Jon Johanning <[log in to unmask]> writes:

>Richard Pennycuick wrote:
>
>>An article I was reading regarded Franck's symphony as one of the
>>glories of the symphonic repertoire.  I've always found it pretty
>>turgid.  I'm not out to start a Let's Hate Franck Week, but does
>>anyone else share my opinion?
>
>I'm on your side. Very repetitious; nothing remarkable about its
>themes, harmony, orchestration, form, etc. Never understood what
>anyone saw in it.  (But then, a lot of people can't understand why
>some of us like Wagner.)

Huh, I thought the themes are incredibly catchy.  I liked it a lot as a
kid, and it's still kind of a guilty pleasure.  Some of it reminds me of
Gershwin (like the big pull-out-the-stops major-key melody in the first
movement).

Steve Schwartz mentioned not being able to find any Franck that he likes.
I suppose you've already tried the Piano Quintet, but I'll give a shot at
recommending it anyway.  It's one of my favorite chamber works.

Despite the fact that I like both those pieces a good deal, they're
actually the only Franck works I know.  I keep on meaning to try the organ
works, but I'm not really an organ fan (the timbre tends to bug me after a
couple of minutes).

Dan Schmidt -> [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]