Background
He was born in Schleusingen, and died in Coburg.
He was born in Schleusingen, and died in Coburg.
Franck initially established a career as a baker. Although he was fairly successful, "he became completely impoverished, because of nocturnal thefts and plunders of his house". He moved to Coburg and began teaching, and also wrote hymns and poems.
Franck"s hymns have been incorporated into compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann.
Franck"s hymn "Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele" was the base for Bach"s chorale cantata Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig, BWV 26.