Album insights
The emergence of a new artistic sensitivity in France is often linked to the time around Victor Hugo's death in 1885. Although in music, this shift began both earlier and later. Earlier, the establishment of the Société nationale de musique in 1871 marked a departure from opera's constraints, providing a platform for French chamber and orchestral music. However, the new non-Germanic musical language still had room to evolve.
For César Franck, this evolution seemed more about self-assurance than technique. Encouraged by his loyal students known as "la bande à Franck," he transitioned from sacred to secular music in his final 15 years, seeking a broader audience. Despite composing piano trios in the 1840s, Franck paused his chamber music creations until 1880, when his Piano Quintet premiered. This change may have been inspired by Saint-Saëns' Violin Sonata debut in October 1885, leading Franck to explore new realms.
While Saint-Saëns' Sonata commences energetically, Franck's references to his organist heritage create an enchanting, serene beginning akin to a mystical garden. Notable for its structural significance, the piece's initial bars containing a major third interval influence much of what follows. The absence of a typical development in the first movement redirects this function to the second part. Rather than a traditional Minuet or Scherzo, a wild and technically demanding Allegro takes unexpected risks towards a potentially finale-like sound.
With Vierne's Sonata, we witness an ingenious approach to thematic contrast and structure reminiscent of Franck. Notably, Vierne's piano reprisal in the "wrong" B major before the violin corrects in G major showcases his innovative flair. The Andante surprises with elongated phrases, leading to a louder "Agitato" section that transitions seamlessly into a more animated passage, highlighting Viernes' compositional dexterity.
Eugène Ysaÿe, a renowned violinist, composed the Poème élégiaque in 1893, reflecting his musical instinct beyond structured forms like sonatas. Inspired by Romeo and Juliet's burial scene and dedicated to Fauré, the piece masterfully weaves thematic ABA sections in d minor and b minor, evoking Fauré's elegance and harmonic subtlety. Ysaÿe's ability to blend conventional lyricism with dark, tragic tones symbolizes a harmonious fusion of traditional and contemporary musical elements.
In a nod to 19th-century musical ethos, these compositions pay homage to the era's musical complexity and seriousness. Lili Boulanger's Nocturne, composed in 1911 at the age of 18, hints at a tonal revival of past French composers while subtly pointing towards a future musical landscape, as seen in the closing nod to Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune. Thus, these works embody a blend of tradition and innovation that resonates across musical generations in a beautifully artistic manner.
"Alors messieurs, dames"... after this enriching feast, would you care for a sorbet?