Jean Cras, the composer, had a strong aversion to overly academic or verbose works, preferring music that was charming, seductive, and vital.
Composition History
Jean Cras composed his String Trio and Two Impromptus for harp in his cabin aboard the cruiser Lamotte-Picquet in 1926.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Jean Cras believed that musical construction should stem from instinct rather than strict adherence to scholastic forms like sonata allegro or scherzo.
Compositional Technique
Jean Cras's music often features pentatonicism, which he considered a 'second nature,' and blends exotic elements from his travels with the folk traditions of his native Brittany.
Composition History
The Suite en duo and the Quintet for flute, harp and strings by Jean Cras were composed in his cabin aboard the battleship Provence between 1927 and 1928.
Composer Biography
Jean Cras, a French composer, also had a distinguished career as a sailor, commanding the cruiser Lamotte-Picquet and the battleship Provence.
Instruments
The Suite en duo for flute and harp was inspired by a balafon, a West African xylophone, that Jean Cras brought back from his travels as a sailor.
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