Jean FRANÇAIX (1912-1997)
100th Anniversary Set - Special Edition
Contents and artists list at end of review
rec. 1967-97, various locations in Germany
WERGO WER69562 [3 CDs: 73.28 + 79.32 + 74.43]
Captivated by a number of Jean Françaix’s scores I had
recently heard most notably the Symphony in G major and the Octet
‘A huit’ I was directed to this release on the German
Wergo label. This is not new: it is a special edition originally issued in
2012 to mark the 100th anniversary of Françaix’s birth.
The author of the meagre Wergo booklet notes Thomas Daniel Schlee writes that
Françaix’s music “is ubiquitous and frequently performed”
which not something I have experienced in the U.K. Unless the situation is
vastly different in France since his death in 1997 Françaix’s music
has found difficulty in establishing itself in the repertoire. It’s
not an uncommon situation for a composer to lose his foothold on the repertory
after his or her death. Around the time of Françaix’s anniversary a
number of recordings did appear but I cannot ever remember seeing a Françaix
work on a concert/recital programme in the U.K., Germany or the USA. Inexplicably
Françaix’s name is absent from number of music reference books and record
guides.
Just a few biographical notes about Françaix who was born in Le Mans, France
in 1912 into a musical family. His father Alfred, a composer and pianist was
Director of the Conservatoire of Le Mans and his mother Jeanne Provost a singing
teacher. Françaix studied piano at the Conservatoire of Le Mans and then composition
at the Paris Conservatory. His teachers included Nadia Boulanger, Isidor Philipp
and Henri Büsser, he knew Stravinsky and became a friend of Poulenc. A prolific
composer of over 200 works Françaix’s music has been championed by conductors
such as Ernest Ansermet, Marius Constant, Roger Desormière, Antál Doráti,
Manuel Rosenthal, Charles Munch, Georges Prêtre and Hermann Scherchen. As
well as winning a number of awards and considerable acclaim Françaix led a
successful career as a concert pianist. If fact, Françaix and his daughter
Claude play together on this release.
Recorded between 1967 and 1997 I understand that virtually all the works on
this set have been issued previously. The set contains a large number of works
featuring wind instruments: a group that Françaix was particularly attracted
to and wrote so well for.
The first CD titled ‘Françaix par lui-même’ contains
four substantial works commencing with the Variations sur un thème plaisant
for piano and winds. From 1976 these are eleven short but very attractive
works performed by the composer on piano and the Bläser Ensemble Mainz under
Klaus Rainer Schöll. Nicely contrasted pieces, I especially enjoyed the delightful,
summery Variation IV - Andante and the skittish Variation 5 - Andantino.
For solo piano the Cinq portraits de jeunes filles are early works
written in 1936. Once again these are pleasant pieces played splendidly by
the composer each with a title that gives an indication of mood: La Capricieuse,
La Tendre, La Prétentieuse, La Pensive et La
Moderne.
Sadly one of Françaix’s finest and most successful works, the short
neo-classical Concertino for piano and orchestra a very early work
from 1932, written shortly after winning the piano prize at the Paris Conservatoire,
is not present among these three discs. Nevertheless the admirable Concerto
for two pianos and orchestra written in 1965 is included and is played
by the composer and his daughter Claude Françaix with the Sinfonieorchester
des Südwestfunks, Baden-Baden under Pierre Stoll. The four movement score
is mainly an exciting romp with a contrasting Doppio più lento second
movement that is on the serious side with a rather dark undertow.
The final work on the first disc is the Harpsichord concerto from
1959. In this five movement score the composer is on the harpsichord supported
by the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbücken directed by Emile Naoumoff. One
of Françaix’s finest this works this is yet another ebullient piece
with a particularly memorable opening movement Toccata I. Following
on are a carefree Toccata II, a dreamy Andantino, an elegant
Menuet and an energetic Finale.
Titled ‘Divertimento’ the second CD consists of six works,
five of which are for wind ensemble with only the Guitar Concerto
requiring a string orchestra. Le gay Paris is scored for trumpet
and winds written in 1974. The outside movements burst with vitality and there’s
a contrasting languid central Valse. Trumpeter Carole Dawn Reinhart
is a most satisfying soloist accompanied by the Bläser Ensemble Mainz under
Klaus Rainer Schöll.
