César Franck's Sonata in A, originally for violin and piano, was presented as a wedding gift to the great Belgian violinist Eugene Ysaÿe in 1886.
Album & Artwork
This album is the first discographic juxtaposition of sonatas written by French organists at the end of the 19th century.
Compositional Technique
César Franck's Sonata in A utilizes a 'cyclic form' where themes recur across different movements, a technique more commonly associated with d'Indy.
Historical Context
The album explores how French composers at the end of the 19th century reacted to Wagnerian chromatism, either embracing or rejecting its influence.
Performer Biography
Michal Kaňka, the cellist on this recording, performs on an instrument made in 2006 by French violin maker Christian Bayon.
Composer Biography
Léon Boëllmann, a French organist and composer, is best known for his Suite gothique for organ, particularly its fiery Toccata.
Composition History
Camille Saint-Saëns's Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 32, can be seen as a preliminary work to his celebrated First Cello Concerto, Op. 33, both written in 1872.
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