This symphony has been considered old-fashioned and backwards by some. I simply cannot agree - it's melodies seem to me as very modern and advanced. It's also in my opinion a beautiful work. Have you heard the symphony and did you like it?

I have only a few works by Cesar Franck:

• Symphony in D Minor (Pierre Monteux/Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
• Symphonic Variations for Piano & Orchestra (Rubinstein)
• Cello & Piano Sonata in A Major (Emil Klein on cello, Sorin Melinte on piano)
• Chorale No. 2 in B Minor (organ piece, John Scott on organ)

All very good. Some consider Franck a little boring, but I don't agree. His symphony is excellent for harmonic richness and use of the technique of recurring theme in each movement. He is perhaps more famous for his works for organ. The organ work mentioned above is from a compilation CD of organ music by various composers, as it's not my favourite instrument. I like his cello and piano sonata.



Topaz

I agree as for his organ works. I've heard a few (I have his 'Prélude, fugue et variation' at home) and I think they're very good. I haven't heard a lot of him, but then again, he wasn't a very prolific composer, was he?

His only SQ is IMHO one of the greatest composed in the 19th.century. So it is his magnificent
violin sonata (transcribed to viola,cello,even flute!)

Franck's D minor may be considered "old-fashioned" because of its "organ-like" qualities and use of counterpoint. It may not necessarily be "progressive", but I wouldn't call it old fashioned either. It is a unique piece in the symphonic repertoire, "bridging" the styles of Bruckner, Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saens.

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To me, it has a most urban flavour. If someone asked me to name it, I'd say it's ''A New York Symphony''. Don't know why and I never have been to New York, but the themes are so Broadway-ish and 5th Avenue-ish. And that of New York in early 30s.

It's originally a sonata for piano and violin (violin obligato we could say ). I suggest the Oistrakh-Richter live recording. But there are many more as interesting as this one: Ferras, Thibaud...

The piano transcriptions of his organ works are also enchanting. Nowadays I'm making a lot of publicity to Paul Crossley's cds with piano works by Franck.

Certainly the snappy little (big) tune in the last movement qualifies. That tune is actually what spoils the symphony for me, because the first movement's dark broody nature makes me hope for a little less glitz and glamour at the end.

Yeah, it does change the image of the work. But it sounds nice when taken separately.

It's the romantic trend.
The light makes its way through the end (the same happens in his violin sonata).