Cesar Franck's Sonata in A Major

The Sonata in A major for Violin and Piano by César Franck is one of his best-known compositions, and considered one of the finest sonatas for violin and piano ever written. It regularly appears on concert programs and on recordings, and is in the core repertoire of all major violinists. The piece is notable for the difficulty of its piano part, as compared to most works in the chamber repertoire.

César Franck (1822 – 1890) was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life. Franck is remembered mostly for several compositions written in his later years, particularly his Symphony in D Minor (1886–88), the Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra (1885), the Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for Piano Solo (1884), the Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major (1886), the Piano Quintet in F Minor (1879), and the symphonic poem Le Chasseur maudit (1883). The Symphony in D Minor was especially admired and influential among the younger generation of French composers and was highly responsible for reinvigorating the French symphonic tradition after years of decline.

Performance by our friends Alfred and Arthur Hart

I. Allegretto ben moderato

II. Allegro

III. Recitativo -- Fantasia

IV. Allegretto poco mosso

Complete Sonata (above combined)

Our friend Hal Michael's Handmade Music Stands

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