The Compelling
César Franck

César Franck was born in Liège in 1822 and died in Paris in 1890. As a pianist, he got off to a fast start, touring at age eleven. Eventually, composition studies began at the Paris Conservatory with Reicha (1837).

1858 saw Franck take the organist job at the church of Sainte-Clotilde, Paris. He must have been impressive, with none other than Liszt comparing his composing and improvising skills to that of Bach.

Franck had profound influence on his pupils and on generations to come. His harmonic language, his development of cyclic form and the religious aspects of his middle works are all important in marking his place in history.

An Amazing Franck Fact

Like Brahms, Franck valued traditional form and handled fugal writing with ease.

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