A student of Abela and Schnieder Franz undertook a self-study of music arranging compositions by Bach, Handel, Schubert, Schumann and Mendelssohn. At Ulrichskirche he acceded to the position of organist. He began composing numerous songs (the first set he sent to Schumann who had them printed without Franz's permisssion) while the conductor of the Singing Academy in Halle. He was eventually invited to teach at the University where he was bestowed with an honorary doctorate. The Halle Singing Academy did him the honor of attaching his name to the school. Franz's music was cherished throughout Germany and Austria. The influence of a number of diffeent composers was presented in his music and he had the ability to assimilate them all. From Bach and Handel he learned balance and structure, from Schumann expression and key assemblages, and from German folk music he incorporated melodic strains, aura and pathos. In Bavaria Franz, was declared a Knight of the Order of Maximilian and in Germany the Kaiser bestowed him with the Order of the Crown. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi