
César Auguste Franck (1822-90)
Composer
Born in Liège, César Franck was a church musician for much of his life, acquiring a formidable reputation as an improviser at the organ. Unsurprisingly, a considerable proportion of his output is for this instrument, and some of his orchestral works - particularly his single Symphony, in D minor - show the influence of the organ in their instrumentation. Like Sergei Rachmaninov, he was blessed with unusually large hands, giving him a wide stretch at the keyboard and leading him to write piano parts that regularly feature intervals of a twelfth!
Browse: Franck, C
Further Reading: Franck, C
Recording of the Week, Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov perform César Franck's Violin Sonata
19th May 2017
James is enthralled by a new recording of music for violin and piano by César Franck and Ernest Chausson.
Recording of the Week, James Ehnes performs works for violin and viola by Franck, Strauss, and Berlioz
27th April 2015
James listens to two new discs featuring James Ehnes on the violin and viola.
Popular Works: Franck, C
- Andantino in G minor for organ (13)
- Andantino quietoso in E flat, Op. 6 (9)
- Cantabile, M36 (40)
- Cello Sonata in A major (41)
- Choral No. 1 in E major, M. 38 (46)
- Choral No. 2 in B minor, M. 39 (58)
- Choral No. 3 in A minor, M. 40 (72)
- Fantaisie in A major, M35 (39)
- Fantaisie in C major, Op. 16 (23)
- Final in B flat, Op. 21 (22)
- Flute Sonata in A major (15)
- Grande Pièce Symphonique in F sharp minor, Op. 17 (26)
- La Procession (12)
- Le Chasseur maudit (35)
- Le mariage des roses (9)
- Les Djinns, Op. 45 (14)
- Les Eolides - Symphonic Poem (24)
- Mass in A Major Op. 12 (16)
- Nocturne (22)
- Panis Angelicus (269)
- Pastorale, Op. 19 (32)
- Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 14 (42)
- Pièce héroïque, M37 (63)
- Pieces (6) for Organ (31)
- Prelude, Aria et Final M23 (1886/7) (26)
- Prélude, Choral et Fugue, M21 (78)
- Prélude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18 (97)
- Prière, Op. 20 (24)
- Psyché (30)
- Psyche Suite (10)
- Psyché: Psyché et Éros (9)
- Rédemption Symphonic Interlude (12)
- S’il est un charmant gazon (8)
- String Quartet in D major (18)
- Symphonic Variations for piano & orchestra, M46 (114)
- Symphony in D minor (141)
- Trio Concertant in F sharp minor, Op. 1, No. 1 (12)
- Trois Chorals pour grand orgue, M. 38-40 (33)
- Trois pièces pour grand orgue, M. 35-37 (23)
- Violin Sonata in A major (250)