César Franck

Belgium, 1858–1890

Belgian-French organist and composer (1822-1890). The Symphony in D minor and the Violin Sonata use cyclic form, in which themes return transformed across separate movements.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced César Franck and 1 artist César Franck influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced César Franck?

• Franz Liszt — Liszt encouraged Franck personally, compared his organ works to Bach's, and Liszt's thematic transformation underlies Franck's cyclic form.
• Johann Sebastian Bach — Bach's organ polyphony was the foundation of Franck's art as organist of Sainte-Clotilde and of his contrapuntal composition.

Which artists did César Franck influence?

• Vincent d'Indy — D'Indy studied privately with Franck from 1872, followed him into the Conservatoire organ class, and on Franck's death became the keeper of his method — which is what the Schola Cantorum was built to teach.