Claude Fraysse

Fraysse was born in Versailles on 31 July 1941.^[1] In the 1960s, he played in the varieté orchestra "Johann Ness" as a saxophonist, akkordion player and flutist, and also worked as a chanson singer.^[1] He collaborated with Charles Aznavour and Jacques Brel, among others, who became his friends.^[1]

In the 1970s, he taught trombone and tuba at the conservatoire in Romans.^[2] Influenced by Alain Bergèse, who taught classical guitar there, he became interested in Christianity in 1973.^[1] He composed melodies for hymns, aimed at bringing young people to singing.^[1][2] He organised music groups such as Les troubadours de l'Espoir, and held seminars promoting new Christian songs. From 1974, he also gave music lessons at schools. In 1993, he became a pastor of the Reformed Church.^[1][2] He recorded songs, and published a book narrating his conversion.^[1]

His song "Je louerai l’Eternel" (I will praise the Eternal one) with a harmonisation by Bergèse, was translated into German as Ich lobe meinen Gott von ganzem Herzen and became a popular new hymn.^[2]

Another song "C'est vers toi que je me tourne" ("It is to you that I turn"), composed also with Bergèse with lyrics written by Leila Hamrat, was translated into Chinese as 獻上活祭 and is popular among Chinese American churches in the United States. ^[3]

• Claude Fraysse discography at Discogs
• Gotteslobvideo (GL 400): Ich lobe meinen Gott von ganzem Herzen (2014) on YouTube