L'Organiste by César Franck (1890). Collection of pieces for harmonium.

Описание: Franck's collection of pieces for harmonium was commissioned by the publisher Enoch and dates from the composer's final months. These short pieces were composed as groups of seven in each key, rising by semitones from C and planned to finish with B. Franck's final illness and death prevented him from completing the plan, and the first edition finishes with three pieces in the tonality of A flat major. Further pieces in G sharp minor and a final movement remained in the composer's manuscript and have been published in subsequent editions. This recording of the complete collection first appeared as a two CD set on the Voix Céleste label in 2008 and is published with permission here, along with the original score. The instruments used were four historic harmoniums by Mustel, Alexandre and unusually, the American firm of Mason & Hamlin working in the style of the Art-harmonium developed in France.



Each set comprises six short pieces in major and minor tonalities, a brief Amen and a final movement which works some themes already heard into a more extended piece. They were intended to have a liturgical use and require the registers available on the standard model harmonium developed and widely used in France.


A. Seven pieces in C major and C minor.
1878 Mustel Art-harmonium.


B. Seven pieces in D flat major and C sharp minor. 0:14:24
1888 Mustel Art-harmonium.


C. Seven pieces in D major and D minor. 0:26:42
1878 Mustel Art-harmonium.


D. Seven pieces in E flat minor and E flat major. 0:40:44
c1850 Alexandre standard harmonium.


E. Seven pieces in E major and E minor. 0:52:30
c1880 Mason & Hamlin Art-harmonium.


F. Seven pieces in F major and F minor. 1:08:00
c1880 Mason & Hamlin Art-harmonium.


G. Seven pieces in F sharp minor and G flat major. 1:21:10
1878 Mustel Art-harmonium.


H. Seven pieces in G major and G minor. 1:35:00
1878 Mustel Art-harmonium.


I. Three pieces in A flat major. 1:48:10
c1850 Alexandre standard harmonium.