Jean Cras

Jean Cras ( May 22nd, 1879 in Brest, † September 14, 1932 ) was a French composer and Rear Admiral.

His father, chief physician of the French Navy, and his mother were passionate music lover; in this atmosphere Cras began at an early age to play the piano. At age 13, he presented his first composition, which he publicly lectured on the piano. From the age of 17 he attended the Naval Academy. His leisure hours spent Cras with making music and composing. In 1899, he had already composed a Mass, several motets and the trio Voyage Symphonique.

Around the turn of the century began an intimate and long-lasting friendship with the composer Henri Duparc, who recommended the Beethoven string quartets for the analytical study him. In his military career was Cras instructor at the Naval Academy. Here he conceived a protractor as a navigation aid ( Règle Cras ), which was on every ship in use until the introduction of satellite-based navigation. During the First World War he was commander of a torpedo boat. He was appointed as an officer first class by Admiral Auguste Boué de Lapeyrère and moved on so in the naval staff.

Meanwhile, he completed the opera Polyphème ( libretto by Albert Samain ), which was premiered on December 22, 1922 at the Opéra -Comique. During his time as commander of various ships, he would always bring a piano with on board to, as he put it, to obey an inner voice that inspired him to compose.

In February 1932 his daughter Collette Cras, the future wife of composer Alexandre Tansman that dedicated to her concert for piano and orchestra led to.

From 1931 Cras was in the rank of rear admiral in charge of Major-General of the naval port of Brest, a position which he held until his sudden death after a short illness in September 1932.

Works

Cras created next to piano music, choral works, organ music, orchestral works, trios, string quartets and other chamber music in different occupations.