The Trois Chorals (1890) were Franck's final supreme achievement, which he could only play on the piano while dying from a severe traffic accident, with his pupil Charles Tournemire adding the pedal parts by hand.
Composer Biography
César Franck, born in Liège in 1822, spent much of his life as a relatively obscure church organist and teacher before gaining prominence later in life.
Composition History
Franck's early Six pièces (1860-62), including the Grande pièce symphonique and Pastorale on this album, exploited the resources of the Cavaillé-Coll organ at Sainte-Clotilde.
Performer Biography
David M. Patrick, one of Britain's most brilliant organists, specialized in romantic and modern French repertoire and received praise from Marie-Madeleine Duruflé for his interpretations of her husband's works.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Franck's organ works were influenced by his intensive study of Bach and Beethoven, and he employed recurring 'cyclic' themes in the manner of Liszt.
Recording & Production
This recording features the organ of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban, which underwent new additions and restorations in 2009 by Harrison & Harrison.
Critical Reception
Despite a hagiographical biography by his pupil Vincent d'Indy, Franck's music has a marked vein of expressive ambiguity, which has unfortunately affected its critical reputation.
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