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Franck

César Franck
Dates
1822–1890
Era
Early Romantic (1820–1860)
Recognition
essential
Wikipedia

Where to start with Franck

Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles
  1. Orchestral
    Symphony in D minor, M.48
  2. Chamber
    Violin Sonata in A major, M.8
  3. Keyboard
    3 Chorales, M.38-40
  4. Vocal
    3 Offertories, M.63-65
  5. Stage
    Hulda,, M.49 — Opera
  6. Orchestral
    Le Chasseur maudit, M.44
  7. Orchestral
    Les Eolides, symphonic poem, M.43
  8. Chamber
    Piano Quintet in F minor, M.7
  9. Keyboard
    Prélude, choral et fugue, M.21
  10. Chamber
    String Quartet in D major, M.9
  11. Orchestral
    Variations symphoniques — For piano and orchestra
  12. Keyboard
    3 Pieces, M.35-37
  13. Keyboard
    4 Melodies de Francois Schubert, for piano, op. 8, M.15
  14. Keyboard
    5 Pieces, for harmonium, M.26
  15. Vocal
    6 Duos, M.89

Listening guide

Hand-curated paths into Franck's catalogue
  1. Symphony in D minor
  2. Violin Sonata in A major
  3. Prélude, Chorale et Fugue (piano)
  4. Panis Angelicus (motet)
  5. Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra

Most Acclaimed

  1. Piano Quintet in F minor
  2. Violin Sonata in A major
  3. String Quartet in D major
  4. Les Béatitudes (oratorio)
  5. Prélude, Aria et Final (piano)

Most Weird

  1. Piano Quintet in F minor
    Liszt stormed out of the premiere in disgust; Saint-Saëns refused to take his copy of the score when Franck tried to give it to him; too erotic for them
  2. Les Djinns
    piano + orchestra — Victor Hugo’s supernatural spirits
  3. Prélude, Chorale et Fugue
    the chorale is not a real chorale; the fugue subject is derived from the prelude — cyclic form
  4. String Quartet in D major
    his last completed work — a testament to his cyclic technique
  5. Hulda (opera)
    Norwegian subject — rarely performed

Similar composers

Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinity

Works 71