Classical Music | Music for Viola

Recorded on 09/12/2006, uploaded on 01/17/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Sonata in A Major (transcribed for Viola and Piano)       César Franck

1) Allegretto moderato; 2) Allegro; 3) Recitativo-Fantasia; 4) Allegretto poco mosso

Cesar Franck is considered one of the leading figures of French musical life in the late 19^th century. This sonata (subsequently transcribed for many instruments, including viola) is one of his most famous compositions and a great example of his mature compositional style.

Two aspects of the sonata are notable; the cyclic unity among several motifs in which all of the principal themes are generated from a germinal motif, and the advanced use of modulation for which Franck was well known.

The first movement begins with a poetic Allegretto moderato in 9/8 time and ends with a brief codetta.  The second movement opens with a low sixteenth note rumbling in the piano that soon overflows into a full-blooded Allegro. The third Recitativo-Fantasia movement includes a tranquil, almost other-worldly, middle section which introduces the two striving themes with characteristic triplet-rhythm accompaniment, which will return in the glorious Finale.  The fourth movement builds toward a passionate fortissimo with the return of the second of the third-movement themes. The opening canonic theme returns once more to bring the work to a cheerful close.    Eric Nowlin

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.