Franck - "Symphony in D Minor" (1958) - RCA Victor
Hello Friends,
We're keeping things classy once again here on Vinyl in the Valley.
Here's a record of Cesar Franck's Symphony in D Minor as arranged and conducted by Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Kind of a cool-sounding, lesser known Symphony from 1888. Late Romantic period. Three movements utilizing a cyclic form, meaning that the melody that is introduced at the very start of the piece is repeated and mutated throughout the movements.
Believe it or not, this was kind of a revolutionary idea really embraced by the Romantic composers. The vast majority of the Classical Era Symphonies use completely different themes and melodies in each of their separate movements. Its kind of crazy but your typical Symphony by the likes of Hayden, Beethoven or Mozart would be comprised of four distinct and separate movements that would not have much to do with each other sonically or thematically. (Beethoven's Fifth & Ninth Symphonies being two notable exceptions!)
Think of it as four unrelated songs on a record.
When the Romantic composers came along they utilized cyclic form to help tie together the piece so there was more of a thematic flow. Think of it more like Sgt Peppers or The Wall.
Belgian-born Franck lived from 1822 to 1890. He was both a child prodigy and a late bloomer, with most of his important works being written the last 18 years of his life. This, his only Symphony, is probably his most famous work.
To be honest, this symphony has a pretty dark & foreboding sound to it. If you would have told us that it was something by Wagner (especially the First Movement), we probably would have believed you!
RATING: 4 Allegro Non Troppos out of 5
We're keeping things classy once again here on Vinyl in the Valley.
Here's a record of Cesar Franck's Symphony in D Minor as arranged and conducted by Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Kind of a cool-sounding, lesser known Symphony from 1888. Late Romantic period. Three movements utilizing a cyclic form, meaning that the melody that is introduced at the very start of the piece is repeated and mutated throughout the movements.
Believe it or not, this was kind of a revolutionary idea really embraced by the Romantic composers. The vast majority of the Classical Era Symphonies use completely different themes and melodies in each of their separate movements. Its kind of crazy but your typical Symphony by the likes of Hayden, Beethoven or Mozart would be comprised of four distinct and separate movements that would not have much to do with each other sonically or thematically. (Beethoven's Fifth & Ninth Symphonies being two notable exceptions!)
Think of it as four unrelated songs on a record.
When the Romantic composers came along they utilized cyclic form to help tie together the piece so there was more of a thematic flow. Think of it more like Sgt Peppers or The Wall.
Belgian-born Franck lived from 1822 to 1890. He was both a child prodigy and a late bloomer, with most of his important works being written the last 18 years of his life. This, his only Symphony, is probably his most famous work.
To be honest, this symphony has a pretty dark & foreboding sound to it. If you would have told us that it was something by Wagner (especially the First Movement), we probably would have believed you!
RATING: 4 Allegro Non Troppos out of 5
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