Franck Besingrand, the organist on this album, was a student at Collège Saint-Genès from 1968 to 1976 and had free access to the chapel's organ, which he considers the initiator of his musical vocation.
Composer Biography
César Franck, a composer featured on this album, became the organist of the Cavaillé-Coll organ at the Basilica Sainte-Clotilde in Paris in 1859 and remained there until his death.
Composition History
César Franck's 'Trois Chorals' were written in the summer of 1890, fulfilling his desire to compose organ chorales like Bach, but 'on another plane'.
Instruments
The organ on this recording, located in the Saint-Genès Chapel in Bordeaux, was built around 1860 and is attributed to the Georges Wenner Organ Manufactory.
Composer's Artistic Vision
César Franck was influenced by Wagnerian harmony and sought to expand musical forms, deploying melodic phrases in lyrical flights and using rich modulations.
Historical Context
The 'new organ' designed by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll for the Basilica of Saint-Denis in 1841, with its orchestral and innovative concept, inspired French composers like César Franck and led to a symphonic school of organist-composers.
Recording & Production
The organ in the Saint-Genès Chapel underwent a complete restoration in 2015 by the Robert Frères Organ Manufactory of Nantes, and was inaugurated in December 2016.
You might also enjoy...
Organ Recital: Turk, Gordon - Boellman, L. / Vierne, L. / Salome, T. / Guilmant, A. / Widor, C.-M. / Lefebure-Wely, L. / Mulet, H. (Ocean Grove)
