#5: César Franck, encounter between the master and his students.
The Belgian-French composer, organ player and pianist César Franck was born in Liege in 1822. In 1835 he moved to Paris with his family where he has classes in counterpoint and fugue from Anton Reicha. This teacher, who also taught Liszt, Berlioz and Gounod, was of great importance for Franck’s musical development. Reicha prepared him eventually for his admittance to the conservatory.
César Franck wrote many compositions where he included a fugue. One of his best known works are Prélude, Choral and Fugue for piano solo from 1884.
Franck gets appointed as organ player in the new Roman Catholic Sainte-Clothilde church in Paris in 1858, where he trained a whole generation of organ players. Very modern for the time is that he stressed on improvisation. From that time on he also wrote many pieces for the organ,harmonium and choir. Franck’s influence was of great importance for the chamber music and organ music. He guided a large group of young musicians and composers, among which Vincent d’Indy, Paul Dukas and Ernest Chausson. They all admired Franck’s personal post romantic style with surprising harmonies and inventive counterpoint. They would call Franck Père Franck, father Franck.
Anton Reicha
Fugue 1
Jaroslav Tuma
2HP Production
César Franck
Prélude, Choral et Fugue
Pascal Devoyon
Erato
César Franck
Prélude, Fugue et variation op.18
Bertrand Chamayou, piano & Olivier Latry, harmonium.
Naïve
Paul Dukas
Symphony: andante espressivo e sostemento
Orchestra de la Suisse Romande led by Armin Jordan
Erato
César Franck
Vioolsonate, dl. 4
Jaap van Zweden, violin & Derek Han, piano
RCA Victor
