Album insights
It's a curious paradox that organists feel Franck's organ works sound as though they were written for the piano, while pianists notice that his piano works sound as though they were created for the organ. These perspectives hold some truth because although Franck spent most of his mature years as an organist, he began as a pianist. Initially, he took on his first role as an organist to supplement his meager income as a pianist. His serious study of pedal technique started when he was appointed organist at Ste. Clothilde in 1858, and to handle the "third hand" skillfully, he had a practice pedal keyboard by Pleyel delivered to his home.