César Franck – Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano

Caricature of Belgian violinist Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe, dedicatee of César Franck’s Sonata in A major for violin and piano.

Caricature of the celebrated Belgian violinist Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe, for whom this sonata was composed and presented as a wedding gift.

This radiant work ranks among the most beautiful compositions of César Franck. Although written when the composer was already past sixty, it possesses the emotional vitality and expressive intensity more commonly associated with the music of a much younger man.

Dreamlike and often deeply romantic in character, the sonata was presented as a wedding gift to the distinguished Belgian violinist Eugène-Auguste Ysaÿe on 28 September 1886.

A Stormy Dispute

Franck worked on the sonata during the summer months, demonstrating his remarkable ability to shield his creative life from everyday turmoil. In the two or three years preceding its composition, intense disputes surrounded him, largely stemming from artistic disagreements with the established French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Yet no trace of this unrest disturbs the serenity and balance of the Sonata in A major.

Initially, Franck intended the opening movement to unfold in a slow and imposing manner. However, upon hearing Ysaÿe perform it at a faster tempo, he was so captivated by the expressive charm of the interpretation that he hastily changed the tempo marking to Allegretto.

While each movement reflects a distinct emotional state—bright and joyful at first, then reflective, at times tinged with melancholy—the overall impression is one of gentle continuity and lyrical flow. Themes emerge, withdraw, and later reappear, lending the work a sense of organic unity. The sonata is especially admired for the exquisite balance between piano and violin, which engage in a refined musical dialogue where both voices speak with equal eloquence.

Purity and Lyricism

Although the first three movements belong firmly to the realm of chamber music, in the final movement Franck introduces melodies and harmonies reminiscent of his improvisations at the organ of the church of Sainte-Clotilde. The purity of his musical language seems to reconnect with the virtuosity of his youth, half a century earlier. This fusion of technical mastery and lyrical expression secures the Sonata in A major a place among Franck’s finest achievements.

Comments

Johann Strauss II - Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op. 214 in A major

The Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka , Op. 214, was composed in 1858 by Johann Strauss II following a highly successful concert tour in Russia. During the summer season, Strauss performed regularly at Pavlovsk, near Saint Petersburg, a fashionable venue for open-air concerts that played a crucial role in shaping his international reputation. Shortly after his return, the polka was premiered in Vienna on 24 November 1858. The title itself reveals Strauss’s playful wit. In German, “Tratsch” refers to gossip or idle chatter, while “Tritsch” carries no literal meaning. Together, the words form an onomatopoeic pun, imitating the sound of lively conversation—much like the English expression “chit-chat.” Such wordplay was characteristic of Strauss, who delighted in pairing light-hearted music with humorous or evocative titles. True to its name, the Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka bursts with energy and rhythmic vitality. Strauss once remarked that dancers might happily pause their movements, engaging in anima...

Robert Schumann - "Träumerei" or "Dreaming" (from the album Kinderszenen or "Scenes from Childhood"), Op. 15, No. 7

'The Woodman's Child' painting of Arthur Hughes, expresses wonderfully the dreamy quality of "Dreaming" from Schumann's "Scenes from Childhood". For Robert Schumann , music was almost always a personal expression of contemplation, feelings and poetic contemplation and that is exactly what makes him one of the most important romantic composers. The piano was Schumann's first love and his compositions for this instrument are among the most resistant through the passage of time. Schumann composed "Scenes from Childhood" album, the best-known of all his pianistic circles, in 1838. It consists of 13 "peculiarly small works", as described by the composer, each with its own title, which expresses a specific childhood memory. These works are all simple and charming, but Dreaming ( Träumerei) is the most popular and best known of all. It is often included in musical collections for solo piano and often the virtuoso performers includ...

Johann Straus II - Vergnügungszug (Pleasure Train), op. 281

Johann Strauss II , celebrated for his waltzes and lively dance music, followed a distinctive creative approach. He consistently sought contemporary and recognizable themes as the inspiration for his compositions, ensuring that his music remained fresh and closely connected to the everyday experiences of his audiences. A characteristic example of this approach can be found in Vergnügungszug (Pleasure Train), a fast polka ( Polka schnell ) composed in 1864. The work was written for one of the famous summer concerts Strauss conducted in Pavlovsk, near St. Petersburg, where he spent several seasons presenting new compositions. For this particular piece, Strauss drew inspiration from a symbol of modern progress at the time: the steam locomotive. The composition vividly captures the energy and motion of a train in full operation. Its driving rhythm evokes the steady chugging of a steam engine, while short, repeated figures suggest the mechanical movement of the wheels along the tracks. Str...

MusiLLection

Search This Blog