Early orchestral music by César Franck

[Richard Moss]

For those members who might be interested, the individual track for Franck's 'Ce Qu'on...' is available as an MP3 download from Amazon for £0.89 (rather than have to buy/download the whole album).  Some 24 minutes anticipated sheer pleasure for just 89p is good going, I reckon!!

Cheers

Richard

[Mark Thomas]

That's a terrific bargain. I only wish I'd spotted it

[jerfilm]

That is a good deal and I, for one, appreciate the fact that some MP3 retailers are finding it advantageous to market that way.  I know that those of us who do not appreciate the fact that we are faced with buying decisions such as this CD offers, do take some crap for "complaining".   I apologize for that.

But you know, the recorded music industry seems to me to be one of the only ones in the world where you're forced to buy something you don't want in order to get something, often smaller, that you do want.  Imagine going into your favorite pub, sideling up to the bar and having the bartender tell you that, certainly, you can purchase a pint of your favorite ale, but of course, you have to buy two cartons of our stale cigarettes as well.  Or for every ten gallons of petrol you buy you have to also purchase 10 air fresheners for your auto......

Aw. shut up Jerry.   This thread is supposed to be Franck......

PS:  How come no one has commented on the ballet fragments that also are on the disc?  From the samples at Amazon, they seem quite pleasant.

[TerraEpon]

But you know, the recorded music industry seems to me to be one of the only ones in the world where you're forced to buy something you don't want in order to get something, often smaller, that you do want.

Well of course it makes sense when you're only buying a physical media. But I wouldn't say ONLY -- there are often game soundtracks you can only get by buying the game (and in a few cases, you have to buy the game to be able to BUY the game soundtrack digitally). Or the occasional bonus games you get from a bundle, and stuff.

PS:  How come no one has commented on the ballet fragments that also are on the disc?  From the samples at Amazon, they seem quite pleasant.

Makes this disc temping. Being as I only have one recording of the Symphony, another would not be a horrid ordeal to get some more interesting stuff...

[Mark Thomas]

no one has commented on the ballet fragments that also are on the disc?

I did mention them in my post:

The ballet from his late opera Hulda, which rounds out the CD, is a bit heavy footed I thought

[Richard Moss]

Slightly off the topic of 'Franck', but if Mark/Alan will allow a response to Jerfilm's comments above...

In terms of being able to download just the tracks you want, I can't praise Hyperion enough for allowing just that!  As I now have at least 1 copy of most 'known' major orchestral (non-opera) repetoire, when an unknown gets coupled to something I've already got, their policy enables me to get what I need and no more.  Also their approach to making booklet notes available just adds icing to the cake (BTW, I have no connection to Hyperion, just sheer admiration for what they do and how they do it).

Cheers

Richard

[Alan Howe]

OK, and now back to the topic, please...

[TerraEpon]

Well Classicstoday.com reviewed this disc.

No idea what they SAID because it's only an "insiders" review. Probably doesn't help this disc...

[Dr.K]

"No idea what they SAID because it's only an "insiders" review. Probably doesn't help this disc..."

Just wait one week or something like this and you'll be able to read it thanks to the cached version of Google 

[Dr.K]

Here we go!


Fabulous, Undiscovered Franck From Fuga Libera
By David Hurwitz on November 29, 2012 in

César Franck remains perhaps the most unknown of all the great composers. He wrote operas, oratorios, symphonic poems, and chamber music throughout his life, but except for the few late works virtually all of it languishes in obscurity. Then there are the organ works, the finest of their kind since Bach, which remain the province primarily of organists. I have to confess, I am often no fan of organ music generally, but Franck's music for the instrument really does have the power to cross over and give pleasure even to the most hard core doubters.

This splendid disc features music you probably haven't ever heard. The tone poem Ce qu'on entend sur la montagne (What One Hears on the Mountain) dates from 1847, predating Liszt's first symphonic poem of the same title by two or three years. It may thus be the very first symphonic poem in history, and it's beautiful. The very opening, with its high violins and suspended cymbals, is an astonishing piece of orchestration for its date, far more sophisticated than anything that Liszt or Wagner were doing at the time (the work is contemporary with Tannhäuser). Franck's musical ideas are more striking than Liszt's, his structure more cohesive over virtually the same span of time–about 25 minutes. It was recorded at least once previously, for Koch, but this performance is clearly superior both as playing and sound.

Hulda was Franck's last completed opera, and the ballet music, an allegorical "four seasons" type of scenario, is just good French dance music of the period, enriched by some typically Franckian harmonic spice. Laid out in five shapely movements, I offer samples of the second (Winter's Dance), with its gorgeous lyrical writing, and the boisterous finale. As you will hear for yourself, the playing and recorded sound are excellent in all respects. Christian Arming leads Franck's home town forces in audibly committed interpretations, which is a good thing because you also get yet another recording of the inevitable Symphony in D minor.

Happily, it's also one of the best to come out in recent years. Arming paces this tricky piece just about perfectly. The first movement, in particular, has no dead spots whatsoever. The central allegretto finds exactly the right point of balance between andante and scherzo, and the finale has plenty of excitement, with a powerfully built coda enhanced by Arming's directness of expression and firm pulse. This important release is sure to give great pleasure, and it deserves a place in every serious collection.

[Note: Those interested in learning more about Franck should consider purchasing R.J. Stove's recently published (2012) biography César Franck: His Life and Times, the first major study of the composer in English in over three decades.]

[Joachim Raff]

There is an interesting new release due. Ce qu'on entend sur la montagne, a symphonic poem based on Victor Hugo. I only post because i think the poem is unsung. I have not listened yet, so cannot I comment about the performance, but looking forward.
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8767673--franck-by-franck

[Justin]

Very cool! Looking forward to it. Thank you.

[Joachim Raff]

Ce qu'on entend sur la montagne
Mikko Franck, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France

This piece has its limitations and tends to go up several roads but never actually reach any destinations. One could say plenty of ebb and flow. This is forgivable being one of his early works. That said, it keeps you on your toes and keeps your attention.
The conductor and orchestra are in totally sync. Their understanding of the work is highly commendable. Bold and dramatic, emotional moving,   absolutely magnificent display from the strings pulls this piece to another level.

Apparently this is the first issue from Alpha and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Not sure what their next project is, but lets hope there is some more unsung French/Belgium gems for the future.

[Kevin]

You know, it's crazy to me that Franck's symphonic poems are still largely unknown. They are some of the best examples of the period IMO. Their must be a million and one recordings and arrangements of his violin sonata but so few of his tone poems is quite scandalous if you ask me.

[semloh]

I think you are right, Kevin. With the exception of the symphony, the orchestral works seem to have been sidelined by the violin sonata and the organ works for about 20 years now. I certainly didn't notice it back in the 80s and 90s.