Franck, C: Prélude, pour l'Ave Maris Stella

Alongside the Three Pieces, the Six Pieces and the Three Chorales that constitute the body of Franck’s organ works, there is also an entire series of organ works dating from Franck’s youth. These pieces, the majority of which exist only in manuscript, were published after Franck’s death by his son.

These works, often small in scale and clearly intended for organists to use during services, form an impressive collection. Even though the influences of his teachers and models are clearly to be heard, a fair proportion of these works already bear the stamp of the mature composer and pater seraphicus.

Franck was a child prodigy and virtuoso pianist. At the age of only sixteen, he was awarded the “Premier premier prix pour piano”. This boxed set gives a wonderful survey of Franck’s piano compositions, including his second Piano Concerto, Piano Quintet and Trios, as well as some late pieces, such as Danse lente and Noël Angevin.