The Société Nationale de Musique, founded in 1871, marked a new era in French music, with its inaugural concert featuring works by César Franck and Théodore Dubois.
Compositional Technique
César Franck's Sonata in A major, a towering masterpiece of 19th-century chamber music, is notable for its masterful use of cyclic form, which was Franck's signature.
Historical Context
The Franco-Prussian War of 1870 led to a shift in French musical tastes, moving away from light entertainment towards more serious compositions.
Composer Biography
Théodore Dubois, a composer featured on this album, was director of the Paris Conservatoire from 1896 to 1905 and is remembered as a conservative artist.
Composition History
Théodore Dubois's Violin Sonata in A major, dedicated to violinist Eugène Ysaÿe and pianist Raoul Pugno, was first performed by them in April 1900.
Composer Biography
Eugène Ysaÿe, a composer and dedicatee of works on this album, was a foremost practitioner of the violin, distinguishing him from his composer colleagues.
Compositional Technique
Eugène Ysaÿe's Poème élégiaque uses 'scordatura,' a technique where the G string is tuned a tone lower, allowing for unusual chords.
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