HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Jean Émile Paul Cras

Born on 22 May 1879 in Brest, Brittany, Jean Émile Paul Cras composed largely for chamber, piano and voice, as well as some some orchestral pieces. Though he was a fringe composer he something personifies the post-Romantic as adventure, he himself in terms of the military, travel and the sea. Though more a melodic poet than composer of heroics, Cras actually did such as about which heroic Romantics made a fuss. He joined the French navy at age seventeen, such that his catalogue of works is relatively brief since his military career left him little time for composing. He was self-taught until age twenty when he acquired a mentor in Henri Duparc in 1900 who later recommended him to organist, Alexandre Guilmant.

Cras began writing songs in 1892. Paul-André Bempéchat includes 37 titles in 'Mélodies de Jeunesse 1892-1901'. Wikipedia finds Crass composing other titles prior to both meeting Duparc and the twentieth century. In 1899 he authored 'Panis Angelicus', a motet which he dedicated to his elder sister, Gabrielle, a soprano. He also completed 'Voyage Symbolique' in 1899, a piece for piano, violin and cello.

'Panis Angelicus' ('Bread Angelic') Jean Cras

Comp completed Aug 1899

Organ: Pierre Farago Soprano: Sophie Marin-Degor

Among works completed by Cras in 1900 were poems, sonatas and an 'Impromptu Pastoral'. In 1901 he set a couple of poems to music which would get published with five others in 'Sept Mélodies' in 1909. Those were 'Douceur du soir' by Georges Rodenbach and 'Correspondences' by Charles Baudelaire. 'Petite pièce en fa mineur' for piano and 'Andante religieux' for orchestra were also finished in 1901.

'Correspondences' Jean Cras Music set to Charles Baudelaire

No.7 of 'Sept Melodies' pub 1909

Comp completed Aug 1899

Organ: Pierre Farago Soprano: Sophie Marin-Degor

IMSLP Text

In 1902 Cras set music to a couple of poems which would get published with three others in 'Poèmes Intimes' ('Intimate Poems') of 1912.

'Poèmes Intimes' ('Intimate Poems') Jean Cras

1. 'En Islande' ('In Iceland') 1902

2. 'Preludio con Fughetta' ('Prelude with Fughetta') 1902

3. 'Au fil de l'eau' ('Along the Water') 1911

4. 'Recueillement' ('Contemplation') 1904

5. 'La maison du matin' ('The Morning House') 1911

Pub 1912 in Paris

Piano: Jean-Pierre Ferey

IMSLP

In 1903 Cras wrote a couple more songs later included in 'Sept Mélodies' of 1909. In 1904 'Recueillement' was composed toward later inclusion in 'Poèmes Intimes' of 1912. He also finished 'Valse en mi majeur' for piano and 'Chorale' for organ as well as 'Grande Marche Nuptiale'. In 1905 'Mains Lasses' was completed toward 'Intimate Poems' of 1912. He also composed 'Ave Verum' for voice, violin and organ or harmonium. In 1907 Cras wrote a "Trio in C' for piano, violin and cello, then began 'Deuxième messe à 4 voix' which he finished in 1908.

'Marche Nuptial' ('Wedding March') Jean Cras

Comp completed 1904

Organ: Vincent Rigot

'Main Lasses' ('Weary Hands') Jean Cras Music set to Georges Rodenbach

No.2 of 'Sept Melodies' pub 1909

Comp completed 1905

Baritone: Philippe Cantor Piano: Laurent Wagschal

IMSLP

Cras had seen battle on both sides of the Atlantic before being promoted to Lieutenant in 1908. The next year he authored 'Regina Coeli' ('Queen of Heaven') for voice and orchestra. Come 'Ave maria' for voice and organ in August 1910, the same year that Cras set four poems by Albert Samain to music in 'Elégies'.

'Regina Coeli' ('Queen of Heaven') Jean Cras

Comp completed 1909 Pub 1914

Le Madrigal de Paris / Pierre Calmelet Organ: Vincent Rigot

'Soir' ('Evening') Jean Cras Music set to Albert Samain

No.3 of 4 of 'Elégies'

Comp completed 1910 Pub 1912

Bretagne Orchestra / Claude Schnitzler Tenor: Philippe Do

IMSLP

In 1911 Crass completed a couple of songs toward 'Poèmes Intimes' published the next year. During World War I he worked in submarine defense, then commanded a torpedo boat as of 1916. In 1917 he composed 'Deux Paysages' ('Two Landscapes'), 'Danze'. 'Quatre Danze' and 'Âmes d'enfants' ('Souls of Children') for piano six hands which he orchestrated in 1918, then wrote a version for four hands in 1922.

'Maritime' Jean Cras

No.1 of 'Deux Paysages' ('Two Landscapes')

Comp completed 1917 Pub 1920

Piano: Eric Le Sage

IMSLP

'Champêtre' ('Rural') Jean Cras

No.2 of 'Deux Paysages' ('Two Landscapes')

Comp completed 1917 Pub 1920

Piano: Alain Jacquon 2004

IMSLP

'Quatre Danze' Jean Cras

1. 'Danza Morbida' ('Soft Dance')

2. 'Danza Scherzosa' ('Playful Dance')

3. 'Danza Tenera' ('Gentle Dance')

4. 'Danza Animata' ('Animated Dance')

Comp completed 1917 Pub 1920 in Paris

Piano: Alain Jacquon 2004

IMSLP

Cras had composed his opera with libretto by Albert Samain, 'Polyphème', during the Great War from 1912 to 1918, though it didn't premiere until December 1922 after winning the first Ville de Paris Prize in 1921. 'Polyphème' is a tale of love rejected by one Galatée who prefers Acis to Polyphème.

'Interlude' Opera by Jean Cras

From Act I of 'Polyphème' composed 1912-1918 Pub 1922

Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra / Bramwell Tovey

IMSLP Robert Levine Bruno Peeters Wikipedia

Cras wrote the first of 'Quatre petites pièces pour violon et piano' in 1926 in dedication to his 8 year-old son, Jean-Pierre. He wrote three more for his son in 1927, 1928 and 1929. Meanwhile, come Cras's impressionistic chamber rhapsody, 'Légende' for violoncelle et orchestra', in 1927.

'Habanera' ('Havana') Jean Cras

No.2 of 'Quatre petites pièces pour violon et piano' composed 1926-1929

Piano: Jean-Pierre Ferey Violin: Marie-Annick Nicolas

IMSLP Score

'Légende' A-flat major Jean Cras

Comp: 24 June 1929 Premiere 29 March 1930 at the Concert Pasdeloup in Paris Pub 1930

Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra / Jean-Francois Antonioli

Cello: Henri Demarquette

Paul-André Bempéchat Angie Bolivar-Alfonso IMSLP

Cras was made Major General of the Port of Brest in 1931, the year he completed his 'Piano Concerto', and was later promoted to Rear Admiral. During the final year of his life he finished 'Trois Chansons Bretonnes' and 'Deux Chansons' consisting of 'Le Roi Loudivic' and 'Chanson du Barde'.