Jean Cras believed that composing was an inherent necessity for him, stating, 'As a sailor, I'm the master. As a musician, I am the slave.'
Composition History
The Suite in Duet by Jean Cras was composed after a trip to Guinea, where he brought back balafons and used their modified tunings to create the main themes.
Composer Biography
Jean Cras (1879-1932) was a French marine officer who died as a Counter-Admiral, General Major of the Brest Harbour, after a brilliant military career.
Composer Biography
Jean Cras was also an inventor, whose navigation instrument, a 'rule' to prick the point, was used by sailors until electronic devices were invented.
Performer Biography
Jean-Pierre Ferey, the pianist, is an engineer by training who chose to abandon his engineering career after winning a prize at the International Piano Competition of Zaragossa in 1983.
Compositional Technique
Jean Cras's music is characterized by clarity, breadth, and simplicity of melodic lines, with harmony that is always restrained and instrumentation naturally adapted to each instrument.
Performer Biography
Marie-Annick Nicolas, the violinist on this album, won numerous international competitions between the ages of 17 and 23, including the Grand Prix Long-Thibaud and the Grand Prix Tchaïkovsky.
