Complete Songs

First complete and critical edition César Franck’s songs for voice and piano. This score contains 19 songs and, in appendix, the two patriotic pieces Paris and Patria. The importance of this set in the history of « mélodie » in France must be underlined, even if the name of the composer is mainly linked today with the organ repertoire.

Indeed, Franck begins with romance-like works, simple and strophic, and ends with masterpieces revealing the new genre of the French « mélodie ». At the same time, Henri Duparc, one of Franck’s students, compose his famous songs, followed by Fauré or Debussy. It is not surprising to find here the names of the great French poets : Lamartine, Musset, Hugo.

César Franck shows here his great talent of melodist and a great achievement in the piano accompaniment. Consequently, these songs must take a prominent place in the repertoire.

The introduction and the edition are by Jean-Philippe Navarre.