François-Joseph Krafft (1721-1795)
- Levavi oculos meos in montes (1766)
Performers: Grеta De Rеyghеrе (soprano); Mаrniz De Cаt (counter-tenor);
Jan Cааls (tenor); Dirk Snеllings (bass); Dominique Van Sаnde
(mezzo-soprano);
Il Fondamеnto; La Sfеra del canto; Paul Dombrеcht (conductor)
Further info: Krafft: De Profundis; Levavi Oculos Meos
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Flemish organist, conductor and composer, son of the engraver and music
publisher Jean-Laurent Krafft (1694-1768) and Marie Aubersin. He was
born in a Flemish family of composers and musicians of German descent.
His cousin François Krafft (1733-c.1790) was an harpsichordist and
composer active in Brussels, Liège and Germany. He was probably trained
by his father and during his youth as a chorister at the Ghent
cathedral. He may also have attended one of the Naples conservatories,
where his teachers included Francesco Durante and where it is claimed
that he won a prize for the motet In convertendo Dominus. When he came
back to Brussels, he probably served as organist at one of the churches
there until he was appointed, on 7 April 1769, music director of St Baaf
Cathedral in Ghent, a position he held until his resignation on 23
August 1794. He retired about a year before his death. His music has
been little studied but includes five Masses, a Requiem, 14 Psalms, a
Magnificat, 11 motets and instrumental music and often is mixed up by
the music of his cousin François Krafft since both of them signed his
works as a François (Francesco) Krafft.
