UPDATED 02/05/2010

FEATURED INSTRUMENT CONCERT   Your support is necessary to continue this service. Even a small donation will help. Harmonium Mannborg Leipzig (c. 1900) - Samples by Paul Delferriere Seven Pieces in C Major or C minor Franck, César: Poco Allegretto Gentle rocking piece with some of the same themes used in his Offertoire. The Harmonium Mannberg has but one stop, Diapason, but some dynamic expression is used. [1:24] HW1 Franck, César: Andantino in C Major Slightly melancholy, played on one manual, with quite a bit of dynamic expression. [1:30] HW1 Franck, César: Poco lento in C Major Utilizes the split registers of the harmonium as echoes of 4- or 2-measure phrases. ABA form, with a little of Franck's characteristic chromaticism in the B section. The lower half is registered with 8' + 4' + 2', the upper with 16' + 8' + 4' stops. [1:46] HW1 Franck, César: Maestoso in C minor The form is straightforward: ABAB (loud - soft - loud - soft). [1:30] HW1 Franck, César: Poco lento in C minor Utilizes the split registers of the harmonium exactly as Franck instructs. The familiar theme becomes wistful played slowly and in the minor mode, with concertina-like accompaniment in the left hand. Uses the single-manual, original version. [1:29] HW1 Franck, César: Poco allegro in C minor The left hand has the prominence in this piece, with the accompaniment in the right written an octave higher with 16' pitch indicated. For completeness' sake the short "Amen" provided for each key grouping (C Major/minor) is appended to this track. Uses the single-manual, original version. [1:27] HW1 Franck, César: Offertoire in C Major Good-natured gentle piece sounding vaguely like the German Chorale "Liebster Jesu" with occasional chromaticism and a stern middle section in C minor. [4:30] HW1 Seven Pieces in Db Major or C# minor Franck, César: Andante in Db Major Gentle rocking rhythm with a hint of chromaticism. Franck's general instructions are a reed-like 8' + a flute-like 8' on left and right sides, interpreted thus: Left Dolce 8' + Basson 8' + Cor Anglais 8'; Right Flute 8' + Hautbois 8'. [0:56] HW1 Franck, César: Andantino in Db Major Reminiscent of Frère Jacque, but only a 2-part canon. Franck specifically calls for 4' registers in the left and 16' registers in the right, thus overlapping pitches the way you would on a 2-manual organ. Left Saxophone 4' + Violoncelle 4' Right: Clarinette 16' + Cornemuse 16' + Celeste 16'' [0:56] HW1 Franck, César: Poco Andantino in Db Major Hints of Dvorak's New World Symphony. Franck specifically calls for 8' registers in the left and 16' registers in the right, thus overlapping pitches the way you would on a 2-manual organ. Actual registration: Left: Dolce 8' + Basson 8'; Right: Clarinette 16' + Celeste 16'' [1:19] HW1 Franck, César: Poco Allegro in C# minor Wistful melody repeated sequentially in soprano, bass and soprano part. Franck specifies quiet 8' foundation stops, although the Phantom Organist added Basson 8' to the Dolce 8' in the left hand to bolster the melody, which carries better in the treble register on the Flûte 8'. [1:3] HW1 Franck, César: Lento in C# minor The melody is in the bass. A couple of accidentals were changed to protect innocent ears: Ms. 8 - F double sharp on 4th and 5th notes in the soprano lowered to F#; M. 21 - B natural on third beat changed to B # as in the two previous measures. Left Dolce 8' + Basson 8' Right Flûte 8'. [1:24] HW1 Franck, César: Andantino poco mosso in C# minor Mostly quiet sweetly repetitive piece in 3/4 meter, followed by Amen in Db Major. The Kalmus edition may have an error: the 2nd note in measure 8 of the tenor part sounds like it should be B#, but I left it standing. Left Dolce 8' Right Flûte 8'. [1:20] HW1 Franck, César: Andante in Db Major A very pretty melody is put