December 10, 2020 • 17

César Franck [1822-1890]

On this day,

December 10, 1822

composer, pianist, organist and music teacher

César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck

was born

in Liège [now Belgium]

then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands

Many of Franck’s works employ “cyclic form”, a method aspiring to achieve unity across multiple movements. This may be achieved by reminiscence, or recall, of an earlier thematic material into a later movement, or as in Franck’s output where all of the principal themes of the work are generated from a germinal motif. The main melodic subjects, thus interrelated, are then recapitulated in the final movement. Franck’s use of “cyclic form” is best illustrated by his Symphony in D minor (1888).
Unusually for a composer of such importance and reputation, Franck’s fame rests largely on a small number of compositions written in his later years, particularly his Symphony in D minor (1886–88), the Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra (1885), the Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for piano solo (1884), the Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major (1886), the Piano Quintet in F minor (1879), and the symphonic poem Le Chasseur maudit (1883). The Symphony was especially admired and influential among the younger generation of French composers and was highly responsible for reinvigorating the French symphonic tradition after years of decline. One of his best known shorter works is the motet setting Panis angelicus, which was originally written for tenor solo with organ and string accompaniment, but has also been arranged for other voices and instrumental combinations.

❝ I dared much, but the next time, you will see, I will dare even more…❞

César Franck

✽

We listen to

Prélude, Choral and Fugue

piano:

Evgeny Kissin

✽

✽

photos taken on a cold cloudy morning just before rain

✽

Enjoy!

✽

Stay Safe!

Categories: Birthdays, MUSIC

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