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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]
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Franck, César: Andantino in C Major
Slightly melancholy, played on one manual, with quite a bit of dynamic expression.
[1:30]
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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]
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Franck, César: Maestoso in C minor
The form is straightforward: ABAB (loud - soft - loud - soft).
[1:30]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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Franck, César: Maestoso in D Major
Thematic material from the end of the Sortie in this group.
[1:12]
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Franck, César: Maestoso (Vieux Noel) in D Major
Seems to contrast two Noels, though only the first (Noel Suisse) is familiar.
[1:6]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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