through its paces with pianistic accompaniment devices that sound almost quaint on a reed organ. Composer's registrations were followed literally, starting with Left Dolce 8' + Basson 8' Right Flûte 8 + Hautbois 8'. When it modulates to F - Left Dolce 8' Right Flûte 8'. When the melody is in the left hand: Left Dolce 8' + Basson 8' Right Flûte 8' + Clarinette 16'. When key changes to Fm and for the ending: as at the beginning. [3:11] HW1 Seven Pieces in D Major or D minor Franck, César: Quasi allegro in D Major The Plein Jeux is asked for (full organ) in this alternately marcato (marchlike) and legato (smooth) piece, which opens with a hemiola (2 measures in 3/4 meter divided into 3 measures in 3/4 meter), a device usually used at the end of phrases. Note the similarities to the Sortie in this key. [1:25] HW1 Franck, César: Très lent in D minor Subtitled "Chant de la creuse" ("Song of the hollow ones?"), the unison statement is repeated homophonically, then little phrases are toyed with briefly. Themes from the Sortie are pre-echoed. Registration is Dolce 8' on the left and Flûte 8' on the right and some terrace dynamics are indicated. WAV file is available in RAR format: here (4.3 MB). [1:6] HW1 Franck, César: Quasi andante in D Major Registration is Dolce 8' on the left and Flûte 8' on the right and some terrace dynamics are added (including an unauthorized increase on the optional repeat at the beginning). Based on themes from the Sortie in this group. [0:49] HW1 Franck, César: Andantino in D minor Subtitled "Vieus Noel," the Christmas tune is stated twice, once in the soprano, and once in the tenor ending up in the soprano again. [1:12] HW1 Franck, César: Maestoso in D Major Thematic material from the end of the Sortie in this group. [1:12] HW1 Franck, César: Maestoso (Vieux Noel) in D Major Seems to contrast two Noels, though only the first (Noel Suisse) is familiar. [1:6] HW1 Franck, César: Sortie in D Major From Franck's collection "L'Organiste, 59 Pieces for Harmonium." This playful piece romps through the keys of D Major, B Major, B minor, D Major again, D minor and ends in D Major with a short "Amen." [3:51] HW1 Seven Pieces in Eb Major or Eb minor Franck, César: Andantino poco allegretto in Eb Major Uses themes from the Offertoire in Eb. Unauthorized terrace dynamics at end. [0:55] HW1 Franck, César: Quasi lento in Eb Major Childlike and coy, the right hand is written an octave higher to be soloed out on 16' stops. [0:55] HW1 Franck, César: Molto moderato in Eb minor Homophonic sections alternating with bass solo in a key with 6 flats. Uses the alternate registration of 16' reeds suggested by the composer. [1:20] HW1 Franck, César: Allegretto in Eb Major The melody in the bass and tenor are played on 8' sounds, the other three voices on a 16' (they are written an octave higher to accommodate). [0:45] HW1 Franck, César: Poco allegro in Eb Major Arpeggiation in the left hand is supposed to be on 8' stop, more sustained duet in right hand is meant to be 16' + 8, but because the piece ends with the right hand below the dividing point, 16+8 were used for both. Original version of Harmonium Debain. [1:9] HW1 Franck, César: Andantino in Eb minor Repetitive but comforting patterns. Some dynamics added beyond what is indicated in the score. Repetitive but comforting patterns. some dynamics added beyond what is indicated in the score. Followed by an immoderately slow Amen. Original Harmonium Debain. [1:12] HW1 Franck, César: Offertoire in Eb Major Marked "Andantino poco allegretto" this longish offertory is also long on charm and naïvété. The right hand is reinforced by a 16' stop during the second 5th of the piece, otherwise it is just marked for expressive 8' stops. For the original Harmonium Debain. [4:8] HW1 Franck's l'Organiste continues in Concert 3