Course 14

Course 14: Joris Verdin: César Franck

César Franck's organ music has two important sources: the piano (Franck was trained as a pianist) and the harmonium, an artistic musical instrument that was mainly played in French salons in the 19th century. Franck, like great contemporaries such as Liszt and Dvorák, wrote beautiful music for the harmonium. Although it can also be played on the organ, a world of its own comes to life when the compositions are performed on their original instrument. During this course, specialist Joris Verdin will place the works of César Franck in this broad context: both the organ and the harmonium will be used. A journey of discovery to the authentic Franck!
Joris Verdin has recorded all harmonium and organ works by César Franck, among others, on CD. As a musicologist, composer and organist, he enjoys making connections between known and unknown musical worlds. Verdin is a teacher at music institutes in Antwerp and Leuven, and he is considered a specialist in the field of the nineteenth-century art harmonium. As artistic director he is affiliated with Göteborg International Organ Academy.

Repertoire

Cesar Franck:

Six Pieces
· Fantasy (in C major)
· Grande Piece Symphonique
· Prélude, Fugue et Variation
· Pastoral
· Prière
· Final

Trois Pieces
· Fantasy (in A major)
· Cantabile
· Piece heroic

Trois Chorals
· Choral No. 1 (in E major)
· Choral No. 2 (in B minor)
· Choral No. 3 (in A minor)

· All works for harmonium