Franck: Préludes, Fugues & Chorals

Nikolai Lugansky turns the spotlight onto César Franck’s underappreciated piano music. In the 1880s, the Belgian composer wrote two substantial solo piano works – the Prélude, Choral et Fugue and the Prélude, Aria et Final – that showed his love of organ music, and that of J.S. Bach in particular. Lugansky also plays two transcriptions of organ works: the Prélude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18, and the Choral No. 2 – arranged by Lugansky himself.

Featuring

Nikolai Lugansky
César Franck

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Composer Biography

César Franck, the composer, had not written any music for solo piano since the 1840s, apart from a few miniatures, until he composed Prélude, choral et fugue in 1884.

Composer Biography

César Franck's death on November 8, 1890, was due to complications from pleurisy, shortly after he completed his third Choral pour grand orgue.

Composition History

The Prélude, fugue et variation, op. 18, was later transformed into an organ piece, published in 1868, and dedicated to Camille Saint-Saëns, a famous French composer and organist.

Compositional Technique

The Prélude, choral et fugue is described as a 'wholly original work' where every element serves the beauty and solidity of its construction, with nothing left to chance or improvisation.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Franck's original intention for Prélude, choral et fugue was to compose a prelude and fugue in the style of Bach, but he decided to link them with a chorale whose melodic spirit would infuse the entire composition.

Composition History

The Prélude, fugue et variation, op. 18, was originally conceived as a piano and harmonium duet for Franck's students, Louise and Geneviève Deslignières, before being adapted for organ.