Franck

[pianowelsh]

How many of you play the piano works of Cesar Franck? Which are his best pieces in your opinion and  what are youyr general impressions are there and good scholarly publications on him?

[Nordlys]

The most famous are two grandious piano works, which are somewhat similar to each other:

- Prélude, choral & fugue
- Prélude, aria & final

These are wonderful works which should be played more often. (I haven't myself, though)

[dmk]

The most famous are two grandious piano works, which are somewhat similar to each other:

- Prélude, choral & fugue
- Prélude, aria & final

These are wonderful works which should be played more often. (I haven't myself, though)

I totally agree!! They are wondeful works, the C,P & F I have heard played a bit but I have seldom, if ever, heard the P,A & F.

I play the chorale, prelude and fugue...its up there on the scale of difficult works (IMO)...I found that there is a lot of detail to go into this piece and, truth be told, I am still not quite happy with where its at.  It is a great piece to play and its something you can really 'get your teeth into'.

Has anyone played the prelude, aria and fugue...What is it like?? I have heard it on CD's put I have never seen the score.

[apion]

The most famous are two grandious piano works, which are somewhat similar to each other:

- Prélude, choral & fugue
- Prélude, aria & final

These are wonderful works which should be played more often. (I haven't myself, though)

I would also recommend his piano concerto "Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra."  Outstanding.

[anda]

the only things i actually enjoyed playing by franck were valse lente, the chorale from prelude, chorale and fugue, the prelude from prelude, fugue and variation and the 4th part from his violin sonata.

franck was 1st of all organist - and his piano works reflect this.

[anda]

oh, and for all of you chasing for "technically impossible" works - check out his grand caprice.

[athykay]

I heard the prelude, fugue and variation for the first time just recently, performed live by Awagadin Pratt.  I was quite taken by the piece as well as his performance.

Being an church organis (although piano is *the* instrument), I thought it would be fun to try the original organ version.   Most pieces transcribed from organ for piano are considerably easier on the organ (with the benefit of the pedal as opposed to those fearsome Busoni-esque stre-e-e-tches).  I'm curious if anyone here has done or heard the piece on organ.

I'm waiting for my version to arrive in the mail.

[Hmoll]

I love his PC&F. Years ago I did a "cost benefit analysis," and decided they are lots of fun to listen to, but not for me to learn - too many 10ths.

[dmk]

I love his PC&F. Years ago I did a "cost benefit analysis," and decided they are lots of fun to listen to, but not for me to learn - too many 10ths.

Well H-moll you are so smart!!!!...I think if I had done this it would have saved me a lot of grief...(being an economist the idea of a CBA really appeals to me...!!) it will stop me from 'biting of more than I can chew'......

[fnork]

Not a piano work, but his violin sonata is one of the best I've heard. It suits the cello better though, I'm thinking about playing it with a cellist... It's beautifully written. The last movement is probably the most famous, written as a "canon" where one instrument plays the melody and the other imitates everything one measure later.

[anda]

Not a piano work, but his violin sonata 

approaching it this way is a mistake - it's definitely a "piano & some violin sonata" 

just look over the 2nd part - by the time the violinist gets to the 3rd or 4th note, the pianist already turned the 3rd page!!!

[Allan]

As a pianist and an organist (the organ being, as Beethoven once said, the "King of Instruments"), I have truly enjoyed playing some of Franck's works for the organ.  I have played just a few portions of the "Prelude, Choral and Fugue" for the piano--a wonderful work that ends with a ray of sunshine.  Franck is one of the underrated masters.  You all must hear his "Grand Piece Symphonique" for organ--a masterwork of power and beauty.  I have a cd of piano transcriptions of his three outstanding chorals for the organ---but these works sound rather weak on the piano and lack the color of the organ.

[pianowelsh]

Ashley Wass has recorded both of the chorale pieces and the caprice and a waltz etc on his Naxos disc. Well worth it!!!

[krenske]

Hey there pianowelsh,
Re. your question on "scholarly" writings on Franck, can I suggest one written by Charles Tournemire. From memory, it is simply called "César Franck". Tournemire was a student of Franck, and successor to him at the Conservatoire (composition), and as organist at Ste Clotilde. Its probably out of print, but should be in many libraries. Hope this helps!

[apion]

As a pianist and an organist (the organ being, as Beethoven once said, the "King of Instruments"), I have truly enjoyed playing some of Franck's works for the organ.  I have played just a few portions of the "Prelude, Choral and Fugue" for the piano--a wonderful work that ends with a ray of sunshine.  Franck is one of the underrated masters.  You all must hear his "Grand Piece Symphonique" for organ--a masterwork of power and beauty.  I have a cd of piano transcriptions of his three outstanding chorals for the organ---but these works sound rather weak on the piano and lack the color of the organ.

Supposedly, Franck is second only to JS Bach as the greatest composer for organ.

[pianowelsh]

We have been fortunate enough to have both the violin and cello versions of the sonata performed at college recently once with the fantasic ekaterina Apekesheva playing piano - WOW she is a real musician So imaginative and a consumate communicator. I am desparate to learn the chorale prelude and fugue now it is unspeakably beautiful the colours he conjours in the piano writing are spine tingling. Its real virtuoso music on the piano though - No mean undertaking. Aside from his bigger variation sets etc does anyone know of any shorter works or miniatures (he strikes me as a composer who like to work on the grand scale with a sense of momentum and pacing but he is also remarkably intimate so i could imagine smaller works too??! Do people know his Quartet/quinetet - for piano. He is a masterful chamber composer - wouldnt mind getting my hands on to some of that repertoire - experiences please?