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Born at Liège in Belgium, Cèsar Franck (1822-1890) was originally intended by his father for a career as a virtuoso pianist. In Paris his nationality excluded him at first from the Conservatoire, where he later failed to achieve the necessary distinction as a performer, turning his attention rather to composition.
In 1846 he left home and went to earn his living as a teacher and organist, winning particular fame in the latter capacity at the newly built church of Ste. Clotilde, with its Cavaillè-Coll organ. He drew to him a loyal and devoted circle of pupils and in 1871 won official recognition as the nominated successor of Benoist as organ professor at the Conservatoire.
A man of gentle character, known to his pupils as Pater seraphicus, he exercised considerable influence through his classes and performances, although remaining something of an outsider as a composer, in a Paris interested largely in opera.
Franck's best known orchestral works are the Symphonic Variations for solo piano and orchestra and the Symphony in D minor, completed in 1888 and first performed at a Conservatoire concert the following year. A brief series of symphonic poems includes the early Ce qu'on entend sur la montagne, based on Victor Hugo, Le chasseur maudit, inspired by a ballad by Burger, Les Djinns, after Hugo, and Psychè, a work that also calls for a chorus. Franck wrote a number of large scale choral works on biblical subjects, with smaller scale works for occasional or liturgical use. This last category includes the well known Panis angelicus of 1872, originally for tenor, organ, harp, cello and double bass. The Panis angelicus was later interpolated into the three-voice Mass of 1861.
Franck wrote one Violin Sonata, which, like his symphony, is united by a cyclic use of thematic material that connects the movements. There is a fine Piano Quintet, completed in 1879 and a final String Quartet, written in 1890.
A distinguished organist, Franck wrote remarkably little for the instrument on which his improvisations had won him fame and pupils. Published organ compositions include Trois Chorales of 1890 and Trois Pièces, written a dozen years earlier. The six organ pieces of 1860-62 include a Fantaisie, Grande pièce symphonique, Prèlude, Fugue et Variation, Pastorale, Prière and Final.
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