Jean Cras - Pomes Intimes: No. 4. "Recueillement" (1904)

Perfomer : Jean-Pierre Ferey (2013) Jean Émile Paul Cras (1879–1932) was a 20th-century French composer and career naval officer. His musical compositions were inspired by his native Brittany, his travels to Africa, and most of all, by his sea voyages. As a naval commander he served with distinction in the Adriatic Campaign during World War I. Cras was born and died in Brest. His father was naval medical officer. He was accepted into the navy at the age of 17. As a midshipman cadet on the Iphigénie, he travelled in the Americas, the West Indies and Senegal. His mathematical skills led to his proposing a number of innovations in technical practices which were adopted by the navy, including a navigational plotter protractor known as Règle Cras (Cras ruler). In 1931 he was appointed Major General of the Port of Brest and promoted to rear admiral. He occupied this position when he died after a short illness. His daughter, Colette Cras, a concert pianist for whom he wrote his pia