César Franck's piano concerto

[outin]

Since I love so many works by Franck I decided to listen to his piano concerto no. 2 yesterday. I was quite disappointed… If I didn’t know I could not have guessed who the composer was. It could have been written by any of the mid 19’th century composers and in that way I found it rather boring. I wonder if he actually just wanted to make sure it would be performed and liked by the audiences at that time and stripped any of his originality from it?

Does anyone know if there’s a concerto no 1 and if so, is it more interesting?

[thalbergmad]

It is a weak work when compared to some of his output.

I rather hope if there was a 1st, it is lost.

Thal

[outin]

But wouldn't it be a shame if it's lost because it was actually better? Maybe just too difficult for the audiences of that time?

[49410enrique]

hmm i wonder how old he would have been when no1 would have been penned down, wasn't he like 13 at the time that no2 was composed? also my understanding is that it is highly derivative of hummel only not as good (makes sense hummel was beginning to experiement with larger forms and idioms in a still mostly classical language so this was also one of those bridge works leading to a more romantic approach).

still at least it provides good contrast to compare to the mature and much more successful symphonic variations (1885 vs the 1835 date I believe is attributed to no 2).

[outin]

hmm i wonder how old he would have been when no1 would have been penned down, wasn't he like 13 at the time that no2 was composed?

I did not know he was that young when he composed the concerto, it explains a lot.

[49410enrique]

I did not know he was that young when he composed the concerto, it explains a lot.

yeah he was born in 1822 and i believe sources show the no2 with a 1835 stamp

....still there have been instances of other 'younguns' putting down some very elegant works at a young age even if they are derivative (they are after all still searching for their voice so to speak).  a great example on  smaller scale is the scriabin op 2 no 1 c#m etude,  very chopinesque in scope and construction but even at 14 years old his early/middle harmonic language begins to poke through here and there that quirkiness that is often found in later works emerges here as well (i.e some timing decisions and phrase repititions for continuity, interlocking thumbs, bigger left hand spreads etc...)

[bachbrahmsschubert]

We can't expect every note of any composer to be at an elite standard. Even Beethoven had his... hiccups.

[williampiano]

Do any of you know if his Piano Quintet had positive reception when it was composed? The third movement is so beautiful but seems as though it may have been very avant-garde for its time, just like a lot of his music was.