same reason, was not accepted several years earlier.
Since 1838, Cesar Frank each year in the final tests in the classes of organ, piano, and counterpoint received a prize. The musician refused the competition for the Rome Prize and, under the pressure 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, the first musical works of Cesar appeared. In 1943 - the Piano Trio and a little later sketches for the future oratorio "Ruth".
Tipping year
A significant year for the writer turned out to be 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 that the wedding day coincides with the beginning of the revolution - February 22. The newlyweds were even “lucky" - they had to cross the rebel barricades with a wedding procession.
In order to support his family, Cesar has to give endless private lessons. In many newspapers one could read his announcement of the proposal to give a lesson in theoretical and practical harmony, as well as piano, counterpoint and fugue. This exhausting, exhausting daily work haunted him to 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 the naive optimism and goodwill that caused the endless sympathies 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 the walk to his students useful and restoring health, he considered the indifference of the hall in the performance of his creations as a warm welcome. The composer was able to rejoice and enjoy any even unpleasant event.
Cesar Frank (his biography is a confirmation of this) was accurate, responsible, generous and calmly austere, despite the fact that every day was monotonous: at half past four the composer got up, then worked for himself for two hours (as he called the time of creation ), by seven o'clock I was already on my first lesson. Frank was home only for dinner. And if after him no classes were planned, then again he devoted time to his writings. Such selfless activity, not for the sake of material wealth, but for the sake of the work of his life, devotion to vocation and higher mastery, was called by his companions and friends of the composer a feat.
Perfection knows no bounds
After a couple of years, Frank, not listening to his father, again sent to the capital of France. Here he ends “What is Heard on the Mountain” - a symphonic poem based on the works of V. Hugo, and takes up large-scale work on the opera, which he called “Servant for Hire”.
In 1853, Frank Cesar was received by the organist in the church of Saint-Jean-Saint-Francois du Mare. The cultivation period begins. For days on end the composer enhances 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, only completed organ of the work of the famous Aristide Cavaye-Coll. For this instrument, Cesar Frank worked until the end of his days.
French citizenship
In 1871, Frank was offered to take over the leadership of the organ class that François Benoit left. 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 - professor of the organ, which laid the foundation for the long-standing tradition, later called the "great tradition." And since the conservatory primarily focused on opera, the Frank class became a class of composers. It was with pleasure that not only students enrolled in the educational institution studied, but also free students who took new views on training based on the principles of Beethoven and Bach.
Among Cesar’s pupils there are many world-famous organists, including Guy Ropartz, 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 Legion of Honor, and a year later was appointed president of the National Music Society.
World recognition came only after the death of the composer. And today, the music of Cesar Frank causes a trembling excitement of the soul.
Great heritage
Since 1874, Cesar Frank created many works of various forms and genres. Fugue with variations, numerous oratorios, piano compositions, organ, chamber ensembles, etc.
The student years were marked by several cycles of variations for the piano. Art historians believe that they are not of particular interest as musical works, but demonstrate an amazing variety of techniques for playing the piano.
In the same period, the Big Sonatas and the First Symphony for a large orchestra appeared. Judging by the 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 "first opus" of the composer. Liszt, who was friendly with Frank, 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, finished work. By the way, Ferenc Liszt often supported Cesar by helping to publish.
A large work, the first highly praised by professionals, was the oratorio "Ruth".
In the early 1950s, “A farm laborer” (comic opera) and “Tower of Babel” (oratorio) came out from the composer's pen.
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 Commandment of Bliss.
Cesar Frank wrote "Panis Angelicus" in 1872. This is church music based on the words of the prayer of Thomas Aquinas. Angel Bread (for orchestra, tenor and choir) was conceived as part of a church mass. However, he became so popular that he quickly became perceived as an independent play. The melody, written by Cesar, brought prayer, which has lived for more than 600 years, worldwide fame.
Six Pieces
These were the first significant works of the creator. Two years, from 1860 to 1862, Cesar Frank created them. Prelude, fugue and variation are complete independent works. For them, the composer chose a model of a baroque triptych, smoothly turning into a romantic ballad.
Fruitful eighties
From the end of 1879 to 1886, the composer wrote a lot. Thus was created a quintet for piano. Under the influence of G. Berlioz and romanticism, the symphonic poem “Cursed Hunter” was released. Further “Genies” (for piano and orchestra), choral, symphonic variations for piano and orchestra. A little later, César Frank writes the prelude and aria for piano and orchestra. The sonata for violin and piano was created in 1886 and in handwritten form was presented as a wedding gift to the grandiose violinist E. Izai. After a spontaneous rehearsal, Eugene played it at a celebration and did not part with this great creation until the end of his life.
The public unfriendly perceived by the Concert Society of the Conservatory in 1889 the just-completed symphony in D minor. But he continued to work, for he was firmly confident in the success of his work Cesar Frank. The symphony in D minor became not only the largest symphonic work after Berlioz's famous works, but also the best in the second half of the 19th century.
Three organ chorales were written behind it. They are recognized as a variation technique of the composer.
Greatest of its kind
The significance of Cesar's activities is difficult to overestimate. He created his own school, which contributed to cardinal changes in the French musical tradition. His works make it clear that the national spirit is not only opera, and that in France there are also worthy composers who create symphonic music that corresponds to a high European class.
Cesar Frank (the prelude, the fugue he wrote for the orchestra makes this clear) raised this genre to the level of Bach's works. Like piano genres. Art critics put his two large cycles for this instrument on a par with the famous Beethoven sonatas.
Outstanding musicians, contemporaries and students of Frank considered him an outstanding teacher. The opinion of the creator of music was listened to by E. Chausson, G. Ropartz, J. Bizet, A. Dupack, P. Duc, E. Chabrier and others. He endlessly respected Cesar Debussy.
Until now, the composer's chromatic writing, his free and easy use of non-chords, the expressiveness of his modulations, and the novelty of cyclic forms stand out in a special way. Learning the harmonic language of Cesar made it possible for future composers to overcome patterns.
curious
Much of what Cesar created remains in the handwritten version. But each composition is something interesting. For example, “What is heard on the mountain” is considered the first example of a symphonic poem with a clear chronological line. By the way, on the same subject of V. Hugo, Ferenc Liszt later also wrote a work.