Franck, César: Andantino quasi allegretto in E minor
The right hand is reinforced by a 16' stop throughout. Uses original Harmonium Debain.
[1:31]
HW1
Franck, César: Valse in E minor
This piece is unnamed and no tempo is indicated, but the time signature is 3/4. The right hand three part accompaniment is the Clarinette and
Cornemuse 16' stops, and the "melody" in the left hand is on the Dolce and Cor-Anglais 8' and Violoncelle 4' of the original Harmonium Debain.
[1:16]
HW1
Franck, César: Prière in E minor
Tempo is "Quasi lento." Mode is plaintive. Basic 8' stops in both hands. The composer's alternate suggeston was tried and rejected because it lacked
the childlike innocence of this version. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:29]
HW1
Franck, César: Non troppo lento in E Major
Typical use of chromaticism, alternating between minor and major mode, dynamic changes. The score suggests a little more prominence for the top voice,
but since the crossover point overlaps occasionally, just one extra 4' stop was added to the right side. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:33]
HW1
Franck, César: Allegretto in E Major
The melody in the right hand calls for 16, 8' and 4 stops against a lone 8' in the left, then a short middle section has the roles reversed. Original
Harmonium Debain. For a sample of what this harmonium might sound like in a reverberant French church, click here.
[1:30]
HW1
Franck, César: Poco allegretto in E Major
Equal voices left and right, and there is a canon between the soprano and tenor voice. The Amen for this grouping is appended. For original Harmonium
Debain.
[1:22]
HW1
Franck, César: Offertoire ou Communion in E minor
This dreamy piece has sections in E minor, E Major (a 16' is added to the right hand), E minor again, C Major (where the tempo becomes Poco animato
("a little animated") and a canon between the soprano and bass voices is pursued, returning to E minor and then again to E Major. Themes from the 1st,
3rd and 6th sections of this key grouping are used as thematic material. For original Harmonium Debain.
[5:15]
HW1
Seven Pieces in F Major or F minor
Franck, César: Allegretto in F Major, (Common Time)
This march-like piece is nevertheless expressive. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:22]
HW1
Franck, César: Andantino in F Major
A playful romp with the theme used later in the Sortie in this grouping. The right hand is played on a 16' (with 8') stop an octave higher, with the
melody louder (3 eight foot registers) in the left hand. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:12]
HW1
Franck, César: Lento in F Major
The right hand does double duty here: an octave higher most of the time on 16' stops, but in place (loco) on the 8' for some distinctive lower
harmonies. The theme is recognizable from the Sortie which ends this group. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:18]
HW1
Franck, César: Allegretto in F minor
Charming little variation on the opening theme of the Sortie in this group. For original Harmonium Debain.
[0:43]
HW1
Franck, César: Allegretto in F Major, (3/4 Time)
The rhythm is slightly off kilter so this does not appear waltz-like at first. Several dynamic levels are called for, echoing the Baroque concept of
terrace dynamics. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:8]
HW1
Franck, César: Poco lento in F minor
Right hand is raised an octave and 16' stops are used for the melody. The Amen for this key group is appended. Original Harmonium Debain.
[1:13]
HW1
Franck, César: Sortie in F Major
From Franck's collection "L'Organiste, 59 Pieces for Harmonium." The structure is quite plainly A-B-A, with a few pedal notes added for the reprise.
[4:30]
HW1
Seven Pieces in F# minor or Gb Major
Franck, César: Andantino in F# minor
Subtitled "Air Béarnais," the registration is tailored to the Harmonium Debain - 4' Reed in the Left Hand, 16' Foundation + String in the right hand.
The note ranges and dynamics are offset cleverly so as to exploit all combinations of this registration as if it were a two-manual organ. Notice the
stereo effect when hands move from bottom to top of keyboard. For original Harmonium Debain. Also available with reverberation
[1:17]
HW1
Franck, César: Poco allegretto in Gb Major
Subtitled "Chant Béarnais," the registration is beefed up a bit just for variety, with Franck's original registration used at the end. For original
Harmonium Debain. Also available with reverberation
[1:13]
HW1
Franck, César: Andantino in F# minor
Melody is sounded high on 16' stops, with periodic echoes. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:13]
HW1
Franck, César: Poco lento in Gb Major
Uses the alternative registration of 16' stops (LH Bourdon; RH Cornemuse, Musette and Celeste) played an octave higher. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:14]
HW1
Franck, César: Poco allegro in F# minor
For this fleet and virtuosic invention, the composer specifies 8' fundamental for the left hand, 16' fundamental with 4' reed for the right hand and
carefully observes the line of demarcation between the instrument's upper and lower divisions. For original Harmonium Debain.
[0:51]
HW1
Franck, César: Poco allegretto in Gb Major
The expressive and wistful melody is from the second section of the Offertoire Funèbre in this key grouping, but in 3/4 meter. The brief Amen is
appended. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:15]
HW1
Franck, César: Offertoire Funèbre
In three sections, the first and last in F# minor, with a now ponderous bass line derived from the fleeting Poco allegro; and the second in Gb Major,
being a common meter reworking of the Poco allegretto. For original Harmonium Debain.
[4:10]
HW1
Seven Pieces in G Major or G minor
Franck, César: Poco allegretto in G Major
Restful, hopeful, sweet. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:11]
HW1
Franck, César: Poco lento in G minor
Marked "Vieux Noël," the melody is brought out on 16' stops played an octave higher. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:25]
HW1
Franck, César: Allegretto in G Major
Marked "Noël Angevin," the meter is 3/4, and the final phrase may sound familiar to most Americans. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:25]
HW1
Franck, César: Quasi lento in G Major
The alto voice has a perpetual motion theme, with long sustained notes in the soprano, both played on 16' stop(s) with the right hand, occasionally
joined by 8' stops in the left. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:45]
HW1
Franck, César: Quasi allegro in G minor
Like number 3 in this set, it is marked "Noël Angevin." For original Harmonium Debain.
[0:50]
HW1
Franck, César: Allegretto vivo in G minor
Playful and lively, as the tempo marking suggests. Followed by Amen for this key grouping. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:36]
HW1
Franck, César: Sortie in G Major
In three sections: Allegro, based on the Allegretto (#3) in this key grouping, Quasi lento, based on the Quasi Lento (#4) in this key grouping, and
Allegro, a dramatic amalgam of the first two. For otiginal Harmonium Debain.
[3:22]
HW1
Three Pieces in Ab Major This work was unfortunately left unfinished because of the death of the Master
Franck, César: Poco maestoso in Ab Major
A little majestic - contradiction in terms? For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:31]
HW1
Franck, César: Allegretto amabile in Ab Major
Quite agreeable melody in the right hand using 16' stops against 8' in the left hand. For original Harmonium Debain.
[1:15]
HW1
Franck, César: Andantino in Ab Major
The melody is in the left hand on 8' stops, the accompaniment in the right hand on 16' stops. This is the final piece in the collection, due to the
composer's death in November, 1890.
[1:44]
HW1
