Introduction

César Franck moved French music from the more conservative opera, towards the more robust symphonies, orchestra and chamber music. He influenced the later composers in France and was himself influence greatly by his predecessors.

Historical Context

César Franck was born in 1822. He was born in Belgium and was very slow to develop as a composer. He was often ridiculed as a composer for his late development. Yet he became a highly influential composer and some of his work has become part of the standard repertoire. He grew up in France where he composed a few very fine pieces. He focused on orchestral and chamber music. He continued to grow as a composer throughout his life. He wrote his most famous piece, a Violin Sonata at the age of sixty-three. It typifies his style with Romantic lyrics and a slight hint of classicism. He died in 1890.

His Famous Compositions

There is a fine Piano Quintet in f, which was completed in 1879 another fine String Quartet in D, written in 1890. Both these pieces are tributes to his legacy. Though he may have been a late bloomer, his music speaks well for him and he represents one of the greatest composers during his generation.

• List of Chamber Works by Franck
• Other Romantic Composers
• Classical Music Pages: César Franck
• Classical Net: César Franck

Return to the previous page