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Franck · César Franck

Franck Symphony in D minor

The symphony panned as 'incompetence pushed to the point of dogma'

Key
D minor
Composed
1888
Premiere
1889 Paris
Duration
about 37 min
Movements
3 movements
Instrumentation
Woodwinds 2·2·2·2 (+ English horn and bass clarinet) · Brass 4·2·3·1 (+ 2 cornets) · Timpani · Harp · Strings

The story behind this piece

This is the only symphony left by Franck, who was famous as an organist. He began it in 1887 and finished it in 1888, and it was premiered on February 17, 1889, by the Paris Conservatoire Concert Society orchestra under Jules Garcin.

Reactions to the premiere were mixed. The composer Gounod is said to have panned it as 'the affirmation of incompetence pushed to the point of dogma.' The use of an English horn in the second movement also drew criticism, and the story goes that a colleague at the Conservatoire asked, 'An English horn in a symphony?'

Franck died the following year, 1890. After that, though, the piece grew popular and became a staple of concerts in Europe and America.

What to listen for

  • Movement 2: The English horn sings a lonely melody over harp and string pizzicato. This is that 'controversial' solo.
  • Movement 3 (finale): Themes from the earlier movements return. It's a 'cyclic form,' in which a single theme threads through every movement.

Listen · Score

Credits