Pastorale in E op.19

César-Auguste Jean-Guillaume Hubert Franck
BICENTENNIAL TODAY!
Born on the 10th of December, 1822 in Liège.
As we celebrate this anniversary today, I wanted to contribute something from Franck’s momentous works for the organ. The manuscript of this beautiful Pastorale was dated ‘29 7bre [September] 1863’ and was one of Six Pièces pour Grand Orgue. These were published in one volume in 1868 (Mayens-Couvreur) and 1880 (Durand).
I also wanted to celebrate being able to use the Llannerch Organs new set of the spectacular organ in Blackburn Cathedral. It might also be noted that England play France this evening in the World Cup! Maybe I should have recorded Prière!
Many thanks to Graham Eccles and John Hosking of Llannerch Organs for all their hard work and artistic handling of this mammoth task. Hours of pleasure for both listeners and performers for many years to come!