Jules Delsart

Jules Delsart (24 November 1844 – 3 July 1900) was a French cellist and teacher. He is best known for his arrangement for cello and piano of César Franck's Violin Sonata in A major. Musicologist Lynda MacGregor described Delsart as "one of the foremost French cellists of the period, with faultless technique, a precise bow and a sweet, though not large, tone." , Louis Fournier, and Georges Papin. In 1882 she dedicated her cello concerto to him. He made numerous appearances in London, including performing in the world premiere of David Popper's Requiem for three cellos and orchestra alongside the composer and Edward Howell as his fellow cellists at St James's Hall on 25 November 1891. Other works dedicated to Delsart included David Popper's Nocturne, Léon Boëllmann's Cello Sonata, and Benjamin Godard's On the Lake.

Delsart was also active as a chamber musician. From 1875, along with the founder Martin Pierre Marsick, Louis van Waefelghem and , he was the cellist of the Quatuor Marsick, one of the best and most famous string quartets in Paris of the time. With André Messager and Guillaume Rémy, he played in a piano trio which premiered Ernest Chausson's Trio in G minor, Op. 3, in 1882. He also played in a trio led by Pablo de Sarasate.

In addition to the cello, Delsart occasionally performed on the viola da gamba, which he began studying in 1887. There is a Rue Jules Delsart in Valenciennes.

Arrangements

Delsart's arrangement for cello and piano of César Franck's Violin Sonata in A major was sanctioned by the composer, and has become a standard part of the cello repertoire. After thorough historical study based on reliable documents, Delsart's transcription for cello (the piano part remains the same as in the violin sonata) was published by G. Henle Verlag as Urtext edition. He also arranged for cello and piano the "Méditation" from Massenet's Thaïs (normally played by violin and orchestra); and Fauré's Three Romances sans paroles, Op. 17, for piano.