Composed in 1973 the Neuf pièces caractéristiques are scored for
ten wind instruments and cast in very short movements. Performed by the Bläser
Ensemble Mainz under Klaus Rainer Schöll the writing is variedly characterful,
predominantly upbeat in mood and never aggressive.
One of Françaix’s most performed scores L’heure du berger
a suite for piano and wind quintet subtitled ‘Musique de Brasserie’
was written in 1947 in admiration of a renowned Paris restaurant. Here L’heure
du berger is presented in a slightly expanded arrangement prepared by
Friedrick K. Wanek for eight winds and piano. Les Vieux beaux the
opening movement is infused with the essence of the dance, the central movement
Pin-up Girls feels like a polite conservation and the rhythmic final
movement Les petits nerveux is bright and vibrant. The work is capably
performed by pianist Agatha Wanek with the Bläser Ensemble Mainz under Klaus
Rainer Schöll.
From 1971 Sept danses, d’après le ballet ‘Les
malheurs de Sophie’ is scored for ten winds. The ballet ‘Les
malheurs de Sophie’ was written in 1935 and is based on a 19th-century
French children’s book. So typical of Françaix the movements of the
Sept danses are variedly characterful being principally buoyant in
mood displaying a blaze of colour. It is hard to fault the playing of the
Bläser Ensemble Mainz under Klaus Rainer Schöll.
Next the five movement Guitar Concerto that Françaix composed in
1982/83. Like most of Françaix’s works this is vibrant and colourful
ranging from moody to upbeat, from calming to vital. I especially enjoyed
the melodically memorable central movement Presto ma non troppo —
so agreeable and inoffensive. Notable also is the Finale: Allegrissimo
for its swirling colours and absorbing central Cadenza. Here the
excellent guitar soloist Emanuele Segre is accompanied by the Südwestdeutsches
Kammerochester under Hans Richter.
The final work on CD two is the Danses exotiques in a version for
11 winds and percussion from 1981. In this terrifically entertaining work
there are eight short movements full of enjoyable, foot-tapping rhythms all
written in a Latin American style. John Dvorachek is the industrious percussionist
playing with the Bläser Ensemble Mainz directed by Klaus Rainer Schöll.
Titled ‘Jean Françaix et…’ the third disc is a
rather curious mix comprising ten works: mainly transcriptions, arrangements
and variations based on music from composers that Françaix admired. As a foreword
to five of the works Jean Françaix provides a very short spoken introduction
in French.
The opening track is the Onze variations sur un thème de Haydn, for
nine winds and double bass. Written in 1982 this I imagine is based on the
theme that sounds rather like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star from the
Andante of Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 in G Surprise.
Played by the Bläser Ensemble Mainz featuring bassist Ichiro Noda under Klaus
Rainer Schöll this attractive and colourful set would I’m sure be eminently
suitable for light classical music radio such as the British Classic FM.
Next a transcription of Schubert’s Trois marches militaires
that Françaix arranged for ten winds in 1987. Played by members of the Bläser
Ensemble Amadé directed by Klaus Rainer Schöll this is typically agreeable
music with the well known third movement Allegro sounding vibrant
and especially effective in this new guise.
Written by Françaix to commemorate the bicentenary of Mozart’s death
in 1991 the pleasing Élégie is a soothing and polished work played
by the Bläser Ensemble Amadé under Klaus Rainer Schöll.
In 1989 Françaix arranged two Chopin works for an ensemble of ten winds the
Trois ecossaise and the Variations sur un air populaire allemand.
In three extremely short movements the Trois ecossaise come across
as mainly playful with a more determined quality to the final Giocoso.
Cast in seven movements the Variations sur un air populaire allemand
consist of an introduction and theme with a set of five variations. Although
slight this is a most gratifying score and played so expertly too by Ensemble
Amadé under Klaus Rainer Schöll.
The next score is Françaix’s arrangement of the music of his fellow
countryman Emmanuel Chabrier. From the Huit Pièces picturesque Françaix
arranged Trois pièces pittoresques for ten winds in 1984. Performed
by the Bläser Ensemble Amadé under Klaus Rainer Schöll the three pieces are
entirely engaging. The first piece Mélancolie is suitably forlorn
in mood, the second piece Menuet pompous upbeat and vibrant followed
by the eighth piece a brisk and rosy Scherzo-valse.
Composed in 1979 is Françaix’s own work the Petite valse européenne
written for tuba and double wind quintet. This agreeable work which includes
a snippet of La Marseillaise is played by accomplished tuba player
Christophe Schneider and the Bläser Ensemble Amadé directed by Klaus Rainer
Schöll.
