César Franck

Symphony in D minor, FWV (M). 48

César Franck's (1822-1890) SYMPHONY IN D MINOR is the French composer's best-known orchestral work. In three, rather than four, movements, the work's shape is attained through thematic transformation, with important themes recurring in all of the movements. Bumping up against the factionalism of French musical culture, the premiere took some time to be arranged as the leading conductors of the day, sure of being attacked by the opposing faction, were tentative in scheduling new works. When the work was premiered in Paris by the Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire on February 17 1889 under Jules Garcin, opinion was, not surprisingly, divided. Despite that, Franck's only mature symphony entered the international orchestral repertoire. This newly-engraved edition by Clinton Nieweg and Jennifer Johnson address major disparities between the original score and parts. It also transposes the trumpets from F to Bb, the cornets sections in A to Bb, moves the bass clarinet from bass clef to Bb treble clef, and includes bass clef parts for the trombones in addition to the tenor clef parts. Instrumentation in set: 2.2+EH.2+BCl.2: 4.2+2Crnt.3.1: Timp: Hp: Str (9-8-7-6-5).