Random Shuffle 21: Fauré Variations

[messiaenisms]

Theme and Variations in c-sharp minor, Op. 73, Gabriel Fauré (1897)
Variation VII (0:51)

Jean-Philippe Collard, Piano

I posted on another piece from this album already (the Ballade, Op. 19), but my iTunes random shuffle has brought me back around to Fauré - and I can’t complain about that!

This track popping up caused me to go back and give another

Comments

[sonatanator]

It's funny, because I find both of these composers boring, with the exception of Faure's requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine and the Franck piano quintet. The rest of it I have trouble paying much attention to- a nice chord shift here and there, maybe something of a melody, but mostly ambling endlessly to an arbitrary cadence.

I think you overstate Franck's canonicness though. Beyond the violin sonata and the D-minor symphony, both of which are more specialist pieces, he's a nonfactor.

[messiaenisms]

Understandable -- I used to be entirely indifferent to Fauré, and have only lately come entirely under his spell. If you're inclined, take a listen to some of the popular melodies or some of the nocturnes to discover what a gifted melodist he was. His harmonies take a while to "stick in the ear" -- especially in his later work -- but it's worth it. He's the missing link between Chopin and Ravel.
True, Franck's reputation depends on just a couple pieces. But I can't tell you how many times I've been subjected to the Violin Sonata. The Prelude, Chorale and Fugue is easily one of the most popular Romantic piano piece not by Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt or Brahms. Organists love his works. And the symphony, quintet, and "symphonic variations" occasionally disgrace concert programs.