A very short piece indeed is the melodic Quasi improvvisando. Scored
for wind ensemble the work written by Françaix in 1975 is played by the Bläser
Ensemble Mainz under Klaus Rainer Schöll.
Another short piece is Françaix’s ‘Mozart new-look’,
petite fantasy for double bass and winds on ‘Don Giovanni’
from 1981. Bassist Ichiro Noda performs the work with the Bläser Ensemble
Mainz led by Klaus Rainer Schöll.
The final work of the set is the Hommage à l’ami Papageno -
an enchanting fantasy for piano and six winds on Mozart’s The Magic
Flute written in 1984. Skilfully played by the composer on the piano
the accompaniment is from the Bläser Ensemble Mainz conducted by Klaus Rainer
Schöll. This is another compelling work that I could easily imagine on a Classic
FM playlist.
Demonstrating excellence throughout the standard of the impeccably prepared
performances is unfailing compelling. The sound quality is of consistently
high quality too despite the variety of recording venues. The only drawbacks
are the absence of the Concertino for piano and orchestra (1932)
and the woeful lack of information in the booklet about each work.
This superb release from 2012 has broad appeal and should be obligatory listening
for lovers of French music.
Michael Cookson
Previous review:
Brian Reinhart
Contents List
CD 1
‘Françaix par lui-même’
Variations sur un thème plaisant, for piano and winds (1976) [7.27]
Cinq portraits de jeunes filles, for piano (1936) [13.51]
Concerto for two pianos and orchestra (1965) [17.00]
Harpsichord concerto (1959) [7.45]
CD 2
‘Divertimento’
Le gay Paris, for trumpet and winds (1974) [12.55]
Neuf pièces caractéristiques, for ten winds (1973) [14.53]
L’heure du berger (1947) (arranged Friedrick K. Wanek for 8 winds and
piano) [6.45]
Sept danses d’après le ballet ‘Les malheurs de Sophie’,
for ten winds (1971) [11.38]
Guitar concerto (1982/83) [23.11]
Danses exotiques, for 11 winds and percussion (1981) [7.27]
CD 3
‘Jean Françaix et…’
Onze variations sur un thème de Haydn, for 9 winds and double bass (1982)
[10.47]
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Trois marches militaires (arranged Françaix for ten winds, 1987) [14.37]
Texte de présentation: Jean Françaix speaks in French [0.26]
Élégie pour commémorer le bicentenaire de la mort de Mozart (1990) [4.23]
Texte de présentation: Jean Françaix speaks in French [0.47]
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Trois ecossaises (arranged Françaix for ten winds, 1989) [2.18]
Variations sur un air populaire allemand (arranged Françaix for ten winds,
1989) [7.36]
Texte de présentation: Jean Françaix speaks in French [0.18]
Emmanuel CHABRIER (1841-1894)
Trois pièces pittoresques (arranged Françaix for ten winds, 1984) [12.25]
Texte de présentation: Jean Françaix speaks in French [0.18]
Petite valse européenne, for tuba and double wind quintet (1979) [7.02]
Quasi improvvisando, for winds (1975) [1.41]
Mozart new-look, petite fantasy for double bass and winds on ‘Don Giovanni’
(1981) [2.33]
Hommage à l’ami Papageno, fantasy for piano and six winds on ‘The
Magic Flute’ (1984) [8.49]
Jean Françaix, piano (solo piano, double piano concerto, Hommage à l’ami
Papageno); Claude Françaix, piano (double piano concerto); Jean Françaix,
harpsichord (harpsichord concerto); Agathe Wanek, piano (L’heure du
berger); Carole Dawn Reinhart, trumpet (Le gay Paris); Emanuele Segre, guitar
(concerto); John Dvorachek, percussion (Danses exotiques); Ichiro Noda, double
bass (Haydn variations and Mozart new-look)
Sinfonieorchester des Südwestfunks, Baden-Baden/Pierre Stoll (double piano
concerto); Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbücken/Emile Naoumoff (harpsichord
concerto); Südwestdeutsches Kammerochester/Hans Richter (guitar concerto);
Bläser Ensemble Amadé/Klaus Rainer Schöll (Schubert, Chopin, Chabrier, élégie,
petite valse), Bläser Ensemble Mainz/Klaus Rainer Schöll (remaining works)
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